The Waikikiâs are a Belgian surf rock band formed in Belgium. The group consisted of pianist Willy Albimoor, guitarist Jo Van Wetter, bassist Jean Hunstadt, and drummers Jo De Muynck and Freddy Rottier. They gained initial recognition with the instrumental track "Hawaii Tattoo" (1961), composed by Martin Böttcher under the pseudonym Michael Thomas and produced by Horst Fuchs. The song achieved significant success in Germany in 1961 and later in the USA (1964) and UK (1965). Following this breakthrough, The Waikikiâs released several EPs and albums, including Hawaii Tattoo (1962), Hula Hochzeit (1963), Hawaii Beach Party (1965), and Pearly Shells from Hawaii (1968) with notable tracks including "Hilo Kiss" (1962) and "Hula-Hochzeit" (1963). Their music was characterised by its upbeat rhythms and tropical themes, which resonated well with audiences during the 1960s surf rock craze. Despite their decline in popularity, The Waikikiâs continued to release albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including Holiday in Hawaii (1970), Aloha Hawaiï (1976) and Hawaiian Gigolo (1981).
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