BIG TROUBLE IN THE TIKI ROOM

A History in Film of a South Seas Wave of Exotica: Surfing

The trobbing of pagan drums, vodoo incantations, zebra-striped women, pagan rites glimpsed through gaps in bamboo, ports of pleasure, Taboo! Tabu! Tapu! Watusa! Babu Enlgish, Polynesian polyrhythms, Tiki bars, beachcombers, Bowanga! Bowanga !

Alaia & Machado from (360) To Nowhere on Vimeo.





DARK SIDE OF THE LENS from Astray Films on Vimeo.




So, what do you do after you have found the "perfect" wave and the "perfect" lifestyle?





At every global climate summit, the Pacific islanders arrive and scream their heads off that, due to the rampant consumerism of some nations, most of their atolls are destined to disappear beneath the waves.

The rest of the world, however, inhabits a reality in which The Market has become the most sacred of Beings, to be placated at all costs.

As a moral force with deep musical and mythic chops, Pacific islanders are positioned to be a significant political-moral-musical force concerned with indigenous rights and global warming. . .





KAUPAPA




After the 2004 Tsunami I started asking a lot of questions about the world, our environment and about myself. I really felt the anger and rage Tangaroa had towards mankind as we have shown no respect for the ocean and its inhabitants, and for this I feel sad and ashamed. I wanted to write a piece of music that embodied that aggression and power, something that could be felt on many levels. Tangaroa was born.



My dad, Uekaha Taane Tinorau, really brought Tangaroa alive with his haka/chant that we recorded in his lounge in Christchurch, thus becoming the first musical collaboration between father and son. Since then, Tangaroa has opened and revealed so many emotions, so many stories, so many images for me that I had to shoot a video for this powerful piece of music.



There is the story of Papatuanuku (Earth Mother) and Ranginui (sky father) being separated by Tanemahuta (god of the forest) thus throwing us into the world we now know - Te Ao Marama (world of light). The story of how moko (maori tattoo) has come to us as a gift from Tangaroa. The story of being spiritually sick and lost, asking for help and guidance, acknowledging the oppressor, facing your demons, accepting the challenge, and liberating your wairua and spirit to become a better person, a better soul.



Every one will see and take something different from Tangaroa. Some will feel empowered and inspired, some will feel frustrated and challenged, and some will feel nothing at all, and that’s ok as we are all at different parts of the journey. It is up to the viewer in how deep they would like to take it, and if you are like me, then it is all the way!



Tangaroa has become a catalyst for change within my life. It has become a tool to help unlock and understand the past present and future.

- Tiki




Ko Papatuanuku me Ranginui nga matua o te ao


I puta mai nga tamariki nga Atua o te ao

He Atua o te moana

Ko Tangaroa he Atua o te moana

Tu mai te ihi

Tu mai te wehiwehi

Tu mai te wanawana e

Hi ha aue



From the divine heartbeat of Mother Earth and the ever-elusive constant of Sky Father

all descend and all ascend the natural world

The timeless current of tranquil stillness

the harmonic music of ones infinite ocean

Resilient are the vital influences of the universe

Stand liberated by the inner radiance

Be still be silent and all shall be revealed



Na Uekaha nga kupu Maori, na Tamiaho te whakapakehatia




http://tapuatoll.blogspot.com/

Hi


Trader



Trader sailed a jeweled crown

Humanity rowed the way

Exploring to command more land

Scheming how to rule the waves.

Trader spied a virgin plain

And named it for velvet robes

Wrote home declaring,

"There's a place

Where totally folks are free

(Happily completely)

Nourishment fills the prairies and the hillsides

And animals stalk the mountains and the seaside

And fish abound the lakes and birds the skies

Signed sincerely."



Trader found the jeweled land

Was occupied before he came

By humans of a second look

Who couldn't even write their names shame

Trader said they're not as good

As folks who wear velvet robes

Wrote home again and asked, "Please help

Their breasts I see; they're not like me

Banish them from our prairies and our hillsides

Clear them from our mountains and our seaside

I want them off our lakes so please reply

Signed sincerely."



Trader he got the crown okay

Cleared humanity from his way

He civilized all he saw

Making changes every single day say

Shops sprang over the prairies and the hillsides

Then roads cut through the mountains to the seaside

The other kind fled to hide, by and by,

And so sincerely

Cried.



Making it softly

Like the evening sea, trying to be

Making it go

Creating it gently

Like a morning breeze, a life of ease

Eyes that see

Beyond tomorrow, through to the time without hours

Passing the Eden of Flowers

Reason to live.



Embracing together

Like the merging streams, crying dreams

Making it full

Begging intently

For a slight reprieve, a night of ease

Hands to touch

Beyond the sorrow, on to the force without power

Piercing the crust of the tower

Reason to live.



Hoping

Like a budding rose, humbling shows

Making it.

Struggling lonely

Like a desert field, break the seal, make it real

Ears to hear

Beyond the showers, on to the suns of tomorrows

Burning the flesh of all sorrows

Reason to live.

Reason to continue

Reason to go on

Reason to live

Reason to live

Reason to live