A big hearty thanks to @tvlachak for being the inspiration for relaunching Loud and Proud on the @noise.cash channel.
The next step to bringing The Hawaiian Shirt Club into the modern internet age, was publish the firsts offical Loud and Proud post on @Read.Cash
The Beach Boys Connection
The Beach Boys were to be the support act for the February 06 2004 Chicago concert held at Mount Maunganui Baypark Speedway.
Chicago was a huge disappointment, Chicago fans began leaving the venue.
But The Beach Boys were a big hit, actually a string of hits, a total of 20 hits in fact.
It felt like being in the sixties, the music and the Hawaiian Shirts. I missed the 60's the first time round, so the concert had a big impact on me at the time.
I was discussing this with a mate afterwards and he made the following statement.
I didn't need any further encouragement.
The Bay News
I sent out emails to anybody and everybody, including all the local media.
The only reply I received was from a local community newspaper called the Bay News.
They wanted to publish an article about the club but needed a few photos first.
While the Club President and Secretary were fluffing around getting in position for the photo shot, the photographer was snapping away. It was one of these impromptu photos that was eventually chosen by the Bay News to grace the front page of their fine newspaper.
The ensuing expose was a full page article, which told the story about how the Club came into being, with a photo of The Beach Boys @MountMaunganui Beach all wearing Hawaiian Shirts.
The First Happening
The response from the Bay News article was incredible. People would come up to me in the street and ask if I was from the Hawaiian Shirt Club.
We decided to have our first Happening at the iconic Astrolabe in Mount Maungnui's main street.
MySpace.com
The Hawaiian Shirt Club went online, creating a web page on MySpace.com
To be a Happening, one just needed 3 people wearing Hawaiian Shirts, photographic evidence to be taken and posting on MySpace.com
There was also the Club newsletter "Loud and Proud, that was emailed to members in Canada, England, Australia and New Zealand.
Easter Happening, Raglan New Zealand
We had planned meeting at the #RaglanHotel on Easter Friday, only to find that everything in Raglan was shut including the old Raglan Hotel. Raglan being a small seaside town and it was Easter.
In the beginning it was interesting meeting new people who liked to wear Hawaiian Shirts. Those all had different reasons why they chose to wear loud coloured shirts in public. But the novelty soon wore off and The Hawaiian Shirt Club changed tack.v
My friend from Raglan, suggested not to waste the night, we could go check out a party down by the beach.
We turned up at a party in a garage. Everyone was sitting around a table in the garage, not a lot was Happening. It was a very cold Easter night.
After explaining to every one present about why we were wearing Hawaiian Shirts , the hostess left and came back with an arm full of Hawaiian Shirts for every one.
The party was instantly transformed into a Happening.
It is surprising the effect a Hawaiian Shirt can have on a persons mood.
Whale And Ale Happening, Perth Australia
Pina Colada By The Bucket
Tasted my first Pina Colada in Hawaii and it became my drink of choice.
So when a belated milestone birthday needed celebrating and a new deck breaking in. It was time to organise a traditional Hawaiian Lūʻau.
Along with Hawaiian style food, live music, Hawaiian Shirts. there was 40 litres of Pina Colada mix over two days.
From memory the recipe was
one part white rum
two parts coconut milk
four parts pineapple juice
Half a blender of ice and fill with Pina Colada mix and blend.
The Pina Colada became my trademark and there was a further two Pina Colada Happenings organised including a Hawaiian themed Christmas Work Party for a Graphic Design Company.
Fast Forward
Seventeen years later, still Loud and Proud.
I wear Hawaiian Shirts on the flights to and from work and around the mining camp. Hawaiian Shirts are still bringing joy to my little part of the world.
The End
Support Your Local Bloggers Hawaiian Shirt Habit
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@Bragato18CCS
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