I met Shani Thomson at Tiki Kon a couple years ago. She mentionted that she has a home tiki and she lives in Victoria BC. I live in Seattle and getting up to “The Island” can be a little difficult. The best way to get up to Victoria taking The Clipper which is a ferry boat that leaves downtown Seattle and will drop you off in the middle of downtown Victoria. Paul Tanner put together and home tiki bar tour, visiting three home bars including Shani’s! I finally got to see The Huki Lounge which is in Shani’s living room or is it the other way around? Here is Shani’s story of how she got into tiki and the history of The Huki Lounge…
When and what got you into the Tiki lifestyle?
Shani- As a child in the 80s I took hula dancing lessons, and coveted my grandmother’s vintage hula nodder(now part of my collection). When my husband Jeff and I purchased our home (2002), we knew we needed to do something with the bright green 400 square foot addition. In early 2003 my love of tropical plants, mixing cocktails, and Hawaiiana took me into a deep dive of discovery that landed me on the front door of the online forum Tiki Central. I signed up as Tikiwahine, and later became a moderator. Our backyard wedding on the 21st of August (the anniversary of the day Hawaii became a state) 2004 was tiki themed, naturally.
You live in Victoria B.C., what is the Tiki scene like up in Canada?
Shani- Since the closing of many classics (Trader Vic’s, the Canadian Beachcomber chain, the Waldorf and Jardin Tiki to name a few), we now have legit tiki bars with stellar decor and wonderful cocktails in BC, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec that I know of. There have been events in both BC and Alberta, and I only see them becoming more frequent. Canadian tiki enthusiasts have always been a warm, welcoming bunch, sharing a collective love of the genre, and travelling cross-province to meet up. We had our very first event here in Victoria recently, and are already looking forward to another happening next year!
How did you come up with the name of your home Tiki bar; The Huki Lounge?
Shani- My home tiki bar was named after our memorable honeymoon in 2004 to the Hukilau annual tiki event in Florida. A hurricane came through that year, ending the event early and closing all of the hotels. We were taken in by the Mai Kai, and then a local couple adopted us for a few days until we could get a flight home. We rode the hurricane out with them in their home tiki bar.
Can you give a little history on your home Tiki Bar?
Shani- After deciding the tiki vibe would be perfect for our large living room, we painted it brown and added bamboo matting to the ceiling. Working in downtown Victoria at the time, I had daily access to thrift stores, leading to a rapid collection expansion. We installed our first mug shelf, and built a very large desk, trimmed out with bamboo, naturally! From 2011-2013 we lived in the province of Ontario. We moved the entire bar and its contents there and back, something I do not recommend.
Not including your own, what is your favorite Tiki bar?
Shani- The Mai Kai holds a special place in my heart. In 2004, when Hurricane Jeanne forced us to evacuate our Hukilau host hotel, the Mai Kai generously provided shelter and refuge. After settling in and attempting to rebook our flights, we were invited to explore the expansive property and discovered a serene indoor oasis hidden along a secret pathway. The Mai Kai’s unique blend of history, hidden rooms, passageways, stunning decor, captivating stage show, and warm hospitality makes it my favorite tiki bar.
What is your favorite Tiki drink?
Shani- My favourite tiki drink is my own recipe, called the Blackstrap Betty. I was very surprised when it won Forbidden Island’s 2nd Tiki Central drink contest.
If you would like to try the Blackstrap Betty, here is the recipe:
Blackstrap Betty
1 1/2 oz. Cruzan 5 Year Rum
1/2 oz. Cruzan Black Strap Rum
3 oz. Pineapple Juice
Juice
1/2 Lime (1/2 oz.)
1/4 oz. Coconut Cream
1/4 oz. Liquor 43
Shake with ice, and serve over crushed ice with a sprig of mint and the 1/2 spent lime shell.
Any future plans for your Tiki bar?
Shani- I think most tiki bars are ever evolving, and that’s part of the fun for us. Our next project is another mug shelf, and more bamboo for the ceiling. I have to admit that sourcing timber bamboo in Canada can be quite tricky, but we are up for the challenge!
