By Kathy Chouteau
Ever wanted to toot a ship’s horn? The opportunity will be afloat when the S.S. Red Oak Victory (ROV) hosts it’s annual “Tiki Pancake Breakfast” Sunday, Sept. 14 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Participants are encouraged to dress to compete in a best “Hawaiian Aloha Shirt Contest” during the event. “The winners, as always, get to sound the ship’s whistle, which doesn’t sound at all like a ‘whistle’ but instead a very loud foghorn,” revealed Fred Klink, the ROV’s director of marketing.
Klink said the judges look for “just about anything” in multiple winners, ranging from the best classic aloha pattern shirt to others who go all out with their costumes. Last year’s event saw a Lilo & Stitch winner as well as a family with a winning ensemble outfit. “A couple of years ago [the ensemble prize] was awarded to a family who all wore matching SF Giants Aloha shirts,” said Klink.
Adding to the tiki spirit will be island music by Haopinaka, a traditional Hawaiian group performing on the ship’s deck for the first time. Klink said the ROV’s steward, who plans all its entertainment, selected them to play at the breakfast.
At the heart of the Tiki Pancake Breakfast is a tasty breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, apple slices, coffee and orange juice for $20/adults and $5/children 8 and under (plus minor ticketing fees). Adults can order mimosas for an extra fee, while the beautiful bay views are free.
Docent-led or self-paced audio tours of the ROV are available at a discount. The ship also has an on-board radio room where visitors can send a radiogram to anyone in the world. All visitors need is the recipient’s email or phone number and the ROV crew will handle the rest free of charge.
Proceeds from the breakfast and tours benefit the all-volunteer run ship. The ROV has some serious local history: It’s the last remaining WWII-era ship built in the Kaiser-Richmond shipyards by Rosie the Riveters and their fellow Home Front workers.
The ROV is in its fourth year of hosting a Tiki Pancake Breakfast to recognize its first port of call in WWII was Pearl Harbor. She also served in the South Pacific, according to Klink. “The first Tiki-themed breakfast was so popular that we’ve stayed with it.”
To purchase tickets to the Tiki Pancake Breakfast, click here. The Red Oak Victory is located at 1337 Canal Boulevard in Point Richmond.