Announcer: VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.

Huell: WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY.

I'M HUELL HOWSER, AND HERE IT IS--A BEAUTIFUL MORNING.

IN FACT, I WOKE UP THIS MORNING IN A TIKI MOOD.

I WAS HEARING TIKI MUSIC IN MY HEAD.

I WENT TO THE KITCHEN AND MADE MYSELF A MAI TAI.

I PUT ON MY RETRO TIKI SHIRT, AND I WAS ON THE WAY TO THE AIRPORT TO ACTUALLY TRY AND GO TO HAWAII OR THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS, THEN I REALIZED THAT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, I DON'T HAVE THE TIME OR THE MONEY TO GO TO HAWAII, SO I'VE DONE THE NEXT BEST THING: I'VE COME TO WHITTIER, AND I'M GONNA SPEND THE WHOLE MORNING INSIDE THIS WAREHOUSE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TOLD WHEN YOU GO IN THERE, YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY TIKI.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] [DRUMMING] Huell: OK, WE'RE INSIDE, AND I'M ALREADY IN A TIKI MOOD.

THERE IS THE BIG KAHUNA.

BOB, ARE YOU THE BIG KAHUNA, OR IS THIS THE BIG KAHUNA?

Bob: MY NAME IS BOB VAN OOSTING, CO-OWNER OF OCEANIC ARTS, ALONG WITH LeROY SCHMALTZ.

AND THAT'S THE BIG KAHUNA, REALLY.

Huell: BUT I THOUGHT YOU WERE THE OWNER OF THIS PLACE.

Bob: WELL, I JUST WORK HERE, YOU KNOW?

Huell: DOESN'T THAT MAKE YOU THE BIG KAHUNA?

Bob: WELL, A LITTLE BIT-- A LITTLE BIT.

Huell: WHAT IS THE BIG KAHUNA?

Bob: OH, THE BIG KAHUNA IS JUST KIND OF AN IMPORTANT FIGURE, AN IMPORTANT TIKI.

YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF A FUN NAME.

IT'S THE BIG GUY, SO TO SPEAK.

AND THAT'S THE BIG GUY.

Huell: THAT IS THE BIG GUY.

NOW SEE, WHEN I THINK OF TIKI, THIS IS WHAT I THINK OF RIGHT HERE.

IS THIS CLASSIC TIKI RIGHT HERE?

Bob: YEAH, THIS IS CLASSIC TIKI.

THIS IS A OLD ONE THAT USED TO BE IN A TAHITIAN RESTAURANT ON VENTURA BOULEVARD OUT THERE IN ENCINO AND DON THE BEACHCOMBERS IN LAS VEGAS, AND WHEN THEY CLOSED, WE PURCHASED IT.

AND THIS IS A MARKATION TIKI.

THESE ARE CLASSIC TIKI STYLES.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, NOW WHERE DOES TIKI COME FROM, IS IT A HAWAIIAN THING?

IS IT A SOUTH SEA ISLAND THING?

WHAT IS IT?

Bob: WELL, IT'S REALLY SOUTH PACIFIC OR SOUTH SEA ISLAND.

MOST OF US WOULD THINK OF IT AS HAWAII AS BEING MORE FROM TIKI, BUT A TIKI IS A GOD--IS BASICALLY, WHAT TIKI MEANS, AND I THINK TODAY'S CULTURE, EVERYBODY--ANY CARVED IMAGE THAT IS OF A POLYNESIAN NATURE IS CALLED A TIKI.

Huell: YEAH, BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE CARVED IMAGES 'CAUSE I WOKE UP IN A TIKI MOOD THIS MORNING.

I WANTED A MAI TAI.

I PUT ON THIS SHIRT, WHICH THIS IS KIND OF TIKI, ISN'T IT?

Bob: YET, IT'S GOT THE FISH IN THERE, YEAH.

Huell: AND I WANTED TO SURROUND MYSELF WITH TIKI, AND I WASN'T JUST THINKING OF CARVED WOODEN FIGURES.

I WAS THINKING OF THATCHED ROOFS LIKE YOU'VE GOT OVER HERE.

WHAT IS THIS WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT HERE?

Bob: THAT'S PALAPA, THEY CALL IT TODAY, AND YOU PUT IT OVER A BEACH UMBRELLA, OR A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE BUILDING THEM ON POLES AND WOOD STRUCTURES IN BACKYARDS, AND WE HAVE THEM IN ABOUT 3 DIFFERENT SIZES.

Huell: THAT'S TIKI.

Bob: YEAH, WHAT YOU'RE SAYIN', I CAN AGREE WITH YOU.

IT'S THE FEELING OF HAWAII, THE FEELING OF RELAXED SOUTH SEA ATMOSPHERE.

IT'S ALL TIKI.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA GET IN THE--OH, BOY, LOOK OVER HERE.

AND LOOK, WE'VE GOT THE LEIS RIGHT HERE.

CAN I GET ONE OF THESE?

Bob: SURE.

HELP YOURSELF.

Huell: BECAUSE THIS WILL GET ME IN THE TIKI--I'M GONNA TAKE THIS RED ONE--IN THE TIKI MOOD.

OH, BOY, I'M REALLY FEELING TIKI NOW.

Bob: YEAH, THAT'S GOOD.

VERY GOOD.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, NOW LET'S TAKE THE TOUR HERE.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT RIGHT HERE?

THESE ARE TIKI POLLS.

Bob: YEAH, THESE ARE CARVED WOOD TIKI FIGURES, AND THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, JUST BASICALLY OF GENERAL POLYNESIAN NATURE.

