dude wrote on Aug 11, 2008 8:30 PM:hey tiki daddy, you should get your own arborist to assess the palms.

Failed to qualify wrote on Aug 11, 2008 8:38 PM:Dangit! Oh well, I'm STILL not voting for Wood or Chavez.

Ill bet somebody wrote on Aug 11, 2008 8:40 PM:would pay to own those trees! The city probably wants to remove them so they can make some money off 'em!

Felix wrote on Aug 11, 2008 8:44 PM:Hey Tiki Daddy! I hope you get the max, bro!!

Oside Guy wrote on Aug 11, 2008 8:46 PM:Why don't they cut down all of those old and decrepit palm trees and plant some new ones.

Ralphie wrote on Aug 11, 2008 8:46 PM:Hey TikiDaddy! You should cruise around town and carve up all the city's trees! Do it, Dude!

Inland wrote on Aug 11, 2008 8:50 PM:Why not just remove the tree's above the artwork? You see these same tree's all over the State and eventually the owner is required to trim above the Tiki because of dead growth, but the artwork is still there...as beautiful as ever. Maybe we should plant some tree's just for this purpose? It's another sign of Oceanside's history with the sea, surfer's and artist's. I say promote it, tourist would love it!

Start a fund.... wrote on Aug 11, 2008 9:01 PM:What a crock. Just look at some of the trees that have been "shaved" by the company who does tree trimming elsewhere in Oceanside and tell me it ain't so. All they have to do is shave the rest of the tree (up to the top) and it will be fine. Leave the poor man along you jerks - this is South O and we have our own character. YOu can keep the blue O signs and let Tiki Daddy make our gateway sign!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh brother wrote on Aug 11, 2008 9:07 PM:Sorry tiki-man. You don't know how to play politics in this town. Your carvings are cute and I doubt they hurt the trees. But threatening a lawsuit,which by the way will be expensive,particularly since you don't own the trees is a losing proposition.
Sorry bout that.

Jim wrote on Aug 11, 2008 9:10 PM:If they take the trees down just put them in your yard on the other side of the sidewalk.
They look great.

Antwan wrote on Aug 11, 2008 9:20 PM:It is images like these that degrade, insult and offend us in the Samoan community. The man should be prosecuted for a hate crime.

Unauthorized wrote on Aug 11, 2008 10:14 PM:How is this any different than graffiti? The trees are owned by the city, which means they're owned by all of the residents. He carved them up without asking permission, just like graffiti vandals mark property without asking, too.

Yes, sometimes it looks cool, but unless it is authorized it's vandalism, just like these trees look cool, but are also vandalized? If they are damaged and die or are weakened and topple then the city is liable and we'll have to share in paying the settlement.

I think he should buy his own trees and carve them up any way he wants and put them on his front yard (assuming it's his house and not a rental).

Take the removal deal wrote on Aug 11, 2008 10:18 PM:Pay the $2,500 now and remove them, or pay millions later when they crash down on a row of houses, smash their roofs in and cause someone costly personal injury.

And next time do a little research before you carve up a living organism.

Art wrote on Aug 11, 2008 11:58 PM:Actually, the City has nothing to do with the trees -- Tiki Daddy has been tending to them on his own dime. If the City wants to own them, then the city can water them and trim them too.

cbad wrote on Aug 12, 2008 1:01 AM:everyone needs to calm down ive seen tree's like this that have been there for years and not one has fallen. his art makes the trees look ten times better. good job tiki man

vandalism wrote on Aug 12, 2008 2:15 AM:it's vandalism, and nothing but. this guy is way immature. ~~ tiki daddy ~~ that name tells u what his mental level is. geez. yeah, get the story on if he owns the house he lives in or does he rent it? i bet he rents. he's gonna get an injunction? what a laff.

Hey Tiki artist... wrote on Aug 12, 2008 6:03 AM:You could have taken a short walk to the beach and "carve" on sand, rather than deface a living tree. Who do you think you are?; what gives you the right to damage a tree?...

