Member Bios
Tim Mayer • Abe Lagrimas Jr. • Helen Liu • Randy Wong • Mike Connors

Band Bios
The Septet

General Info

WAITIKI is a Boston-based tiki-tainment group that takes audiences on an exotic South Pacific sound adventure like none other. Along with its own library of original exotica music, WAITIKI also pays tribute to the classic tiki tunes of Martin Denny, Arthur Lyman, Les Baxter, and Robert Drasnin.

Started on a whim in 2003 by Randy Wong and Abe Lagrimas Jr., WAITIKI has since garnered praise and critical acclaim throughout the world. In 2005, the group headlined the Hawai’i International Jazz Festival, performing a musical farewell to Martin Denny, who had just passed away. Later that same year, the group made its debut at The Hukilau Festival in Fort Lauderdale, FL, where they performed at the legendary Mai-Kai Restaurant and alongside Robert Drasnin (composer/bandleader of the hit album Voodoo!). In 2006, the group became known in Mexico when their side project, the WAITIKI “Orchestrotica” performed original big band arrangements inspired by Juan Garcia Esquivel at Mexico City’s Festival de Mexico, an annual international event that celebrates Mexican culture and the arts.

Recently, WAITIKI won Hawaii Music Awards for its first and second albums, “Charred Mammal Flesh: Exotic Music for BBQ”, and “Rendezvous in Okonkuluku” (respectively). The group’s first win (in 2007) was a dual honor, in that the category (Exotica Album of the Year) was created for the group, in recognition of their efforts for bringing exotic tiki music back to popularity. WAITIKI’s bandleader Randy Wong also received a nomination in the 2007 Ontario Independent Music Awards (Canada) for “Best USA Song” for his exotica composition “Cave of Uldo”.

In addition to its exotic music, WAITIKI is also known for its original drink menu; a collection of ‘mid-century-esque’ Polynesian cocktails crafted especially for the band by some of the world’s best known mixologists: including the Okonkulukooler by Jeff “Beach Bum” Berry, the Maharaja’s Revenge by Brother Cleve (of Combustible Edison), and the Wai Niu by Kern Mattei (GM of the Mai Kai restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, FL).

Special Guests (2004 - Present)

• Lopaka Colon (percussion, birdcalls)
• Zaccai Curtis (piano)
• Greg Paré (vibes)
• Jim Benoit (vibes)
• Charles Morgan (vocals
• Winnie Dahlgren (vibes)
• Ricardo Monson (percussion)
• Ernesto Diaz (percussion)
• Sherry Shaoling (vocals)
• Vanessa Carlisle (dance)
• LANGELO (dance)
• Kyle Crane (drums)
• Oudom Preap (kung-fu)

Collaborators (2006 - Present)

• Sam Gambino (illustration)
• Brother Cleve (Grand Poobah of Grand Ideas)
• Jim Beloff (advisor & inspirator)
• Jeff “Beach Bum” Berry (mixology and cocktail historian)
• Hey Boy! Hey Girl! Designs - Steve & Lenore (Tikilicious) Koppelman (Original comic books!)

Characters

Drawn for us by Sam Gambino, except as noted.
All characters, ideas, and usage © WAITIKI.

• Moai Mel
• Pineapples Lilt-(ing Down A Hill)
• The Classic Plamingo Flagoda
• The Blue-Collared Plamingo Flagoda
• Sumotori Superman Sam (a.k.a. “Sumotori Spam”)
• Drank Sumatra

Former Band Members

• Brian O’Neill (vibes; 2003-2008)
• Michael Birnbryer (sax; 2003-2005)
• Jared “Tupu” Laufou (sax; 2005)
• Al Ku’ahi Wong (emcee & puppets; 2003-2004)

WAITIKI Wahine Dancers (2003-2005)

• Heather Ching
• Kristyl Kim
• Chiyo King
• Dana Lynn Ko’omoa
• Joy Matsui
• Shaaroni Wong