THIS IS, YOU KNOW, THEY CALL IT, LIKE, THE "KOO", THE HAWAIIAN FIGURE WITH THE TEETH AND YOU KNOW, THE GRIN OR THE FIERCE-LOOKING MOUTH.

Huell: AND WHAT ARE THESE USED FOR?

THESE ARE FOR SALE.

WHO BUYS THESE AND WHAT DO THEY DO WITH THEM?

Bob: WELL, TYPICAL PERSON IS DOING A TIKI YARD SCAPE OR THE BACKYARD IN TROPICAL WILL BUY ONE AND SET IT UP FOR DECOR AMONGST THE PALMS.

Huell: DO PEOPLE STILL DO THAT?

BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WAS BIG, LIKE IN THE FIFTIES AND SIXTIES, WASN'T IT?

EVERYBODY WANTED TO DO TIKI, ESPECIALLY HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

Bob: THAT'S TRUE, AND, UM, ACTUALLY, IT'S COME BACK AGAIN, JUST ABOUT AS HARD AS EVER IT WAS, YOU KNOW?

THEY'RE HAVIN' LUAUS IN THE BACKYARD, AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THE TIKIS, AND THEY DECORATE WITH THATCHING.

AND I RENT 'EM CANOES, AND-- Huell: WHAT IS ALL THIS?

THESE ARE JUST SIGNS.

Bob: YEAH.

THESE ARE ALL RENTALS THAT PEOPLE COULD USE.

LIKE, THEY MIGHT PUT THIS IN FRONT BY THE DOOR--"ALOHA," IN OTHER WORDS, "WELCOME TO THE LUAU," YOU KNOW, TYPE THING.

AND THAT'S WHAT THESE ARE.

Huell: AND WHAT ARE ALL THESE BACK HERE?

THESE ARE HUGE POLES BACK HERE.

DO THESE HAVE NAMES?

I MEAN WHAT ARE THESE THINGS ACTUALLY CALLED?

Bob: JUST GENERAL HAWAIIAN TYPE DESIGN TIKI, AND THEY'LL BE RENTED.

WE EVEN HAVE ONE THAT LIGHTS UP.

BUT THE BIG ONES IN THE BACK ARE TYPICAL HAWAIIAN.

Huell: WOW!

LOOK AT THE SIZE.

SO SOMEBODY WOULD ACTUALLY RENT ONE OF THESE.

Bob: THEY WOULD RENT THAT AS PART OF THEIR BACKYARD DECOR, YOU KNOW.

Huell: IT'S MADE OUT OF FIBERGLASS.

Bob: YEAH, WE HAVE ONE FIBERGLASS AND ONE PALM WOOD ONE.

Huell: NOW, WHERE DO YOU GET THESE THINGS?

ARE THEY MADE HERE IN THE WAREHOUSE?

Bob: WE CARVE RIGHT HERE AND IN OUR OTHER SHOP.

THOSE CAME OUT OF DON THE BEACHCOMBER.

THOSE ARE CARVED, PROBABLY FROM-- THEY'RE ABOUT THE SIXTIES.

Huell: WOW, THESE ARE ORIGINAL.

THESE ARE WONDERFUL, AND LOOK AT THESE.

THESE ARE TIKI-- Bob: THESE ARE PANELS THAT THEY MIGHT USE.

YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE STANDS FOR THEM THAT THEY WOULD USE THE YARD TO HELP CREATE THE POLYNESIAN THEME.

Huell: NOW, THIS SAYS "SOLOMON ISLANDS."

SO THE SOLOMON ISLANDS ARE PART THE WHOLE TIKI THING, TOO?

Bob: NO, YOU KNOW, NOT REALLY.

THAT'S MORE MELANESIAN, YOU KNOW.

AND ON THE BACKSIDE, IT WILL SAY, "THE TROPICS."

SO EACH ONE OF THESE HAS A DIFFERENT SIGN, LIKE HERE'S ONE: "THE SOUTH SEAS," YOU KNOW?

Huell: OH, LOOK AT THIS.

AND WHAT DO YOU USE THESE THINGS FOR?

YOU GOT THIS THING STUCK IN THERE.

OH, THERE WE GO.

Bob: AGAIN, THEY'RE FOR DECOR, AND ON THE BACKSIDE, YOU'LL SEE ANOTHER ONE THAT WILL BE THE LADY OF THE TONGA AREA, WHICH WOULD BE IN THE SOUTH SEAS.

Huell: OF, WOW.

Bob: AND WE HAVE THEM THAT SAY, "HAWAII."

THERE ARE JUST MANY DIFFERENT TYPES.

Huell: IS THIS A TIKI SPEAR?

Bob: YEAH, IN A SENSE, THAT'S USED TO CREATE, YOU KNOW, THE SOUTH SEA TIKI THEME IN A YARD OR A RESTAURANT.

Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

Bob: THAT'S A CEREMONIAL POST.

THAT'S A KIND OF A GENERAL POLYNESIAN.

Huell: NOW THIS LOOKS SOMETHING THAT'S KIND OF VERY OLD IN ITS ORIGIN.

I MEAN, THIS GOES WAY BACK IN HISTORY TO, LIKE, THE MAORIS IN NEW ZEALAND AND GROUPS LIKE THAT?

Bob: THE COLORING ON THIS ONE IS MORE AND NEW GUINEA LIKE, BUT, YEAH, WE HAVE THE MAORIS ONES AROUND HERE.

Huell: SO NEW GUINEA IS PART OF IT AS WELL?

Bob: WELL, MOST PEOPLE DON'T THINK OF NEW GUINEA AS BEING TIKI, BUT WE INCORPORATE ALL THIS IN THERE, YOU KNOW.

Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

NOW, WHAT'S THE ORIGIN OF THIS?

Bob: WELL, WE GET THOSE FROM THE GRAVEYARD.

Huell: THEY'RE NOT REAL SKULLS, ARE THEY?

Bob: THEY'RE PLASTIC SKULLS, AND THEN MY PARTNER PAINTS THEM UP AND THEY LOOK LIKE THAT.

WE RENTED THEM TO THE MOVIES ONE TIME, AND THEY WIRED A BUNCH OF 'EM, SO THEY HAVE RED EYES.

Huell: HA!

NOW WE'RE GETTING INTO THE MATTS--THE GRASS MATS, AND THAT'S PART OF TIKI AS WELL.

Bob: RIGHT, CORRECT.

THESE ARE USED BY SOME HOMEOWNERS, BUT MOST OF THAT'S FOR RESTAURANT DECOR, LIKE THAT'S A NIPA THATCHING FROM THE PHILIPPINES.

Huell: SO THESE ARE FROM THE PHILIPPINES?

Bob: THOSE ARE.

CORRECT.

A LOT OF THE MATTING, WOVEN MATTINGS, ARE.

AND OUR MATTINGS COME FROM CHINA, THEY COME FROM THE PHILIPPINES OR IN MEXICO.

THOSE DIFFERENT AREAS.

Huell: AND WE'RE STANDING UNDER TIKI LIGHTING.

THAT'S PART OF IT AS WELL.

Bob: WE WILL USE A LOT OF THIS LIGHTING FOR RESTAURANTS, AND WE ALSO RENT A LOT OF THIS TYPE OF THING.

Huell: SO, RESTAURANTS ARE STILL YOUR BIG BUSINESS, AREN'T THEY?

Bob: THAT'S OUR MAIN BUSINESS IS THE POLYNESIAN RESTAURANTS.

Huell: WELL, THEY USED TO BE HUGE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WITH DON THE BEACHCOMBER, AND TRADER VIC'S.

ARE THEY THE RESTAURANTS THAT REALLY STARTED THIS CRAZE?

Bob: YEAH, I WOULD THINK SO.

THEY'RE THE MAIN ONES THAT STARTED IT.

DON THE BEACHCOMBER AND TRADER VIC'S WERE THE MAIN RESTAURANTS, AND THEN SOMEHOW DURING THE SEVENTIES OR EIGHTIES--MORE LIKE THE EIGHTIES--IT BECAME AN UNPOPULAR THEME, AND SO THEY ALL WENT OUT, EXCEPT FOR DON THE BEACHCOMBER, AND TRADER VIC'S.

Huell: NOW WHY DID THEY BECOME UNPOPULAR?

Bob: THAT'S A HARD--I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT, REALLY.

THEY JUST, UH, SEEMED LIKE PEOPLE WANTED ANOTHER THEME, YOU KNOW.

Huell: LET AT THIS.

THESE ARE ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL WORK DONE RIGHT HERE.

Bob: THIS TIKI WAS CARVED FOR A JOHN NAUGEL-- THIS GUY'S NAMED.

DOWN IN SAN CLEMENTE, I BELIEVE HE IS.

AND HE'S GONNA PICK IT UP HERE IN A FEW DAYS.

Huell: AND I PUT IT OUT IN HIS YARD.

Bob: YEAH IT'LL BE IN HIS YARD.

Huell: WELL, IT SURE MAKES A STATEMENT, DOESN'T IT?

>> IT DOES.

Huell: IS IT MEANT TO SCARE OFF THE EVIL SPIRITS OR INVITE 'EM TO COME IN?

Bob: I DON'T KNOW NOW.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE JUST FIGURE IT AS AN ART, LIKE A SCULPTURE, YOU KNOW, BUT THEY LIKE THE POLYNESIAN THEME, YOU KNOW?

Huell: NOW WHO IS THIS OVER HERE?

Bob: THIS IS MY BROTHER DICK WHO HAS WORKED FOR US FOR 32 YEARS AND WENT INTO RETIREMENT AND HE COMES OUT WHENEVER WE NEED LIGHTS FOR, LIKE, THE ISLANDS RESTAURANT CHAIN.

Huell: AH, YOU'RE MAKIN' LIGHTS.

NICE TO MEET YOU, SIR.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT TIKI?

HOW DID YOU GET INTO THIS THING?

Dick: I CAME TO WORK FOR THEM IN THE SIXTIES, AND SO THAT'S ABOUT WHERE I LEARNED IT.

I KNEW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT BEFOREHAND JUST BY WATCHING THEM.

Huell: UH-HUH.

AND NOW YOU'RE BACK.

Dick: YEAH.

Huell: AND WHAT'S THE DEAL?

I'VE NEVER SEEN A LIGHT LIKE THIS BEFORE.

WHAT ARE YOU JUST PUTTING SHELLS ON A-- Dick: PUTTING SEA SHELLS ON A FRAME, A PLYWOOD FRAME WITH HARDWARE CLOTH ON IT.

Huell: IS THIS YOUR OWN DESIGN?

Dick: OH, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT--NOT MY DESIGN, NO.

I DON'T WHERE THEY DESIGNED THE SHELL LIGHTS.

THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE AWHILE.

>> WHERE DOES ALL THIS COME FROM?

Bob: WELL THE SEASHELL'S ARE FROM JAPAN, AND THE TAPA CLOTH'S FROM FIJI, AND THE LABOR'S GOOD OLD U.S.A. AND HERE'S ONE THAT'S COMPLETED.