Greg in Oceanside wrote on Aug 12, 2008 7:01 AM:The artwork is pretty cool and adds some 'flavor' to the neighborhood.

But, these trees are on the easment and are probably on city property. So, if he didn't get the 'OK' from the city (which doesn't look like he did), then this could be considered vandalism, even if it's 'artwork' and is appealing to some people.

Also, if the carvings dug too deeply into the tree they could be at risk for toppling over in strong winds.

Joe wrote on Aug 12, 2008 7:03 AM:I agree with vandalism. There are many ways to express your art work. Carving living trees is just not teh way to do it, and "Tiki Daddy" just needs to grow up.

Why not wait wrote on Aug 12, 2008 7:14 AM:Just keep an eye on them and see how they weather. It might take 30 years before they become unstable, and even then, the carving might be the least of their worries.

What a crock wrote on Aug 12, 2008 7:36 AM:this rat hole city is just looking for a reason to take down these trees so they can charge the guy $2500. I call ... Mr. Arranaga, you may go now your 15 minutes is up.

talk to a real professional wrote on Aug 12, 2008 8:20 AM:Dont listen to a Arborists.....they are professional paid tree surgeons. thats how they make their living.

Dirty Sanchez wrote on Aug 12, 2008 8:21 AM:I say that we should cut down every single tree.

not amused wrote on Aug 12, 2008 8:38 AM:Everyone carve their tress, put anything you want on then. I plan on carving an episode of Southpark on mine, or maybe even the whole seaon. Hope my taste fits in with the hood. Hey it's just art and fun right? Everybody chill, who cares about any laws or rules. If they come for my tree I am going to chain myself to it...Attica Attica, WAH WAH WAH.

Vandalism wrote on Aug 12, 2008 8:39 AM:Though I do agree that the artwork is fantastic. There's no denying that "Tiki-Man" has defaced city property and he will have to answer to that one way or another.

Osider wrote on Aug 12, 2008 8:44 AM:No ALOHA spirit in this city! What a crock! Do you think the city would do this on the islands? Hell no. Now put up some tiki torches and we could have a luau.

alf wrote on Aug 12, 2008 8:54 AM:Leave this guy alone! Had it not been in the paper you would be unaware his art exsist! You live to complain about any and evertything:( You are the grumpy old people know one can stand, and I bet your just fine with that...sad. Rock on Tiki Daddy!

The Lorax wrote on Aug 12, 2008 8:57 AM:I am the Lorax & I speak for the trees..which you to carve up just as much as you please.

No aloha wrote on Aug 12, 2008 8:58 AM:This is O'side, not Hawaii. Want aloha? Move to Hawaii, don't vandalize and destroy trees....dude. I love the comment "I'm going to go buy handcuffs, dude." So do the cops, and if you handcuff yourself to a tree, they'll exchange them for a pair of O'side P.D. cuffs for free! Try it!

To not amused wrote on Aug 12, 2008 9:13 AM:Thanks for a good chuckle. I can just picture a guy chained to a tiki tree yelling "Attica!"...like a bit from a comedy skit or movie.

living trees wrote on Aug 12, 2008 9:20 AM:You want to carve? Go to the store buy some wood, carve it up and sell it at the market. Don't give the trees open wounds for bugs and disease.

clm wrote on Aug 12, 2008 10:17 AM:Those trees are in his own yard. Unless it is likely that they will topple rather than a small possibility, I would leave them. All of the pine trees in the neighborhood north of the civic center have huge branches that break off all the time, not to mention all the pine cones and pitch that damage any car that parks under them. Someday someone will die from one of those trees. Yet they remain. My guess is that these palms are no worse.

to clm wrote on Aug 12, 2008 11:00 AM:The trees are on city property and that is the problem. Sorry tiki-man,you're the loser on this one. Heck you couldn't even get 20 signatures to qualify for the November ballot. Go buy some wood and carve away. Better yet, haul some palm trees away once they have been cut. It will be free and you can carve all you like.

