tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47909258296835785432011-11-27T16:11:19.071-08:00A weird, wonderful way of looking at island culture.Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.comBlogger341100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-80541630808722822462011-05-04T07:47:00.000-07:002011-05-04T07:47:17.511-07:00

Found this Travel Channel video showing a variety of Aloha shirts. Some of the shirts featured are pure island kitsch, while others have a classic look and style that hearken back to a gentler more refined period. All are great examples of what makes an Aloha Shirt the only thing to wear on or off-island. For videos featuring eco-friendly, expedition activities on the Hawaiian Islands, go to

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-43535937964940270652011-05-03T17:45:00.000-07:002011-05-03T17:45:11.229-07:00

A great deal on a Hawaiian flight. Just a quick post. Hawaiian Airlines is adding a fourth Airbus A330 to their fleet. "Big deal" you say. I agree, except that they're pretty excited about it - excited enough to offer a fantastic discounted fare. You can fly from the West Coast for as little as $334! That's direct and round-trip. I did a test and found a fare from November 1st through

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-48490559433367458692011-03-16T19:21:00.000-07:002011-03-16T19:21:09.275-07:00

There is no higher potential for disappointment than combining two of your most favorite things. Hawaii/Disney kitsch - What could be better? Anyone who knows much about me, knows that I am a huge Disney fan. I'm an annual pass-holder (despite living 1,176 miles away from the Main Gate). The choice of having my kids attend classes or go to Disneyland is considered a topic worthy of strenuous

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-2847555779537604612011-02-16T09:04:00.000-08:002011-02-16T09:04:10.286-08:00

You think you have bad luck... read on. THIS is a bad day at work. Most people know the story of Moby Dick. Fewer know that the fictional classic was based on real-life events. In 1820, the Nantucket whale ship, the Essex, was attacked and ultimately sunk by a whale. Independent crew accounts attest to the premeditated actions of the whale, which was the dramatic element that inspired Herman

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-10569586867278414772011-01-28T08:51:00.000-08:002011-01-28T08:51:53.425-08:00

This weekend the Seattle Aquarium is bringing a little of the Aloha spirit to our dreary winter. Sponsored in partnership with the Oahu Visitor's Bureau, Alaska Airlines Vacations, the Waikiki Aquarium and KMTT radio, the event will feature exhibits and events direct from the islands. From the Seattle Aquarium website: Visit Hawaii in your own back yard! Our Pacific Coral Reef exhibit features

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-65071143527150865572011-01-22T11:10:00.000-08:002011-01-22T11:10:02.462-08:00

How many "Maui No Ka 'Oi" shot glasses can one person use? Most people bring back items when they travel as gifts for those who could not make the trip. This was especially relevant when travel to the islands was truly an expedition. A gift from Hawaii was a memento to be treasured and even handed down. Now the airport concessions can handle any last minute souvenirs that were forgotten while

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-50062422802901930932011-01-09T11:38:00.000-08:002011-01-09T11:38:56.862-08:00

What would Hawaii be without pineapple? Scenery like this was doomed to be history for future Maui generations. Recently I picked up a copy of Hawai'i Magazine while I had some time to kill. It had an article about the Hali'imaile Pineapple Company, Ltd. saving pineapple production on the island of Maui. For most people, this would be of passing interest. For me, it was like Christmas all

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-58776374684295216162011-01-08T11:27:00.000-08:002011-01-08T11:30:39.451-08:00

Savor a taste of the islands during the coming cold winter. Cook up a plate of short ribs, close your eyes, and it's as if you are there. © HawaiiMagazine.com Hawaiian food has always been an eclectic menu of dishes. From the decidedly Polynesian short ribs to the European-influenced macaroni salad found on mix plate lunches to the unlikely star of many dishes, Spam, the flavors of Hawaii

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-18943639489556492102010-12-30T18:17:00.000-08:002010-12-30T18:17:52.388-08:00

Hawaiian Airlines is the official airline of islandkitsch.com. Some lucky travelers are on their way to a great time. PRNewsFoto/Hawaiian Airlines When I started writing this blog, I committed to featuring products that I would use. I've worked to get affiliated with the right advertising partners so that you, the reader, could buy the products and services you see here with confidence. Last

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-29637874756020141172010-12-27T18:32:00.000-08:002010-12-28T17:36:17.604-08:00

This is the time of the year when I miss the islands the most. Is there really a choice here? For better or worse, I've chosen the Pacific Northwest as my home. For anyone who hasn't experienced a Northwest winter, the legends don't do it justice. There's a reason the suicide rate spikes this time of year and it has little to do with the holidays. Not to belabor the point, but it's

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-30378583553922065242010-12-19T17:34:00.000-08:002010-12-19T17:39:17.719-08:00

Sometimes it's hard to find authentic tikis online. So when I find a worthy source, I want to share it with everyone. The good people at Tikimaster.com have the most complete online selection of tikis and authentic island decor I've ever come across. Tiki artisan at work (from the Tiki Master website).  There's an online store you should check out because you're one of two types of people (or