THIS ONE IS-- Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

Bob: HAS A LIGHT ON IT, AND IT LIGHTS OUT A NICE TONE.

Huell: OH, WOW, LOOK IT'S GOT THE LIGHT UNDERNEATH HERE.

Bob: IF YOU GO TO THE ISLANDS RESTAURANT--THE ISLANDS, THE BURGER AND FRIES RESTAURANT, YOU'LL FIND THESE SEA SHELL LIGHTS ABOUT 5 OF THEM IN EACH SHOP.

Huell: NOW WE'RE HERE IN THIS AREA HERE BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO SHOW US-- Bob: WELL, I WANTED TO SHOW YOU SOME OF THE CARVING THAT WE DO.

WE'RE KNOWN FOR INTRICATE CARVING, LIKE THE MAORIS WAR CLUBS.

Huell: THE MAORI WAR CLUBS.

Bob: MAORI, NEW ZEALAND, WAR CLUB.

Huell: LOOK AT THESE.

AND YOU CARVED THESE HERE.

Bob: WE HAVE A MACHINE THAT CARVES THEM, YEAH.

AND WE DO ALL THE FINISHING.

THEY'RE ALL HARDWOOD.

Huell: NOW, WHAT DO PEOPLE DO WITH THESE ?

YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF THESE HERE.

Bob: THIS TYPE OF THING WOULD BE USED ON A RESTAURANT WALL, LIKE IF YOU GO TO THE ISLANDS AGAIN, YOU'LL SEE THOSE.

HERE'S A LITTLE NEW GUINEA SKULL HOOK RIGHT HERE THAT THEY HANG THE SKULLS ON FROM THE HUTS UP THERE.

>> UH-HUH.

Bob: NOW THAT'S AN EASTER ISLAND PADDLE, FAMOUS EASTER ISLAND PADDLE.

THAT IS, AGAIN, OF CARVED HARDWOOD.

YOU'D USE THOSE ON A WALL FOR DECOR, JUST LIKE YOU WOULD A PAINTING IN A HOME.

Huell: LOOK AT ALL THIS STUFF OVER HERE.

Bob: HERE'S ONE OF OUR BIGGEST ONES THAT IS A VERY HEAVY ONE.

BUT HERE'S ONE.

HERE'S A BIG NEW GUINEA MASK THAT-- Huell: OH, WOW.

Bob: THAT'S ABOUT 30 POUNDS OF HARDWOOD THERE, ALL CARVED.

AND THAT'S A VERY EFFECTIVE ONE.

Huell: LOOK AT THE DESIGN WORK THAT'S DONE ON THIS THING.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE.

THERE'S REALLY A LOT TO SEE IN THESE THINGS, ISN'T THERE?

IF YOU REALLY START LOOKIN' AT 'EM, THEY'RE VERY INTRICATE.

Bob: THESE ARE LIGHT FIXTURES THAT LIGHT-- Huell: LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THIS LIGHT FIXTURE RIGHT HERE.

Bob: THIS IS CRUSHED ABALONE, AND THEN WE-- Huell: LOOK UNDER HERE!!

Bob: WE PUT IT IN GLASS BALLS, AND SO ALL THE COLORS COME OUT OF THE GLASS BALLS.

Huell: WOW, CRUSHED ABALONE SHELLS.

AND SPEAKING OF SHELLS, THIS--WHAT IS THIS?

THIS IS AN AMAZING--LOOK AT THIS.

Bob: THESE ARE GIANT "TRIDACNA GIGUS," THEY CALL 'EM--IS THE NAME.

THEY'RE GIANT CLAM SHELLS, AND THEY HAVE THE OTHER HALF CLOSES.

YOU KNOW, THERE SHOULD BE ANOTHER HALF ON TOP OF THAT.

Huell: NOW, THESE AREN'T REAL, ARE THEY?

Bob: NO.

THESE ARE VERY GOOD QUALITY FIBERGLASS, AND THEY'RE A DOUBLE-SHELL.

THERE'S, LIKE, A 2-PART.

Huell: AND WHAT DO PEOPLE USE THESE THINGS FOR?

Bob: THEY USE THEM FOR, LIKE, GIANT PUNCH BOWLS.

THEY'LL PUT, LIKE, SALADS OR, LIKE, A TROPICAL SALAD IN IT ON A BUFFET TABLE, AND THEY JUST HAVE ALL KINDS OF USES.

Huell: AND WHAT'S THE GORILLA FOR?

THAT'S NOT TIKI.

Bob: THAT'S THAT BIG KAHUNA.

HE KINDA GOES WITH THE TRIBAL EFFECT, LIKE SOME OF THE CEREMONIAL MASKS AND SHIELDS THAT YOU SAW IN THE OTHER DEPARTMENT.

Huell: YOU HAVE A VERY LOOSE DEFINITION OF TIKI, DON'T YOU?

Bob: YEAH, WE DO.

WE JUST KINDA PUT EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

Huell: IT CAN BE ANYTHING THAT'S FUN.

Bob: YEAH, LIKE A MIXED SALAD OR SOMETHIN'.

Huell: YEAH!

ABSOLUTELY.

AND HERE'S--LET ME SIT IN THE TIKI CHAIR.

IS THIS A TIKI CHAIR?

IT IS, ISN'T IT?

Bob: WELL, I GUESS YOU COULD CALL IT A TIKI CHAIR, YEAH.

Huell: I MEAN, WHY NOT?

EVERYTHING ELSE IS--I MEAN, IT'S LOOSELY DEFINED.

THE IDEA OF JUST KIND OF SITTING IN A CHAIR AND-- Bob: AND HAVIN' A MAI TAI THERE IN YOUR HAND.