Support the Tikis wrote on Aug 12, 2008 11:03 AM:Simply amazing, here is a gentleman who is trying to take pride in his neighborhood with some awsome artwork, and the City of Oceanside just has to screw it up. Thank God, I left that city

Get your own Analysis wrote on Aug 12, 2008 11:23 AM:Tiki Daddy fight fire with fire!

Show the City they are liars...believe me in politics you know how it works, they can make any report they want.

And they are just goign to keep proving thier powers...

Dude Tiki Daddy...get it done with some ground rules. Get an tree person out their.

[to] Tikki Daddy wrote on Aug 12, 2008 11:26 AM:Go to the Colleges horticulture and see if they can help with a free report on the trees.

You have to stand up to these city officials... they are so crazy.

Samoan wrote on Aug 12, 2008 12:58 PM:Please, Antwan.

Get over yourself. Tiki carvings are part of our heritage. It does not DEGRADE it.

Not to mention, Oceanside is the sister city to Pago Pago.

People have been carving trees for years and they are fine.

Go for it Tiki Daddy.

Dude wrote on Aug 12, 2008 1:15 PM:44 years old and using the term "dude" ....its past time to grow up and use adult vocabulary.

Graffiti wrote on Aug 12, 2008 1:18 PM:So....with that logic, as long as I can prove that graffiti will not HURT the city's buildings, I should be able to paint away with my ughhum...ART?

yeah, ok. This guy is wrong and admitting that would be the one thing that would make him a "bodacious dude" in my book.

p. wrote on Aug 12, 2008 1:19 PM:hey O'side guy,
You dont simply cut down a live tree and replace it with a new one. It should be maintained.

Nothing More wrote on Aug 12, 2008 1:37 PM:Mencken wrote "Somewhere, something is happening that someone doesn't want you to know. That's news. Everything else is just advertising." All I can say is, Tiki Daddy, you couldn't buy the amount of (unwarranted) advertising you're getting out of this. You and that checkpoint lady out to get together. You both have a similar moral compass.

Dude wrote on Aug 12, 2008 1:50 PM:Doing this to something you don't own is wrong. Somehow it is less wrong because it is city property? What if that tree was in your yard and you were the owner? Making your vandalism "pretty" doesn't make it somehow OK.

I have to say... wrote on Aug 12, 2008 2:02 PM:those trees are on city property and this guy really shouldn't have touched them. If they had fallen on his home could the city be held liable or would they get out of paying?!! Whose idea was it to plant those palm trees along O'side Blvd?!! The palm fronds are extremely dangerous as the lady in Carlsbad who lost her life awhile back sadly proved. Not only are they dangerous they require maintainence in an unsafe area. To the tree trimmer and the drivers that travel along the road.

tree hugger wrote on Aug 12, 2008 2:19 PM:I cannot believe no one is standing up for the poor, defensless trees that were brutally sliced and diced in this attempt at art. Trees have feelings too people. These trees are now permanently scarred and will never ever be like their other neighboring trees again, which will inevitably result in a constant barrage of mockery from their fellow trees.

wre wrote on Aug 12, 2008 2:32 PM:I know! Trees are special! They never ask for much and are always helping us with shade and oxygen and places to build tree houses. I mean, when is the last time you offered to take a tree to dinner, or invited one over when you had a get together? When is the last time you simply went outside, put your arm around a tree, and said "Hey tree, I just wanted to say thanks for that shade you provided yesterday afternoon." or "Hey tree, thanks for the greenery." Never, right? I say, let's all go out and make our trees feel welcome and let them know that dog-gonit, we like them and appreciate them. When you get home this evening, I say we all buy out trees a drink! Here's to trees!!!

Professor of Botany... wrote on Aug 12, 2008 2:34 PM:I've driven by the trees in question and have determined their species. Luckily for the artist, this species of palm probably will not be effected by the drawings in the outer dermis of the plant. The living tissue (the xylum) of the tree is located further inside the tree, well beyond the depth of the carvings. That is one of the evolutionary survival strategies of this type of tree. The carvings will reduce the trees ability to ward of parasites but that should be threat given their location far from feral pathogenic sources.