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-87123534741722567462010-12-14T18:26:00.000-08:002010-12-14T18:26:06.885-08:00

Waikiki Waves Hawaiian Shirt one of many great selections from hawaiian-shirt.net Fortune smiles. I was racking my brain to figure out my next post. It wasn't looking good for a decent topic, when along comes a comment on my post from yesterday. "Hawaiian Shirt Guy" wrote that he thought the alternative Christmas tree was a great idea. Being the curious guy I am, I clicked on his link and it

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-47929103869948959982010-12-13T22:40:00.000-08:002010-12-13T22:54:34.840-08:00

There's nothing quite like the evergreen Christmas tree for to inspire memories and serve as the centerpiece for family traditions. But did you know that there are great kitsch alternatives to the traditional Christmas tree? I just put up my Christmas tree ( yes, I know that's similar to how I started my last post, but go with me). It got me thinking about what Christmas trees would be like on

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-91425329344645257842010-12-12T19:21:00.000-08:002010-12-28T16:42:52.265-08:00

Just put up my Christmas lights. It got me thinking, as often happens, about island kitsch. I have a string of pepper lights in my office that I enjoy having on when I'm working. They supply just the right ambiance to bring out the creative energy when it's needed. In fact I'm using them right now. Since, I associate this time of year with the islands, I was wondering what was available in

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-6179890953790709992010-12-10T18:19:00.000-08:002010-12-10T18:19:28.306-08:00

The now defunct Bellevue Trader Vic's I was reading about Trader Vic's today, looking for ideas about this blog. I have been writing about Tiki Bars a lot lately and it dawned on me that Trader Vic's is the ultimate Tiki Bar - and it's not. For anyone who hasn't had the pleasure, describing Trader Vic's as a "tiki bar" is like referring to the Super Bowl as a football game. It's accurate, but

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-18128209839525715212010-12-08T17:30:00.000-08:002010-12-08T17:33:03.294-08:00

Found these little items in my wanderings throughout the web. The Hawaiian surf motif lends a bit of the islands to your personal or guest bathrooms. There are even matching shower curtains with the same theme. This is from the Amazon.com website. A fresh approach to decorating. GO beyond ordinary with this colorful collection that includes shower curtain, shower hooks, ceramic bath accessories

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-87365488007503297072010-12-07T18:29:00.000-08:002010-12-07T18:29:33.206-08:00

Along with an interest in island kitsch, I have what some call a passion for cooking. I enjoy experimenting with food combinations, methods and the challenge of preparing something exotic. Now that I have some experience at it, my wife says she enjoys it too. I have yet to win over my teenage sons. This isn't going to become a cooking blog. I'll leave that in the capable hands of Eric over at

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-26482307956845753872010-12-06T22:04:00.000-08:002010-12-06T22:04:04.392-08:00

The Tonga Room in San Fransisco, not Seattle Tiki bars are about as kitsch as you can get. Something about mixing alcohol with thatch roofs and tiki idols demands a stretching of good taste and relaxing of restraint. The Puget Sound is blessed with an assortment of tiki bars. The damp, cold and darkness, especially during this time of the year, inspire people to shake off the cabin fever and

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-6970924922128620032010-12-05T23:02:00.000-08:002010-12-05T23:03:39.894-08:00

from the Kahiki Foods website. Tiki-themed restaurants were more abundant several years ago, than they are now. That's too bad. It was a special event to go to one and bask in the extravagant tikiness of it all. The menu was usually american-asian/american-polynesian. The drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic alike were served in tiki glasses. And the decor - palms, large-leafed vegetation,

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-37675232159215734112010-12-04T21:25:00.000-08:002010-12-04T21:25:22.332-08:00

If you're even the slightest bit off center in your humor and you live in the greater Seattle area, you've probably already made your pilgrimage to the Mecca of Kitsch. Archie McPhee is one of the all-time greatest sources of rare, weird and wonderful gag and party items. Walking into the store, (which has apparently moved again) on Stone Way in the Wallingford neighborhood in Seattle is like

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-46041845571713047162010-12-03T17:47:00.000-08:002010-12-03T17:48:56.255-08:00

Sometimes it takes a lot of work to create an article. I come up with what I think is a great idea that I'm very excited about and am just fidgeting like an eight-year old in my excitement to share it. Dreams and visions of Pulitzers dance in my head. I sit at my keyboard as a famed concerto pianist would sit before a grand piano and begin typing. After coming out of my creative trance, I read

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-86292866028559681682010-12-02T18:14:00.000-08:002010-12-02T18:14:18.253-08:00

Season's Glow by Peggy Chun Maybe its the year-round warmth or the complete lack of snow (except atop the volcanoes) that makes Hawaii the last place you would associate with Christmas. But don't write it off too quickly. There are a number of traditions that take advantage of the unique nature of the islands to inspire "peace on earth and goodwill toward men." 1. Surfing Santa - this image

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-4207155103692322542010-12-01T18:14:00.000-08:002010-12-01T18:14:14.034-08:00

