Tiki Oasis

Everyone can be beautiful here-​Its not a skinny or a 20s event. They don’t discriminate against large and old folks. The focus is on drinking rum and then drinking some more and hearing music. Its like Mardi Gras, pace yourself and don’t drink early to avoid passing out at 8 pm. Best part is the free booze at room parties. Parking is tough if you’re not a guest. Ive heard the room prices are very high. There are a bunch of other motels close by. If you commute don’t drink a couple of hours before driving. Police enforce DUIs strictly.
Note: There is no legal parking on hotel circle N, the street that the hotel is on. If you park in the bike lane on that street you get a ticket. Read the signs carefully. Please dress up. Its more fun for everyone when folks are in costume.
The theme changes every year which confuses me as TIKI is a theme. It was space/​sci fi/​future this year and it has been that in the past. Next year 2016 its monster/​horror movie or something. No need to dress in that sub-​theme.
The pool area gets packed with people that monopolize every chair the entire day with just a towel. That’s selfish and I remove the towel and sit in the chair. My complaint is that prices are high when you add everything in. Pretty steep if you also order food and drinks at the hotel. I wouldn’t pay for many of the seminars/​symposiums.

If I could live my life in Tiki Oasis I would. I felt like I was in a 1950s Elvis movie. This is the type of event you have to see to fully understand. I loved every freakin second of it. (OK well maybe not my too drunk brother-​in-​law)
The people who come here although all having something so incredible in common are not cliquish or exclusive. In fact I have never felt so welcome in my life. From the people who helped me get the room and wristband last minute to the people who gave me free drinks at the pool and let me sit under their umbrella all day.
Let me give you a quick run down:
Walk into the hotel which is all tiki style.
Take pictures
chat with every one in line
Go outside and see a million people at the pool all dressed in either Cabana wear, floral sun dresses or 50s style Hawaiian outfits.
Go up in elevator to room (seriously why are the elevators so slow?)
Throw crap in room and head down to the pool grass area to watch multiple awesome bands
Watch Go-​Go dancers next to band
After bands are over go to one of the many room parties. Seriously the room parties are in suites that have had ALL the furniture removed. There is a bar set up where they serve FREE drinks and there is a band and some rooms have burlesque
See hot girl do burlesque while hula hooping
Mind Blown
Day two: repeat.
Day three: Become profoundly depressed that it’s time to go back to the real world
Tiki Oasis I am in love.

Even for a casual connoisseur of tiki, I can’t deny that Tiki Oasis is a great time. Last year, my girlfriend and I’s first year, we made the amateur mistake of not staying at the Crowne Plaza. Having done that this year, I can say it’s so much better staying in-​house. Being able to walk to all the vendor areas, symposiums, and occasionally go back to our poolside room for a break or to watch a band from our deck was amazing.
A little disappointed we won’t be in the country for next year’s edition, but it’s good to know the tiki party never stops at tikio.

Best tiki event I have ever been to! Full of nice people, yummy drinks and the room parties are the best! Can’t wait for next year!

Always a great time!!! Each year there is a different theme which is a great way to switch things up and make each year memorable. Lots & lots of rum flowing. Great vibe with nothing but friendly Tiki followers. The symposiums will always teach you something new or you can just hang by the pool & take it all in. Lots of vendors with tons of cool stuff. And the cherry on top is the car show with a band playing as you cruise around looking at all the fine rides. This is an extended weekend to say the least, but how else can you fit it all in?

Tiki Oasis Fun Time Great Event Great Music If u r a Tiki Fan Dont Miss this Event Had Fun last year Looking fwd to another year of Tiki Fun!

Tiki Oasis is more fun for adults than Disneyland is for kids. If you like to people watch, this is the event. You will never see such amazing outfits, retro-​themed hairdos and makeup, swanky-​styled everyone. If you want to taste exotic drinks, this is the event; mixology experts create concoctions in free room parties and around the pool that are über tasty and refreshing. Best of all, the bands — from island jams to surf guitar to rockabilly to bluesy dance to just downright amazing tunes — this party rocks! The shopping is amazing too and the people are the friendliest anywhere. A must!