There is a matter of structural damage but that seems inconsequential as well. I suggest the city leave the trees in place. I also suggest that the artist seek the services of a mental health therapist.

Osider wrote on Aug 12, 2008 2:56 PM:To No Aloha-I can tell you are a California Transplant and dont surf. You need to go back the state you originally came from because, people like you are part of the problem with this state. This is a city of surfers and citizens that love the ocean and guess what, tiki's have been part of ocean life before you were born. Get you non Aloha terd out of here!!

Professor wrote on Aug 12, 2008 3:09 PM:Hey Professor...so there are 2600 species of palm tree and you were able to simply drive past and determine which one it is??? Good eyes bro!

Funny wrote on Aug 12, 2008 3:28 PM:Would'nt it be funny if the trees fell on his house, then he would sue the city because they are city trees.

LOCAL SINCE wrote on Aug 12, 2008 3:39 PM:YOU CAN COME TO MY YARD & CARVE MY 2 PALMS AT ANYTIME IT MIGHT BEAUTIFY MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

To Osider wrote on Aug 12, 2008 4:17 PM:I've never surfed (and never will), but definitely love the ocean. I also think the tikis are incredibly creative and very fun to look at. However the fact remains that, tiki culture or not, altering something that doesn't belong to you without permission is vandalism. The one and only thing that makes Tiki Daddy different from your average tagger is motivation. I don't believe Tiki Daddy was malicious in his actions. But pure intentions don't equal a 'get out of jail free card'. He still must be held accountable for the deeds he's done.

To our artist wrote on Aug 12, 2008 4:19 PM:Many people concur that you are a true artist and art can be expressed freely and in many forms. Many people too, agree that it was your right to express yourself carving the trees. I have to confess, I am an artist myself and I would like to express my art and freedom of expression by visiting your house and carving on the front porch, or the ourside walls, even on your mode of transportation. Why not? If you have no regards for trees, or the city property, in the name or art, we should all feel the same right of expression.

clm wrote on Aug 12, 2008 4:43 PM:Does anyone know for sure where a property line starts in the city? Is it the middle of the street, beyond the street, beyond the median strip, beyond the sidewalk?

To Osider wrote on Aug 12, 2008 5:02 PM:You're right, I need to go back to the state I came from....California.... Nice assumptions. And how do you know that Tiki's were part of Oceanside since before I was born? Okay, take a guess, what year was I born? Apparently you know that as well. I'm fairly certain that you don't even know the meaning of the Tiki. Educate yourself, stop making assumptions, and look it up. Also look up "vandalism."

Escondodo wrote on Aug 12, 2008 5:15 PM:This case is NO DIFFERENT than common graffiti. The city should recover its cost through the legal system. I am on the city's side in this instance and hopefully it will set an example for these other so-called "artists" not to feel they have license to destroy city property.

Tiki a little wacky wrote on Aug 12, 2008 5:21 PM:Actually I thought the Tiki with the pineapple nose was downright ugly. Tiki man has to be a little smarter than this. You don't carve up someone else's property just because you personally think it is cool. He has all the trees in his own yard that he can carve to his content. I better watch out for my palms at my house. He may sneek over at night with his chain saw and chisel and decorate my plants. I agree with the other person. Tiki Man grow up. Don't be so lame! You knew the palms were on city easement , if not go back and take homeowner 101. Watch out Tiki neighbors next thing he will paint his house an awful color or put a car stonehenge in his yard. City needs to fine him or have him pay to have the ones he damaged put in his yard and replace the damaged ones with Palms the same size. Your talking big bucks Tiki Man. Maybe you will think twice before doing something so immature. Surfs up dude! Roll a big one.

Diduknow wrote on Aug 12, 2008 6:05 PM:It isn't even his house. He is a tenant....Even if the city forgave the tik, he still vandalized his landlord's property....

Peter wrote on Aug 12, 2008 6:19 PM:If I was your neighbor across the street I would be mad. Why do I want some vodoo looking thing staring at me every time I walk out the front door. Consideration goes a long way!

