"Of course, I can't jump around on stage with it," the multi-talented vocalist said. "But it is fun to wear."

High energy and quixotic are what revelers can expect when they attend the "Forbidden World of Don Tiki" on New Year's Eve at the Pacific Beach Hotel's Grand Ballroom, according to Lloyd Kandell, the show's co-creator along with musician Kit Ebersbach.

"We call it 'Tikipalooza," smiled Kandell, who goes by the stage name of "Fluid Floyd" when he's performing. "The show harkens back to the days of statehood when tiki lounge culture was flourishing."

The 16-member troupe comprises of 10 musicians and six exotically-clad dancers, who will perform what choreographer and costume maker Tunui Tully describes as "MGM Polynesian."

"We do the ports of call, from Bali to Tahiti," said Tully, whose Tahitian-born mother, Nani Terangi, was the first exotic dancer for the late Martin Denny. "It's an equatorial, tropicana show that's retro but magnified 10 times."

The three-part, extravagant revue begins at 7 p.m. with a lavish dinner buffet, showcasing prime rib, suckling pig, kiawe-smoked chicken, barbecue-glazed salmon, and salad, dim sum and dessert stations.

"The moment they walk in, guests will step into a tiki ambiance," Kandell said. "It's a multi-media show. We'll have two large video screens showing a montage of nostalgic, vintage Hawaiiana clips like Martin Denny on the 'Dinah Shore Show' and we'll pipe in music as guests eat."

Towards the end of dinner, a quintet will perform classic "exotica" — which is a cacophony blend of Polynesian drums, keyboard percussion instruments, bird-calls and woodwinds — a la Martin Denny and Arthur Lyman, two names synonymous with this genre of music.

"This isn't a luau show," asserted John Lopianetzky, the hotel's food and beverage director. "It's reminiscent of old Hawaii clubs like Trader Vic's and Don the Beachcomber. It's definitely a unique type of show that we're confident will sell out."

Sherry Shaoling and Mahealani Kamau sip on a pineapple cocktail.

For two cocktails and admission to the show, cost is $80 in advance or $95 at the door.

For tickets and more information, call the hotel's Catering Party Hotline at 921-6137 or visit www.dontiki.com.

After dinner, the true show begins, when the Don Tiki tribe and sultry dancers charge the stage and enter the "Forbidden World." From 11:45 p.m. to 1 a.m., attendees will dance the night away during the Don Tiki Inferno, pausing at midnight to synchronize with the dropping of the ball in Times Square.