My recent "subscription" to the awesome cooking blog, Back of the Refrigerator Gourmet (botrg.blogspot.com), has inspired me to write my first food article for Island Kitsch. When I was thinking about what to write about, the answer hit me like a ton of bricks, if the bricks were made of pressed meat... come on you know what I'm talking about... Spam! How big a deal is Spam in Hawaii? You find

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-61402663344114638812010-11-30T17:11:00.000-08:002010-11-30T17:17:06.439-08:00

I was in the post office today and saw these stamps available. While not strictly island "kitsch," it is an everyday object decorated with an island theme. I went to the post office website and got the scoop on this unique product. From the USPS.com webpage: Featuring a Hawaiian rain forest, the 2010 Nature of America issuance is the 12th stamp pane in an educational series focusing on the

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-80522071924662724492010-11-28T18:26:00.000-08:002010-11-29T15:05:01.520-08:00

I was reading an article on kitsch the other day. The writer commented that she recalled sitting in art class, listening to her teacher degrade examples of art by calling them kitsch - among other things. The teacher picked up a dictionary and quoted from it... "sentimental, vulgar ... pretentious and in bad taste." In a rare moment of rebellion, the writer raised her hand and asked, "doesn't

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-68579454348448627512010-10-09T11:59:00.000-07:002010-10-09T12:32:43.035-07:00

Image by Steve Vidler. Print available by clicking on image. Receiving a lei upon arrival on the islands is such a part of our image of a Hawaii trip that people who don’t experience this ritual really miss it. There is an entire industry in Hawaii based on providing lei for all occasions. For instance, if you were planning a trip to the islands, you could call a company like Get Leid in

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-14701719963143199852010-04-11T20:37:00.000-07:002010-04-11T20:38:26.013-07:00

Starting Lineup by Scott Westmoreland Surfing is as iconic an island sport as they come. Something about an individual putting themselves in the direct path of one of the most powerful forces of nature speaks to the independent spirit of island and coastal dwellers. It's not a wonder than that the sport was used as a proof of manhood for young Hawaiian chiefs and village leaders. As with many

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-23001567451866508282010-03-26T18:33:00.000-07:002010-03-26T18:33:26.360-07:00

This isn't my typical blog post (whatever that is). But I saw an article in the March issue of Sunset Magazine about Top 10 unique stay-over destinations. Buried in the description of number 10 was a golden nugget that I just had to pull out and share. Shady Dell is a unique trailer park turned vacation rental destination located in Bisbee, Arizona. Bisbee is about 36 minutes south of Tombstone,

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-3678800901840858712010-03-03T20:20:00.000-08:002010-03-05T15:35:47.723-08:00

I was having coffee the other day (because that's what we do in the cold, wet, Northwest when we we're wishing we were sitting on a warm beach somewhere) and a friend of mine who knows I write this blog asked when I was going to write about the ukulele. I replied that it hadn't occurred to me, but I'm always open to new ideas. We moved on to other topics. Later that day, another friend emailed

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-65871129140581631372010-02-14T21:06:00.000-08:002010-02-14T21:07:55.402-08:00

Top-ten lists are great. There's enough room on a ten-item list to make it easy to name all your favorites, but it also forces a reasonable level of exclusivity that gives the list authenticity. In a recent issue of Coastal Living magazine (what, you didn't think I would be caught dead without a subscription to a magazine that features islands, would you?), the editor-in-chief, M. Lindsay

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-20626801393085600112010-01-25T17:45:00.000-08:002010-01-25T18:07:26.905-08:00

It's not just Hawaiian girls wiggling their hips.Along with their gods, the Tahitian expatriates brought hula with them when they came to the Hawaiian Islands during the 11th century. In the early history of Hawaii, hula played a significant role in religious worship. The movements, body positions and chants were so sacred that the slightest error by a young performer in position or movement

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-41704477005759575642010-01-11T15:31:00.000-08:002010-01-24T14:52:53.221-08:00

There's a controversy in the land of island kitsch. It concerns the name and orgin of the ever present, sometimes gaudy, always interesting Aloha Shirt. This hawaiian fashion staple is the subject of great discussions, as most things of a trivial nature are. There are entire books written on the subject, Amazon.com Aloha Shirt books (over 1,221 according to Amazon), numerous articles,and I've

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-80629225396503320672010-01-02T15:33:00.000-08:002010-01-24T14:55:00.068-08:00

Deities are often subjects of kitsch. Bobblehead Jesus dashboard totems, large-bellied buddha candy dishes, and Star of David mantle clocks are a few examples of reconstructing ominous, somber concepts. There's a benefit to kitsch-ifying our gods (before you write your email, I know it's not a real word). It brings them closer to us so their presence is more accessible, less intimidating and

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790925829683578543.post-30940511680098743252009-12-11T11:18:00.000-08:002010-01-24T14:55:39.055-08:00

There was a moment when I was sixteen, where my life left the track that it had been happily traveling on and derailed to become a journey I had never before imagined. It happened as neatly and suddenly as that. One moment I was who I was and the next I was on my way to becoming someone completely different. The impetus was a Maui sunset. A thing that occurs daily, almost to the point of monotony

Roryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01794335564797696049noreply@blogger.com0