Irony at its finest wrote on Aug 12, 2008 7:16 PM:All you surf nazi's...I was a native here. Vandalism is what it is. Illegal. Period! You are probably against the desal plant too. Funny stuff. You won't have any water to water your precious tiki trees. Funny thing is, if he is prosecuted, the value is obviously over $400 which in CA is a felony. Strike 1? or is there more? Want to go for 2 and 3? You anti City people regardless of the City. Grow up and quit thinking deep pockets. Those pockets are yours and your neighbors and mine and my neighbors. You will bitch when that tree falls and kills or destroys someone or something and the City has to pay out, theoretically, and you won't get the services that you bitch about not having. Hey, maybe you can be an activist in the City since you have no life obviously. Oceanside would be much better if we cracked down on this kind of behavior even to this dislikes of you morons that don't get it. And you wonder why the City is the way it is. All the bleading hearts without a pair.

Ugly duckling wrote on Aug 12, 2008 7:54 PM:I have three of these ugly, tall, spindly trees on my property and have tried like h_ll to get the city to remove them so I could plant a native or SOMETHING that isn't as ugly as these pencil heads. NO LUCK. I'm stuck with the ugly thing, the city REFUSES to remove them. How does that work eh? I dare anyone of you to try to get the city to remove a tree you don't like in front of your home...it ain't gona happen. Where's the justice there?

Hey Tiki Daddy wrote on Aug 12, 2008 7:54 PM:I planted my own palm trees in my yard. I would GLADLY pay you to come carve them.

Let me know.

PJ wrote on Aug 13, 2008 12:14 AM:Tiki carvings, like check cashing stores, hookers on PCH, and middle-aged, under-employed surfers are hallmarks of Oceanside city culture. Who would want to see such 'diversity' removed from our fair streets? Why, only those mean, gainfully employed, over-educated and progressively taxed citizens, that's who...! I say, go back to your pristine, quiet and environmentally sound little Carlsbad neighborhoods and leave us blissfully unaware Oceanside citizens to wallow in our ignorance in peace. Aloha, bra!

Lou ... wrote on Aug 13, 2008 6:11 AM:Doesn't the city have more pressing business than this to concern itself with?

To clm wrote on Aug 13, 2008 6:57 AM:I know for sure regarding property lines, as I had my property surveyed recently. Generally speaking, beginning from the edge of the curb in front of a house, then in toward the house ten feet, is considered a public right of way. Thus, the trees in question are sitting in the public right of way, i.e., public property.

Oceanside Lover wrote on Aug 13, 2008 7:39 AM:"America is a free country" --> see what the consequences are if you take it literally. I would love to have someone like this in my neighborhood to bring a little smile to people's faces. And yes, it would be a nice little tourist attraction like this one huge fig tree near Cassidy.

Time to put this Tiki to bed wrote on Aug 13, 2008 7:54 AM:Ok everyone it is pretty much in agreement,
Tiki Man's bad. Not a jailable offense but needs to pay reparations for damage.
Maybe Tiki Man can volunteer to work for the Oceanside Parks Dept full time for about 2 months until the palm damage and replacement have been paid.
Tiki is done in Oceanside maybe we can covertly have him do bad karma tikis for Carlsbad so Oceanside can catch up to the quality of life in Carlsbad. Then again Tiki man would have to carve up all Carlsbad palms and hire a witch doctor as a consultant to acheive that lofty goal. Wonder if there are any Palms on the Robertson concrete plant site. Tiki Man could do carvings of KFC in honor of their great decision against the citizens.

How about Redwoods wrote on Aug 13, 2008 8:54 AM:Why not carve up a redwood tree in the National Park with a Da Vinci-quality depiction of the "Last Supper?" That is art and on public land. Probably wouldn't hurt the tree and it would be a beautiful sight! Then he could run for park ranger.

Marie wrote on Aug 13, 2008 10:39 AM:Why not dye the beach sand purple and pink? We need to have the seashell theme down there! The sky's the limit. And we could carve KFC's faces into the compost piles at El Corazon. We can add asphalt oil to them for texture and scent! C'mon Tiki Man..be more creative!!!!