Huell: YEAH, THE MAI TAI THEME.

NOW WE GOT--I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE WHERE TO GO.

WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING BACK IN HERE.

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE IN THE STORE AND WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SELL AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GONNA BE HOT THE NEXT SEASON?

Bob: WELL, AFTER 49 YEARS IN BUSINESS, WE JUST KIND OF GOT A FEELING FOR IT, AND TODAY ALL OUR CUSTOMERS, THEY LIKE THE AUTHENTIC STUFF AS WELL AS THE CONTRIVED POLYNESIAN ARTS, AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE MOST OF THE TIME, WE GUESS RIGHT, YOU KNOW.

IF NOT, WE SELL IT OFF.

Huell: YEAH, BUT YOU HAVE FUN WITH IT.

I MEAN EVERYTHING HERE IS KIND OF FUN.

Bob: YEAH.

WE LOVE IT, YOU KNOW?

WOW, THAT LOOKS LIKE FUN.

THAT'S JUST LIKE THE KIDS DO HERE, HUELL.

Huell: WHAT DO YOU MEAN, "THE KIDS DO IT?"

Bob: WELL, THE LITTLE KIDS, THEY LOVE TO WALK BY THERE AND MOVE THEM ALL.

Huell: YEAH.

THERE'S SOMETHING VERY TACTILE ABOUT THESE.

WHAT DO YOU USE THESE FOR?

Bob: THESE ARE USED FOR BETWEEN DOORS, YOU KNOW, INDOORS.

THIS IS KIND OF LIKE A LITTLE SEMI- PRIVACY SCREEN.

THE FEELING OF IT, AGAIN, THE OLD BAMBOO ONES FROM THE FIFTIES AND-- Huell: I WAS GONNA SAY.

THIS IS VERY FIFTIES, SIXTIES, SEVENTIES.

THIS IS VERY RETRO, ALL OF IT.

Bob: YEAH, WE'VE RECREATED OR HAD THESE THINGS MADE--A LOT OF THEM--AND BROUGHT THEM BACK SO THESE, YOU KNOW, THE YOUNGER PEOPLE TODAY, THE POLYNESIAN FANS, CAN ENJOY THAT LIKE WE DID.

Huell: YEAH, BECAUSE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GETTING INTO THIS, AREN'T THEY?

Bob: LOT OF THEM, YEAH.

WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM WELL, YOUNG AS 50-, 60-YEAR-OLD MEN AND WIVES.

WE'VE HAD THEM COME IN AND SAY, "WERE GONNA DO OUR WHOLE YARD TIKI."

Huell: WELL, NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.

"YOUNG" IS NOT 50 OR 60.

YOUNG IS, LIKE, 20 OR 30.

YOU CAN BE YOUNG AT AT HEART AT 50, BUT I MEAN THERE'S SOME YOUNG PEOPLE IN THEIR 20s AND 30s.

Bob: THERE ARE, YEAH.

WE SEE KIDS 19 YEARS OLD UP TAKING A ROOM, EVEN AT COLLEGE AND MAKING IT POLYNESIAN, YOU KNOW, OR TIKI STYLE.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, NOW WHAT HAVE WE GOT IN HERE.

THIS IS JUST MORE--I MEAN THERE'S JUST A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING IN HERE.

Bob: THESE WE COLLECTED WHEN WE WERE IN THE SOUTH SEAS.

Huell: NOW, THESE ARE-- THESE DO LOOK ORIGINAL RIGHT HERE.

I MEAN THESE LOOK VERY HISTORIC, AND, I MEAN, THESE ARE NOT RECENTLY MADE.

THESE ARE ANTIQUES, AREN'T THEY?

Bob: THESE ALL OLD FROM THE SIXTIES AND A LITTLE OLDER THAT WE COLLECTED WHEN WE WERE THERE IN 1960 ON OUR 37,000-MILE TRIP.

Huell: OH, SEE, WHEN I SAID ANTIQUES, I MEANT, LIKE, HUNDREDS OF YEARS OLD.

Bob: NO, THEY DO LOOK THAT WAY BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN OUT IN THE JUNGLE, AND THEY'VE GOT NATIVE OCHRES AND THINGS.

THE OCHRES MAKE THEM LOOK OLD.

Huell: YEAH, WHAT MAKES THEM LOOK OLD?

Bob: THE OCHRES, YOU KNOW, LIKE THEY WILL GRIND UP A SEA SHELL AND USE THAT FOR COLORING, YOU KNOW.

Huell: OH, THE COLORING BECAUSE IT LOOKS KIND OF FADED.

Bob: YEAH, THEY DO.

OVER HERE, YOU HAVE, UH... Huell: WAIT A MINUTE.

WAIT A MINUTE.

WAIT A MINUTE.

WHAT'S THIS?

Bob: THAT'S A BIG GLASS BALL LEFT OVER FROM THE FIFTIES.

THAT, I THINK, IS ONE WE GOT FROM THE PANGO-PANGO WHEN THEY CLOSED UP IN TUCSON.

Huell: SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN THESE OLD TIKI HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS CLOSE UP, YOU'RE THERE.

Bob: WE TRY TO BE THERE.

Huell: TO GET THE GOOD STUFF.

Bob: YEAH.

WE BUY EVERYTHING, AND THEN WE CLEAN IT UP AND MAYBE RECARVE CERTAIN PORTIONS AND SELL IT AGAIN TO THE COLLECTORS OR JUST PEOPLE WHO LIKE THE TIKI YOU KNOW?

