Tonga tiki carver finds life’s work in San Mateo
San Mateo's Daily Journal ran a nice story last week about Tualau Tauheluhelu, a tiki carver that's been plying his trade for 30 years. Originally from Tonga, the 56-year-old moved to the United States when he was 18 and made his between-class hobby into a full-time job.
“I’ll carve anything, you name it,” chuckles Tauheluhelu between tapping his mallet and ferule on his current project. He’s making a series of Tiki idols to adorn the walls and banisters for a soon-to-open bar and grill on B Street in downtown San Mateo.
Read Tiki carver finds natural locale for his work at The Daily Journal