NOT HIS TREES wrote on Aug 13, 2008 11:37 AM:If TikiDaddy buys his own trees, then they are his property to carve, burn, cut up or do whatever he wants with them.

The trees belong to the city which means they belong to ALL taxpaying citizens of O'side and a majority needs to agree to allow the tikis or not.
Citizens will not agree on "public art" projects -- remember the metal bars along the beach in Carlsbad?

If enough people support the tikis, then Tiki Daddy should have a fundraiser to get $2500, buy the trees from the city and put them in his own yard. Problem solved.

This is Oceanside wrote on Aug 13, 2008 12:39 PM:There are no easy answers to anything in Oceanside. The citizens tell you one thing, the Building Industry tells you another and then the lady of our valley tells you yet another. What is a poor majority council to do. Oh yeah get another like-minded neo conservative so you have an overwhelming majority. Forget this 3-2 baloney. Let's make sure we totally shut up the citizens with a 4-1 or 5-0 majority of like minds that don't listen to the citizenry.

Still laughing at the guy from Escondido wrote on Aug 13, 2008 1:12 PM:...who obviously, because of where he lives, is an expert in graffiti. No doubt!

John wrote on Aug 13, 2008 4:28 PM:Just think, if the cost to school these illegal tikis was 7 BILLION dollars a year, no one would be doing anything about this!

To my fellow artists wrote on Aug 13, 2008 7:37 PM:I don't like the look of the small plane hangars at the Oceanside Municipal Airport. I drive by there every day and I feel offended by the plainless of the grey paint. Let's use Steven Tustison assertiveness and disregard for public property to spruce up those ugly metal buildings ourselves to show our freedom of expression rights. The tourists will love it!...

Not a Samoan but... wrote on Aug 13, 2008 8:41 PM:If I was a Samoan, I would be very proud about the recognition to my ancestry made by Mr.Tustison, by his tree carving activity. However, I am an American citizien born in South America, and I strongly object not seen any trees with adorning motives proper to my ancestry. I am dissapointed with Mr. Tustison lack of sensitivity toward my fellow south american country men. Just think about how other citiziens of Central America, Europe, and Asia must feel for also being ignored. And what about lack of visual representation for some of our Oceanside most distinguished citiziens like the Posole Locos, Mesa Locos, Center Street Locos, Bloods, by not carving on their neiborghood trees?. Why do you also ignore the contributions of the gay community, and particularly our not quite yet documented newcomers to the country?. After all, all of them come here to support their families and to do work that nobody else would. Steve, please be more sensitive; think about the hundreds of trees available at you disposal. You might not be in Public Office after all, but think about the exposure you will gain...

Start a fund wrote on Aug 14, 2008 9:20 AM:What a great idea! Being Oceanside such a tight community, we all should support our wood carver artist crusade; it is our moral and civic duty to encourage the wild and the bold that rebels against the establishment and its laws. Let's all use our populated food markets as the resource point to collect funds for Mr. Tustison future legal expenses. I would think the impact of the campaign will be more significant, is volunteers place an already carved tree (the whole tree)in front of the food market entrance (for a dramatic effect). However, we should be sensitive to the area in which the food market is located and represent that particular area with the appropriate carvin in the showcase tree.

Jimmy Justice wrote on Oct 20, 2008 10:23 AM:Posted: 2008-08-02 6:35 pm
To quote a REAL tiki daddy from a different forum on the same subject: 'In the islands we do not deface trees with carvings we choose ones that are cut down and then do our carving. Our canoes are carved from trees that are cut down for this purpose for the Canoe Festival on Maui. This is destruction and even if someone carves their names in a tree, it is hurting the living tree. We respect our aina here but those on the mainland do not. Even our ohana who live on the mainland respect the trees. How would you like it if someone carved into you when you are alive? Respect your land. '
This guy is a joke, he's got tiki's all over his front yard including a rotten spongebob squarepants stump. He carved these in the palms to promote his own 'tiki daddy business'. Regardless if it kills the tree or not, what grown man doesn't have the sense to ask the owners for permission before carving into the trunks like that.