Hukilau 2013

I would like to post a review of this event-​it was held in the Yankee Clipper Sheraton Hotel on Ft. Lauderdale beach and continues through tonight. I spent a lot of $ and had friends flying in from San Diego to attend. Luckily they had to cancel at the last min because it would have been a disappointment for them to spend airfare on top of the event for what it was.
I adore all things kitsch and retro-​especially tiki related. This event has a lot of potential. However, due to poor planning on the part of the producer of the event and team-​it left me feeling like I had wasted money and vacation time.
We opted for full access passes and paid extra-​plus booked our rooms 6 months in advance. Due to the disorganized planning of the event, our room reservations had been mixed up and our passes were too. We had to show receipts to get things fixed and prove we had done everything correctly on our end.
Shaking that off, we proceeded to the events. Due to rain, the event was moved indoors. However, no real planning went into the alternate location even though we are officially in the rainy season. The bands were our #1 choice of things to see… but the sound system and lighting was not handled, people had to stand in a room paying for overpriced drinks ($ 8 for a small glass of cheap wine) and stair at a cement column where the bands were placed behind. It was quite odd.
The main dinner event at the Mai Kai was packed in with insufficient AC — had there been an emergency it would have been dangerous. I am a very regular patron of the Mai Kai and a big fan usually. The show and dinner was all good. The drinks were far weaker than usual though.
The dinner was over an hour late starting because the event group stood on stage thanking each other for almost an hour. There was the semblance of an inner clique who the party was all about. The rest of us were only there to apparently watch. There was no attempt to make this a fun event for all. Likewise, during the interactive portion of the show, the Mai Kai only involved the planning group and their guests. In fact all the best seats went to them.
When we returned to the hotel, vendors were complaining they had been «ripped off» and shared things about the event planner that were disturbing. There was a benefit art show yet the beneficiary had apparently not been notified and there was no mention of them other than a small flyer. The artists were left wondering where the money went.
I also heard attendees sharing hotel discussions about the event. My other friend (locals who attended with us) and her husband’s ceiling started collapsing in there room from rain leaks. Vendors were angry, guests were unhappy. Yet the core clique continued to party.
I posted a very objective review on their website and they removed it. No desire for open honest communication. My biggest disappointment was my all-​access pass wasn’t honored and a full shuttle of pass holders were shooed away from one of the main events because it was full. Many of the crowd inside were not wearing the additional priced all access pass wristbands. They sent us outside and we were also shooed away from there too due to regular non Hukilau guests. We ended up not getting anything at all for the extra $ we spent on those passes.
The event could be a good one if planned well. After inquiring more about the planners, it was clear its run by people who aren’t professional event planners. In my opinion, you shouldn’t be accepting $ and advertising things you can’t adequately deliver on and run. In addition, some of the events advertised never happened.
I wish I could get my money back. And the vacation time I used to attend this event.