It all started in 1988. Charlie Keller, retired Marine and jack of all trades, was anchored off Ft. Myers Beach, Florida.

   His home, the rustic catamaran known as the Malu Lani was constant work. From a starboard leak to termites, the boat was unpainted, fiberglass over wood and often referred to as, the Ark. Every day was like every other, spent patching, and priming, until one fateful morning when a man in a wide, palm frond hat rowed up and introduced himself as Tiki Tom, saying, "If this was my boat, I'd have tikis all over it."

   "What's a tiki?" Charlie asked with a laugh.

   Before Charlie knew it, Tiki Tom was standing across from him on the bow of the Manu Lani. Each man had chainsaws in hand along with a log of palm in front of him. Tom would make a cut into the wood and then Charlie would do the same. Wedge after wedge of wood was removed and a tiki face began to appear, along with a new calling for Charlie.

   From the Keys and around to Texas, Charlie and the Manu Lani have explored the gulf coasts, all the while perfecting his sculpting talents. Now a master carver, Chainsaw Charlie, and his dog Lilly, currently reside in Cortez, Florida where the sounds of his creativity harmonize with the calls of the sea birds and the noises of the working fishing village.

About Malu Lani

   It all started in 1988. Charlie Keller, retired Marine and jack of all trades, was anchored off Ft. Myers Beach, Florida.

   His home, the rustic catamaran known as the Malu Lani was constant work. From a starboard leak to termites, the boat was unpainted, fiberglass over wood and often referred to as, the Ark. Every day was like every other, spent patching, and priming, until one fateful morning when a man in a wide, palm frond hat rowed up and introduced himself as Tiki Tom, saying, "If this was my boat, I'd have tikis all over it."

   "What's a tiki?" Charlie asked with a laugh.

   Before Charlie knew it, Tiki Tom was standing across from him on the bow of the Manu Lani. Each man had chainsaws in hand along with a log of palm in front of him. Tom would make a cut into the wood and then Charlie would do the same. Wedge after wedge of wood was removed and a tiki face began to appear, along with a new calling for Charlie.

   From the Keys and around to Texas, Charlie and the Manu Lani have explored the gulf coasts, all the while perfecting his sculpting talents. Now a master carver, Chainsaw Charlie, and his dog Lilly, currently reside in Cortez, Florida where the sounds of his creativity harmonize with the calls of the sea birds and the noises of the working fishing village.

About Malu Lani