3.5*. This is great if all you wanna do is hang out at pool during day and go to parties at night with fun people. I loved that it was a real mix of types– families, older, hip, not hip. The drive home though we kept listing things would’ve made it better for us though so here it goes:
The CONS
Its not just tiki it’s a second theme and this year was «hulabilly» which translates into people dressed up in patch covered overalls, corn cob pipes as well as red neck/​white trash attire. This just didnt mesh well with the exotic idea of tiki enchantment and was downright confusing. The bands, dj’s, décor followed along this theme. Instead of serving pineapple teriyaki burger by the pool they offered «fried bologna»?
The hotel itself was a bit corporate bland and not nearly as tiki as hoped. With other more Polynesian influenced hotels on Shelter Island, near the ocean, the location was odd.
The car and art shows were tiny — maybe a dozen each?
There were quite a few interesting symposiums (how to host tiki party, slideshow, etc) but they’re all extra on top of your $ 100 pass (unless you buy the $ 200 or $ 300 pass). Expensive and frustrating.
The pool area was fun but not able to accommodate everyone. Maybe to be expected but bigger (or 2 pools) would be better.
The dance we were looking forward to at night was a corporate hotel room and not very inviting. A little décor or appealing lighting would’ve gone a long way.
Hotel sells out fast and is pricey. So be prepared to book nearby and drive over.
PROS
fun people! Fabulous attire with people busting out their vintage tiki finest everywhere. folks were pretty welcoming and open to meeting new people. Cool older cats, beautiful pin ups, everyone included!
Free flowing booze at sip n shop, and of course room crawls. These were a blast, some with bands that really rocked. This is really what tiki oasis is about in my opinion. So if you’re not up for the crawl then you’re really missing the experience.
Quite a few vendors with nice mix of vintage and new.
Burlesque show– fun! Emcee has a real hoot!
Pool– fun! Lots of kids tho. Not really a problem if you drink enough rum but be prepared. Could’ve been a tad warmer but lots of toys, rafts with poolside entertainment. More bands, less dj’s!
Great bands on the stages but we kept missing them! Just missed at car show, then pool, main stage etc– you gotta be on top of schedule or else miss out.
****
Upshot– overall fun but pricey and a bit disappointed.

How much fun did I have you ask? So much fun that I am still in bed 15 hours later.
There’s a lot to do every single day. The best deal is to volunteer so you can get a free weekend pass. Just upgrade it to include Sunday night.
During the day, there are shows, classes, and shopping. At night there’s more bands, and room parties! They are so much fun.
You just go, find a room where you can see bands play, get drinks, and have fun all night long.
The great thing about the hotel is that there could be parties on either side of your room and you won’t hear much when you sleep.
Everyone is super friendly and there’s such a mellow vibe all weekend.

It’s terrible! Don’t go! Turn around and run! (Whew! We weeded out THOSE people. Now for the review). Of course you already know this is the most awesome event ever. The two creators appear to be very friendly and genuine people. This «we’re all friends here» vibe then extends out to the crowd. Everyone smiles, everyone is happy. Yes, it’s a cooler-​than-​thou thing, but somehow, it seems to rise above that into a festive, warm spirit. I’m just happy I found a place where I can wear false eyelashes to breakfast and fit in. I have observed young kids and old grammas, pin-​up girls and women of size. As long as you are fun and can wear some wacky vintage Hawaiian outfit, you fit in.

Mr Kupcakes and I have been to Tiki Oasis a few times. It’s a big tiki party all weekend long. There’s great music, art and shopping. We’ve picked up lots of great items for our home tiki bar, as well as our over-​the-​top bright tiki wardrobe. Yeah, we know, you want to see if now, don’t you?

The best tiki event i have been to thus far. I was a tiki oasis virgin last year, but was lucky enough to be able to perform with one of the bands playing… this year im planning to return, no matter if we perform or not!
Amazing venders, music, artists, performers, and of course drinks! There are people who host different events in there rooms and as attendees we may enter to enjoy the wonderful drinks made (tips are appreciated!). Basically its one giant tiki party not to be missed.

