Oceanside, California to ax tiki trees
Oceanside artist Steve Tustison, who goes by the name "Tiki Daddy," surprised residents this past July when he carved tiki designs into two live palm trees in his front yard. The city was surprised too — it owns and maintains the trees, which are in the public easement between the sidewalk and the street. The story made the news as far away as Hawaii, where native Hawaiians were shocked by an event which is kapu in their tiki-carving culture.
Now, a city arborist has determined that the carvings have done irreparable damage to the trees and they should come down, angering Tustison, who is mounting a campaign to save the trees.
Read the story at 10News.com | Read the story of the carvings at North County Times