There's a Three-Hour Tour With Mary Ann (and Other Reasons to Hit the Hukilau)

Aloha kakou! Do you have an oddly specific fetish for fire-breathing mermaids? Do you still fantasize about being marooned with Mary Ann from Gilligan's Island? Are you unafraid of tikis regardless of the doom they spelled for The Brady Bunch? If so, then does Fort Lauderdale have a righteous festival for you!

The Hukilau, now in its 14th year, is an annual celebration of all things tiki and luau. This year, the event will be hosted by the Hyatt Regency Pier 66 hotel and the Mai-Kai Restaurant, both in Fort Lauderdale. Over five days, today through Sunday, attendees will enjoy a variety of tropical entertainment such as Dawn Wells (yes, Mary Ann) of Gilligan's Island hosting a three-hour cruise, six symposiums featuring Disney artists and Oscar-nominated filmmakers, and live music including jazz, surf, and rockabilly bands.

Those hoping for something more titillating and adventurous can look forward to a bit of exotica. Of course, Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid and her pod of aquaticats will perform two special swim shows at the nearby B Ocean Resort. Additionally, five rum sponsors will do their best to get the party going in earnest by providing tastings and cocktails.

Although the Big Kahuna passes (admission to all five days) are sold out, the Aloha Pass (Thursday to Sunday), the Luau Pass (Friday to Sunday), and single-day tickets are still available. As a bonus, all passholders will also receive swag bags containing an exclusive commemorative coffee mug. See you there (we'll be the ones in the gaudy Hawaiian shirts with dolphins on them.)