Best Tiki Event ever! I was lucky enough to live in San Diego, so it was right in my backyard. So far, I have been 4 years, and I hope to continue going every year coming up!
The last two years I even brought my son, and he LOVED the music and pool~it is totally what you make it. It can be a crazy drunken-​rum punch soaked party, or you can bring the kids and it is a great family event too!
I’m a huge fan of Otto and Baby Doe for making this event happen every year!
I even volunteered the first three years I went and received a free event pass & awesome goodie bag. It’s a great way to meet new people and its actually FUN too!
Love this event!

WE LOVE TIKI OASIS!
I was at Frankie’s Tiki Bar in Vegas last year and the bar tender told me about Tiki Oasis. Well, wasn’t that one of my luckiest days ever?
I got on the inter-​web and budda bing — tickets to the coolest, most kitschy, retro event EVER! This thing was insanely fun, the people were cool the entertainment was fantastic and the drinks — well — ABUNDANT!
I will be back for Tiki Oasis 2011 with bells on! Tikilicious bells that is.

Tiki Oasis is the greatest retro cool event in the world. Bar none! If you like original tiki artwork, surf/​lounge music, and the hottest pin-​up rockabilly-​vibe gals, this is the spot for you. The event is very organized and everyone that you see at the hotel is part of Tiki Oasis. If you are into retro island tiki, or if you are in the smoking-​jacket-​fez-​hat-​wearing cocktail scene, this 3-​day party is for you! We brought our children, and they rate Tiki Oasis higher than Disneyland, for their favorite place in the world! Something for everyone.

I look forward to this event all year long. Glad I booked hotel already I see it is booked for this year already! Diggin the room crawls and all the killer people I meet every year. Not diggin the killer headache i have every morning i wake up down there… no way to avoid them though… It has gotten quite swamped with children over the years and think it might be out growing the venue also. Vegas next year maybe?

Tiki Oasis is the awesomest Tiki party on the planet! So many cool things to do, so many tasty cocktails to drink, so many hip bands and DJs to entertain you, and cool educational symposia! I won’t even get into the room parties!!! It’s great that we take over the whole hotel, so we don’t have to worry about annoying other hotel guests with our loud selves.
It’s so much fun to hang out with all these like-​minded tikiphiles for three whole days! Just remember to bring your sunglasses because some of those shirts are really, really bright!!!

Best Tiki Event, BAR NONE! Originally took place at the Caliente Tropics in palm Springs, but moved to the Hanalei in SD to accommodate the swelling crowds. Still really affordable, too!
Tons of vendors of vintage clothing & wares, original art (Tiki carvings, mugs, jewelry, imagery, etc.), as well a great musical acts, seminars, and a freindly, lively atmosphere.
There is something to do at almost any hour from the Thursday it started until Sunday night. People have even been starting to stay over on Sunday, in order to make (what is becoming) the traditional Monday morning breakfast at The Waffle Spot in The King’s Inn across the way…

09 was our first trip to Tiki Oasis but only because we didn’t know about it. Definitely one of the most fun and entertaining events I have ever attended. Everything is very eclectic. The entertainment was top notch, it’s nonstop. People watching at it’s finest. Tons of way cool merchandise for sail. If you like retro, you’ll love Tiki Oasis.
Rick Saw

John
kidding about the dorks or hanging with the wrong crowd ‘cus there are lots of cool cats and kittens hanging out and partying at Tiki Oasis. It’s so good, I’ve made a trip from New York to San Diego twice just to attend this event and plan on many more!
A celebration of Polynesian pop and retro culture, music ranging from surf to lounge to exotica, burlesque (how NOT dorky is that), vintage fashion, cocktail mixology and tropical drinks, free film screenings, 60’s go-​go dancing, classic cars, and pin-​up beauty. The fabulous Bali Hai restaurant by the water in Shelter Island is also a place of celebration. There are also really great vendors selling everything from clothing to cocktail accoutrements. And it’s a diverse, all-​ages crowd.
The coolest DJs come from all over the country to spin indoors and out, all under a beautiful San Diego sky in a tiki hotel that keeps the pool and hot tub open till 2am for the sold-​out Tiki Oasis crowd. What’s not to like?
You won’t get much sleep, but you will meet lots of fun people and have memories to treasure.
And if this sounds good to you, I also recommend The Hukilau held in Fort Lauderdale, FL.