Huell: SO, BOB, THIS IS A WAREHOUSE, A SHOWROOM, A PACKING HOUSE, MAILING HOUSE.

YOU'VE GOT A LOT GOING ON HERE.

Bob: YEAH, WE PRETTY MUCH DO EVERYTHING--THE WHOLE--FROM MANUFACTURING TO--THE WHOLE WORKS.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, 'CAUSE RIGHT HERE, YOUR NAME IS?

Danny: I'M DANNY WALL.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

AND WORKING ON--WHAT ARE WE DOING RIGHT HERE?

Danny: I'M PREPARING AN ORDER RIGHT NOW GOING TO AUSTRALIA.

Huell: SO YOU SHIP THINGS, LITERALLY, ALL OVER THE WORLD.

Danny: ALL OVER THE WORLD.

Huell: AND WHERE ARE THESE GOING?

WHAT ARE THESE GOING TO BE USED FOR?

AND WHAT ARE THESE THINGS?

Danny: THOSE ARE ARTIFACTS THAT WE CARRY HERE AT OCEANIC ARTS.

Huell: IS THIS FOR A RESTAURANT?

Danny: IT COULD BE A RESTAURANT, A COCKTAIL LOUNGE, A PLACE OF BUSINESS, OR SOMEONE'S HOME.

Huell: WOW.

Bob: THIS IS FOR THE HULA BULA BAR IN PERTH, AUSTRALIA.

Huell: WAIT A MINUTE.

THE HULA BULA BAR-- Bob: YOU CAN'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THAT.

Huell: DOES YOUR MIND EVER WONDER, WHEN YOU'RE PACKING THESE THINGS UP FOR THE HULA BULA BAR, WHAT THE PLACE ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE?

Danny: ABSOLUTELY.

I TRY AND MAKE A PICTURE OF WHERE IT'S GOING.

Huell: YEAH, I'M MAKING A PICTURE RIGHT NOW, AND I'M GETTIN' A GOOD PICTURE OF THE HULA BULA BAR IN PERTH.

THIS IS GONNA FIT IN JUST GREAT IN THE HULA BULA BAR.

OK, WE HAVE COME ACROSS THE WORLD-FAMOUS TIKI PUFFERFISH, AND WE HAVE MET UP WITH MIKE ENRIQUEZ.

AND YOU'RE GETTIN' READY TO DO SOMETHING WITH THIS PUFFERFISH.

Mike: YEAH, I'M GONNA LIGHT IT UP HERE AND PUT SOME ELECTRICAL IN IT SO THAT IT WILL HAVE A LIGHT.

Huell: WE'RE GONNA MAKE A PUFFERFISH LIGHT.

Mike: PUFFERFISH LIGHT, YEAH.

Huell: NOW HOW DID YOU LEARN HOW TO MAKE LIGHTS OUT OF PUFFERFISH, AND WHAT KIND OF DEMAND IS THERE FOR THESE THINGS?

>> OH, THERE'S A GREAT DEMAND, AND I LEARNED JUST FROM WATCHING THE OTHER GUYS MAKE THEM.

AND WE JUST KIND OF--I JUST CAUGHT ON.

Huell: PUT THE HOLE OF THE TOP, PUT THE BULB IN.

Mike: IT STARTS OFF WITH JUST A BUNCH OF SPIKES LIKE THIS.

YOU HAVE TO CUT 'EM OUT.

THEN YOU CUT A HOLE IN THE TOP, JUST ENOUGH TO GET THE LIGHT THROUGH, PUT IT IN THERE, AND THEN YOU JUST PUT THE FIXTURES IN .

Huell: WELL, WITH THESE PUFFERFISH, YOU SEE THEM HANGING IN EVERY LITTLE TIKI BAR YOU GO INTO.

Bob: YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PUFFERFISH EVERY POLYNESIAN RESTAURANT.

Huell: AND DO THESE THINGS REALLY LOOK LIKE THIS?

ARE THEY REALLY PUFFED UP LIKE THAT WHEN THEY'RE IN THE OCEAN?

Bob: NO, NOT UNLESS THERE'S A THREAT TO THEIR LIVES, THEN THEY PUFF UP.

BUT OTHERWISE, THE SPINE IS LAID-BACK LIKE THIS.

THEY LAY FLAT.

Huell: HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT ONE OF THESE WOULD LOOK LIKE IN THE OCEAN?

Mike: I DID UNTIL I SAW ONE ON TELEVISION.

AND IT'S JUST LIKE BOB SAYS, THAT THE SPIKES ARE ACTUALLY FOLDED BACK AGAINST THE BODY, AND THEN WHEN THEY'RE THREATENED, IN A DEFENSE, THEY'LL PUT THEM OUT.

Huell: CAN WE HOLD THIS UP MORE?

THAT'S A GOOD JOB YOU DID THERE, MIKE.

THAT'S GONNA BE HANGIN' IN SOME BAR, MAKING EVERYBODY FEEL-- >> IN A BAR, A HOME, WHEREVER.

Huell: VERY TIKI.

Bob: YEP, IT CERTAINLY IS.

Huell: THIS IS ABOUT AS TIKI AS IT GETS.

Bob: OCEANIC ARTS IS KNOWN FOR PUFFERFISH, FOR BIG PUFFERFISH.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SMALLER ONES, BUT WE CARRY THE BIG ONES CLEAR UP TO ABOUT 29 INCHES WHEN WE CAN GET 'EM.

Huell: WAIT A MINUTE.

THE S. S.MINNOW.

NOW, THIS WAS-- THIS WAS GILLIGAN'S ISLAND.

Bob: YEAH, IT WAS.

