Behind the Scenes: Ohana Luau at the Lake 2012

Phew! I just got back from a whirlwind weekend filled with rum, Polynesian delights, swimming and well, more rum, Ohana was once again a great time! This was our third year enjoying the scenic view of Lake George, NY while lounging about the pool at The Tiki hotel or peaking out the window and seeing the awesome Adirondack Mountains.

View from our room

We arrived on Friday around 1pm, the drive took about 5 1/2 hours and was a pleasant journey. Derek and I like to sing songs and crack lots of jokes, I think we both get a little goofy while we travel.....it's lots of fun! When we arrived we checked into the event which we both received our awesome swag bags filled with Tiki goodness, this year we even got some little bottles of rum!

 

I'm excited about those tumblers from Sourpuss!!!

Look it's me! The ad in Ohana Magazine for Cats Like Us

We met up with half of the Buffalo Crew (a.k.a B.U.T.T.'s, I will explain later!) that were already there, as we were jonesing to get in the pool and start sipping on some cocktails. We did a quick change into our first of many Tiki outfits to hang out in our B.U.T.T. cave (which is a large tent our friends brought) to continue the many steady hours of cocktail sampling, grilling and making friends. We had an awesome party location in which fellow Ohana-er's would stop by and say hello! I think some people thought we all were a little insane with how much effort we put into our party spot, but Tiki is serious business (hahahaa, not!).
 

"To the B.U.T.T. Cave!" Our tent all closed up as it rained on Saturday

Even goth girls need some Polynesian delight!

Why do we travel to Ohana? Well it's an awesome small-ish event (the attendance is capped at 300 people), that is not about what you wear or what you do, it's all about the Aloha spirit! You don't have to have a Tiki bar in your home or even dress in vintage resort wear, you just need to grab your bathing suit, prep your liver and get ready to meet a lot of really awesome people! I love Tiki, it's a way of life!

 

Did I mention how much rum we drank? A LOT! I'm detoxing this week as I think I may have turned into a partial pineapple (a rum infused one). Friday continued on with the room crawl in the evening in which attendee's volunteer to host a event in their room, basically they make drinks for everyone! Each room may or may not have a theme, yet they mix up tropical libations to share the aloha spirit. Mmmmmmmmmmm! Before we embarked on the slow stumble to the designated rooms, we put on our B.U.T.T fez's!

 

Ok, what is up with the fez's? Well fez's are something that a lot of people will wear in the Tiki/lounge culture or like the F.O.M who organized the Ohana event. Basically the first Ohana we attended I inquired about how to become part of the F.O.M and was met with a scoff and told that they don't just let anyone join (don't get me wrong they are all really nice people!) Well, as our little Buffalo Tiki group grew we all decided to get fez's and call ourselves, Buffalo United Tiki Talk or B.U.T.T for short.....we're really mature. *Wink*

 

We're still working on the official design, but it's all in the spirit of humor and well, drinking. Our group gets together now and again and we're planning on taking some more Tiki related trips together, Tiki roadtrip!?

 

Drunk B.U.T.T's between rooms at the room crawl

One of my personal favorite rooms was the headhunter themed room, I have to admit I don't remember what drink they served or what was really going on as it was 11pm and we had been steadily drinking for almost 12 hours *hiccup*. 

Headhunter!!!

They also had an cauldron which was an awesome photo opp, apparently Derek is enjoying being boiled alive. Hahahahaa!!!

I laugh every time I look at this picture!

Did I mention we drank a lot? Well, this girl right here woke up with a slight hangover, yet there is no time to lay in bed all day at Ohana! Perhaps a lot of coffee, a starchy breakfast and some hair of the dog helped me to bounce back! Saturday afternoon was filled with; shopping at the vendor tent, silent auction, (insert a nap), making friends (I met Deidre and Andy from Sourpuss and they are AWESOME!), and swimming. In the evening all the B.U.T.T's changed into our matching outfits for the luau dinner and Polynesian show.

Looks like I pee'd myself with excitement

All in our matching outfits while in line to get the luau feast

Sunday was spent packing up and then heading on the road to make the journey home. Mahalo Lake George, NY for providing the perfect back drop to a wonderful summer adventure.

Thanks for reading!
XOXO-Meagan Kyla