Like many of us, Grey has encountered the same intriguing question time and again in collector forums, swap meets, and emails: “Is it Witco?” It’s the question that haunts collectors of all experience levels at some point when trying to identify the bold carvings and iconic décor originated from William Westenhaver, Robert Cookson, and Robert Post Jr., dating back to 1958.

While Witco predates Grey’s arrival in the world by a few years, his fascination with it began during one of his earliest pilgrimages to Graceland in the late 1980s - specifically when he first stepped into Elvis Presley’s legendary Jungle Room. From that moment on, the allure of Witco’s wild carvings and tropical mystique was impossible to ignore.

Fast forward to the pandemic, when Grey began building his home tiki bar, the King Kahuna Lounge. The Hacienda bar that was to be the cornerstone of the space turned into a full-blown never-ending treasure hunt. Grey has since traveled from Colorado to both coasts in search of Witco pieces. His collection now totals around 100 pieces of Witco artifacts (including Pleasant Tiki pieces).

Is he a Witco expert? Maybe… maybe not. But he’s definitely the guy friends message when they stumble across a suspicious-looking carving at a flea market, online or at an auction. Grey regularly helps fellow collectors identify potential finds and decode the clues that separate authentic Witco from clever imposters.

In this presentation Grey will dive into several topics, including the history, origins, influence, and iconic designs of Witco - and share tips that might just help you answer the eternal collector’s question:

“Is it Witco?”

And, because no tiki gathering, especially Ohana, is complete without an element of wonder, there may even be a piece of modern Witco raffled off for those fortunate enough to attend.