WE'VE ACTUALLY SUPPLIED 4 OF THE GILLIGAN'S ISLAND PROGRAMS WITH MATERIALS.

Huell: SO WAIT A MINUTE.

YOU MEAN YOU PROVIDED THE TIKI STUFF FOR THE ORIGINAL GILLIGAN'S ISLAND?

Bob: BAMBOO, ALL THE MATTING, AND SO FORTH BACK IN THE SIXTIES.

AND THEN THIS IS PROBABLY ANOTHER ONE THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT THE SET AFTERWARDS, SO WE BOUGHT THE SET FROM THEM, YOU KNOW.

TO USE FOR ANOTHER JOB.

Huell: WOW!

WELL, THIS IS TELEVISION HISTORY RIGHT HERE.

Bob: IT IS, YEAH.

THEY USE ANTIQUE MATERIAL ON IT SO IT LOOKS OLD.

Huell: NOW THAT WAS BACK IN THE SIXTIES.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS?

Bob: WE STARTED IN 1956.

Huell: SO YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF TELEVISION SHOWS AND MOVIES.

Bob: WE PROVIDED A LOT DECORUM FOR THEM, YEAH.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE DOING PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 2, AND 3.

Huell: AT DISNEY?

Bob: IT'S FOR A DISNEY MOVIE, YEAH.

AND THEY SHOT IT IN THE ARUBA AND THE DOMINICAN, AND THEN THE SOUND STAGES OUT HERE AT, I THINK, UNIVERSAL STUDIOS.

Huell: SEE, I I THINK YOU NEED TO BE ON LOCATION TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE USING YOUR MATERIAL PROPERLY.

Bob: AND I SHOULD.

YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.

Huell: WORK WITH ME ON THIS, BOB.

I THINK WE'VE GOT A LITTLE MINISERIES GOING HERE.

Bob: WE CAN BOTH GO TO ARUBA AND DOMINICA.

Huell: YEAH, AND AUTHENTICATE EVERYTHING.

Bob: YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD IDEA, HUELL.

Huell: WE ARE SURROUNDED BY TIKI.

IN FACT, WE'RE INSIDE A TIKI HUT, AND THIS IS REALLY WHAT I THINK ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK ABOUT TIKI, I'M THINKIN' ABOUT BEING ON THE BEACH, TIKI HUTS, THE WHOLE THING.

Bob: WELL, THIS IS IT, RIGHT HERE THEN.

Huell: IS THIS ORIGINAL?

Bob: THIS WAS MADE FOR A MOVIE, AND THEN IT WASN'T POLYNESIAN.

IT WAS MORE MEXICAN, AND SO THEN THEY DIDN'T WANT IT, SO WE TOOK IT APART, AND WE BUILT IT HERE AND DECORATED IT POLYNESIAN.

Huell: WOW, NOW, YOU DON'T RENT THE HUT?

Bob: NO.

IT'S PRETTY MUCH IN THE GROUND.

Huell: BUT YOU RENT EVERYTHING ELSE.

Bob: YEAH, EVERYTHING ELSE GOES.

Huell: AND HERE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO RENT RIGHT OVER HERE.

THESE ARE THE HAPPY EMPLOYEES, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO BE HAPPY BECAUSE THIS IS--YOU'RE MAKING PEOPLE HAPPY, AREN'T YOU?

Woman: THAT'S TRUE.

Huell: WHAT DO THEY SAY WHEN THEY COME IN HERE?

ARE THEY IN A HAPPY--ARE THEY IN A TIKI MOOD LIKE I WAS IN TODAY?

Woman: LOT OF THEM OPEN THE DOOR, AND THEY GO, "OH, I'M IN HEAVEN."

Huell: SO TIKI IS A HAPPY THING.

Woman: IT IS OUR WONDERFUL THING.

IT IS A HAPPY THING.

IT IS--IT IS-- Huell: A TIKI THING.

Woman: IT IS ALOHA.

IT'S HAPPINESS.

IT'S WONDERFUL.

IT'S RELAXED.

IT'S POLYNESIAN NIRVANA.

Huell: NOW, WE'RE GETTING DOWN TO THE REAL THING HERE.

WE'VE BEEN GIVEN THE TOUR INSIDE BY YOUR PARTNER BOB.

YOUR NAME IS?

LeRoy: LeROY SCHMALTZ.

Huell: AND Y'ALL HAVE BEEN IN THIS THING TOGETHER FOR HOW MANY YEARS?

LeRoy: 50 YEARS.

Huell: SO YOU'RE HARDCORE TIKI AS WELL.

LeRoy: OH, YEAH, RIGHT.

BEEN AT IT FOREVER.

Huell: WHATEVER "HARDCORE TIKI" MEANS.

BUT I GUESS ACTUALLY CARVING A TIKI MAKES YOU HARDCORE.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO THIS?

LeRoy: WELL, STARTED, PROBABLY WHEN I WAS IN ART SCHOOL.

I DID CLAY MODELING, MONKEYS, GORILLAS, AND SO FORTH, AND JUST HAD A LITTLE INTEREST IN THIS, AND THEN WHEN I GOT TO HIGH SCHOOL, I CARVED SOME PALM FROND MASKS AND WAS ENTERED INTO THE SCHOLASTIC MAGAZINE AND GOT SOME SORT OF FAME OR NOTORIETY FOR THAT, AND ONE THING LED TO ANOTHER, AND PRETTY SOON, I'M IN THIS BUSINESS.

Huell: AND WHAT WAS IT ABOUT TIKI THAT DREW YOU IN SO MUCH?

