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I am a native Southern Californian who has grown up surfing with my Dad and Brother. I have always been a fan of surf culture and actively pursued the lifestyle, music, and activities of the beach. I recall wearing aloha wear as a kid in the mid 70's and always wanting more "Hawaiian shirts" in my closet all throughout high school.

I didn't realize what a tiki fanatic I was until I started to reflect on the past 20 years of my life. Every chance I had to decorate or throw a party, it was always a luau. Thatched décor, tropical drinks, and hula dancers. I had a huge interest in lounge music starting in the mid 90's and it transitioned to exotica. Much of the old cowboy music I listened to for years was ripe with slide guitar and hapa haole styled melodies. I always recall being entranced by tiki icons. Easter Island Moai and Hawaiian Ku were always readily available in print ads, album covers, and textiles. The images were simple and yet powerful.

Then I joined an online forum in 2003 known as Tiki Central and my interest was peaked. Tiki officially became the second center of my universe (the first being my wife and kids). I purchased Sven Kirstens "Book of Tiki" on a business trip in San Francisco years ago and could not get enough of the imagery, texture, and fantasy of the tiki days gone by. I started carving as a natural progression of wanting to make things for my home lounge. I'm Hooked.

I have always enjoyed making stuff. Big, Small. Rough, Detailed, Functional, Decorative.

Derek Weaver