WAITIKI International

Position: Sole Proprietor, CEO
As the owner and sole proprietor of WAITIKI International, an agency dedicated to the resurgence of exotica music and the related ‘tiki’ pop culture, I have done it all: Concept development, musical direction, marketing, sales, negotiations, vendor management, radio and print publicity, concert production, audience development, educational outreach, travel arrangements and booking.

In our six-year history, we have won 3 “Exotica Album of the Year” awards presented by the Music Foundation of Hawaii—including the honor of that category’s creation, in recognition of our success; was nominated for an Ontario (Canada) Independent Music Award; performed in Mexico City at the request of the Mexican government for its 2006 Festival de México; headlined the Hawaii International Jazz Festival; was featured on National Public Radio’s Weekend America, and on the popular iTunes video podcast Tiki Bar TV.

Not limited to musical performance and recordings, WAITIKI International has successfully developed the following tie-ins: food products (Liko Lehua tropical fruit butters), faux-tropical cocktails (the WAITIKI Original Drink Menu; partnerships with DRINK, Jeff “Beachbum” Berry), comic books (“Tales of WAITIKI Comix” by Hey Boy! Hey Girl! Designs), retro photography (Jason Goodman), apparel (Hula Supply Center aloha wear), tiki illustration and painting (Sam Gambino), and educational outreach.