>> WELL, PROBABLY I WAS MORE INTERESTED IN SOMETIME TAKING A TRIP OR GOING TO HAWAII, YOU KNOW.

Huell: THAT GETS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN IT.

LeRoy: YEAH, AND I WAS ALWAYS INTRIGUED WITH THE BEAUTY OF THE PACIFIC.

BUT FINALLY WE DID GO-- MY PARTNER AND I BOTH WENT THERE, AND WE DECIDED, WELL, NOW THAT WE ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE, WE CAN DO MORE OF THIS SORT OF THING.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, NOW, YOU'RE PROBABLY ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE IN L.A. MAKING THESE THINGS, AREN'T YOU?

LeRoy: YEAH, THEY'RE INCREASING, BUT I'M ONE OF THE FEW.

Huell: AND HOW MUCH ARTISTIC LICENSE DO YOU GET WHEN YOU'RE CARVING THESE THINGS OUT?

LeRoy: I HAVE A FAIR AMOUNT.

THE CUSTOMER HAS SORT OF REQUESTED A LOOK, BUT THE PIECE HE LOOKED AT IS A DIFFERENT SIZE AND EVERYTHING.

SO AS I STRETCH IT OUT, I DO CERTAIN THINGS THAT WORK FOR THAT LOG.

Huell: WELL, THIS IS A HUGE TIKI RIGHT HERE.

LeRoy: IT'S AROUND 11 FEET.

Huell: WHERE IS THIS GONNA BE USED?

LeRoy: IT'S GOING TO GO TO A RESTAURANT DOWN IN HUNTINGTON BEACH.

Huell: WOW!

SO WHAT IS THIS?

I CAN'T TELL.

IT'S A FACE.

LeRoy: IT'S A FACE UP HERE, AND THEN IT'S A BODY.

THESE ARE THE ARMS, AND THOSE ARE THE KNEES.

AND IT'S A HAWAIIAN STYLE.

Huell: IS IT SMILING?

IS IT FROWNING?

LeRoy: IT'S KIND OF GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT FROWNING.

Huell: YEAH.

'CAUSE A LOT OF THESE THINGS WERE KIND OF-- LeRoy: YEAH, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE KIND OF WARRIOR TYPE APPROACH.

I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO MAKE HAPPY AND SMILING TIKIS, TOO.

Huell: HA HA!

ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET'S LET YOU GO BACK TO WORK 'CAUSE YOU'RE REALLY WORKING ON THIS THING.

YOU'RE PUTTING IN SOME ELBOW GREASE.

>> YEAH, I SURE AM TRYING, AND SOME OTHER THINGS.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.

HE'S CARVING THE TIKI FOR A RESTAURANT IN HUNTINGTON BEACH, AND THIS IS THE REAL THING, A FROWNING TIKI.

[SOUTH SEA ISLAND MUSIC PLAYS] Huell: WHOO-HOO!

WE ARE GETTIN' IN THE TIKI MOOD RIGHT NOW, AREN'T WE, SUSAN?

Susan: WE ARE.

WE ARE.

Huell: I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S THE MUSIC OR THE DANCING OR THE MAI TAIS OR WHAT WE GOT.

Susan: WE GOT IT ALL.

Huell: WE'RE GETTIN' INTO IT HERE, BOY.

KEEP ON DOING THAT.

WE'VE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME HERE, BOB.

>> WELL, I'M GLAD YOU CAME, HUELL.

IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

Huell: I CAME HERE, THINGS STARTED OFF KIND OF QUIET, AND THEY'RE ENDING UP WITH A TIKI BANG RIGHT HERE.

>> ALL RIGHT, IT'S GREAT.

A GREAT DAY, YOU KNOW.

Huell: Y'ALL HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR OVER 50 YEARS.

>> YEAH, WE SURE HAVE.

Huell: AND YOU'RE STILL GOING STRONG.

>> WELL, WE'RE STILL GOING ANYWAY.

Huell: YOU'RE STILL BRINGING THE TIKI SPIRIT TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

Bob: YEP, AND THE GOOD JAMAICAN RUM, TOO.

Huell: I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE.

THIS IS PROBABLY THE SILLIEST LOOKING THING I'VE EVER DONE, BUT I'M SURE HAVING A GOOD TIME.

Bob: KCET, WE'LL THRILL YOU ALL.

Huell: I GOTTA TELL YOU.

THAT'S WHAT'S FUN ABOUT THE TIKI EXPERIENCE, IS THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO COME IN HERE AND NOT HAVE A GOOD TIME.

Bob: I THINK SO.

OUR CUSTOMERS TELL US THAT.

THEY SAID THEY JUST GOT THE FEELING WHEN THEY COME IN HERE.

WE HAVE PEOPLE JUST WALK IN AND LOOK AND JUST SIT AROUND AND TALK.

Huell: NOW THE MAI TAIS AREN'T PROVIDED TO ALL YOUR CUSTOMERS, ARE THEY?

Bob: UNFORTUNATELY, NO.

Huell: YOU DON'T HAVE A LIQUOR LICENSE.

Bob: WE USE CHEAPER RUM WITH THEM.

Huell: BUT YOU'VE GOT A LICENSE TO BRING HAPPINESS TO EVERYBODY, AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY.

I WOKE UP IN A TIKI MOOD, AND I'M STILL IN A TIKI MOOD HERE AT OCEANIC ARTS IN WHITTIER.

THIS IS DEFINITELY HARDCORE TIKI.

C'MON, LET'S GO.

WHOO-HOO!

Susan: SHAKE IT!

[SOUTH SEA ISLAND MUSIC PLAYS] [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--]