I probably should state my name: Kimi Schroeder.
Quick history: Moved to Walla Walla from So Cal in 1992.
Started the roller derby league Walla Walla Sweets Rollergirls
Skated as Purl Slam in 2009.
Married to Layne for 30 years.
3 kids 14 year old at home, 22 year old in Bellingham, 20 year old in Berkeley.
Kimi, I don’t think I could write a better introduction than that!
What’s the tiki scene like where you live?
Kimi- There is literally no scene in Walla Walla. Susannah Mosher’s parents and brother live here, but that’s it. A local brewery had a tiki week this winter and added a few tropical beers to their menu, but the decor was limited to tiki party garland and plastic leis. The music playing was typical Indie. Still, it was at least a place to drink a Grisette Mango Beer and a Guava Hibiscus Gose during a cold snowy night.
What brought you into the ‘Tiki lifestyle’ and how long has it been part of your life?
Kimi- I have a natural love of sand, beach and ocean. Being in Southeast Washington doesn’t feed that love as often as I’d like, so we trek over to the coast a few times a year. I was raised in Southern California during the rise of the skate and surf culture of the 70’s. Moving from a coastal community to a rural small town was a culture shock for sure and to keep the coastal feeling I started to adopt various aspects of decor. It started with the typical shells and treasures found on our many beach vacations. An outdoor tiki bar first then a tiki pond, then a room with a beach theme, eventually evolving into full-blown tiki fever. Though I’ve been a fan of all things “tiki” for years now, my home interior starting reflecting this love for just the last few years. I wasn’t aware of the lifestyle till maybe 2 years ago. Sadly, I am the only one in my family (and town) that is “all about the tiki”. Though I have dear friends that totally respect and even contribute to my tikiness.
Can you give a little history of how it all came together?
Kimi- An “Ah Ha!” moment happened as I was standing in a mess that was the original dining room. As I turned around and around (it’s a small space) I started to see potential, it has a natural doorway into the kitchen, which would further serve all bar needs. I created a bar top on the half wall and that set the wheels in motion! I used objects around the house, bamboo from the bedroom, shells, knick-knacks etc. It didn’t really start evolving, though, till I received my first real piece from my husband for Christmas, the large bamboo cabinet…
All the pictures, furniture and accessories came from various thrift and consignment stores in our little town. A trip to Seal Beach during Winter Break allowed me to score my beloved puffer fish and bamboo seagull. I started with the bar top a solid 6 months ago, but as I’m reflecting on it with my husband right now, he claims it’s been a longer process that started with a dream and isn’t quite finished yet. I think that means he has given me permission to start spilling into the rest of the house.
Any story behind the name?
Kimi- “The Pissed Mermaid” Sort of a double meaning there. The story goes as follows: A middle-aged mom went to Hawaii with other moms for the first time ever. She was so excited to be on an island and submerged in ocean water again. She was raised in Southern California and learned to swim in the ocean. Moving to the Pacific Northwest prevented her from playing in the ocean due to the frigid temperatures and notorious rip currents. So being in a place, where the water was warm, clear and calm brought high expectations from this self proclaimed Mermaid Mama. Her first encounter in the water was pure bliss. The salt on her lips was reminiscent of childhood days at the beach. Her second encounter in the water brought on a severe bout of vertigo (for the remainder of the trip) and for the next two weeks, she sat near the water, or ankle deep in the water. A tiki drink in hand and a longing to be submerged and swimming with the fish brought only one thought to her mind. She was, one, pissed, mermaid!
So the name came from my frustration at not being able to fully experience the ocean. The second meaning of the name comes from the word “pissed” also referring to, being drunk. So it’s up to the visitor to interpret the name as they see fit.
What is your favorite Tiki drink? Why?
Kimi- I’m still trying to find my favorite. They all have such similar tastes (I need to branch out more). In my bar I’m partial to rum and coke with a twist (served in a tiki glass obviously). But I really love my Tiki Tea. Black tea with either a guava/mango mix juice or watermelon juice. Add a shot of plain or flavored rum and I’ll settle in under the palm trees with a good book.
What is your favorite Tiki bar? Not including your own!
Kimi-Don the Beachcomber in Huntington Beach is my favorite place to visit. I went to a middle school dance there, I’ve had wonderful eats there with friends and got to introduce my 19 year old to a taste of Tiki culture there. Most recent visit included the Hula Girls and Outta Sites with a dance floor filled with Hawaiian print clad folks, dancing without any thought of judgment or fear of embarrassment. A “safe place” for Tiki enthusiasts to dance and be goofy all at once. I also love this place because of the atmosphere. Whether it is filled with lots of people or just a few guests, you feel as though you stepped through a portal and landed somewhere in the South Pacific.
Outside of great drinks, what do you think are essential elements in creating the perfect Tiki environment?
Kimi- Ironically, great drinks are not the focus of my bar yet (though I am constantly working towards that goal). My bar is about the experience. I think it’s important to have so much to look at, that you feel like you see new things every time you visit. I want my guests to feel like they have been transported to some mystical place. Each tiki space needs to reflect the personality of the owner, some may have a more mid century feel, some may be more tropical and some may be down right Disney-ish. I think the most essential elements needed are: Lights (tiki, string, colored, flames), Bamboo (whether it’s on the bar, or a curtain, it brings that power of transformation), Music (again, subjective. I like cocktail 60’s style jazz, but others may prefer true Hawaiian or even a more Mod style), Tiki (whether traditional or kitschy, on the walls, on the glasses, on the cushions etc.). The one element that every tiki space needs to have, though, is a puffer fish hanging from the ceiling.
What does the future hold for you and your home tiki bar?
Kimi- Expansion for sure, whether outside or into the rest of the house is still negotiable. At present it serves as an oasis for me when I want to escape and a gathering spot for my adult children visiting. It seats 6 currently, so it’s more of an intimate setting than a place to party. Regardless if I expand or not, it is a spot that brings me great joy. I can be sitting in the bar or looking at it from the living room and I still feel the same satisfaction. I will continue to be on the hunt for the perfect ‘The Pissed Mermaid’ sign to officially christen my oasis.
Anything else you would like to add?
Kimi- As much as I love my tiki kitsch, I have a deep respect for Polynesian culture and strive to find a balance between the American Mid-Century Tiki experience and an authentic representation of the culture.
Aloha and Mahalo!