Opened by Shawn Cantley in May of 2022.

This is not a traditional tiki bar in the mold of Trader Vic's or Don the Beachcomber, with a dark, intimate, and immersive space layered in Polynesian artifacts and art.

Rather, Shawn went for more of a vacation vibe pulling from Hawaiian, Jamaican, and Mexican beach and surfer culture.

South Seas is an 8,400 square foot two-story space with an additional 1,600-square-foot outdoor deck. This is huge, and aside from a traditional bar set-up flanked by booths, there is a large dining hall area, a large outdoor patio, and a miniature golf course with a cocktail theme. This course offers lots of photo opportunities with a life-size "Don" zombie, giant octopus, planet Saturn, and other fantastical props.

*NOTE: December of 2024, the location was purchased by new owners, Ruth Gao and her husband. They have expressed a desire to keep the venue as-is but add on to it with more Hawaiian-style food and tiki cocktail options moving forward.

Formerly the Mayo Fish Camp in the early 1960s.

Opened in the 70s and closed in 1984.

Burned down mysteriously after 1984.

This venue consisted of a restaurant, floating outrigger bar (Tiki Isle Outrigger Club), gift huts, tropical cruise ship (Tahiti Queen Paddlewheeler), canoe rental, and of course, Polynesian shows.

In 1986, Jules Undersea Lodge opened at mile marker 103.2, very close to, and probably overlapping the original location of Tahiti Village located at mile marker 103.

Kahuna Grill was a small fast-casual restaurant in the food court of an outdoor shopping center. The menu was mostly burgers, salads, and sandwiches. They served beer in bottles. There was a fish tank inside and the walls were decorated with surf boards and surfing photos and memorabilia. A television played continuous surfing videos. The tikiness was limited to one or two free-standing carved tikis.

Closed in February 2019. Today the location is home to Mesa Burger.

*NOTE: Kahuna Grill had also opened a second location at the Paseo Nuevo mall in downtown Santa Barbara but it closed in 2014 -- 12 De la Guerra Place, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, United States.

Tiki Mug Shop in Buenos Aires-Caballito.

From Honolulu Tiki Mugs:

"Honolulu Tiki Mugs was born in 2016 out of our love of Polynesian pop culture. We are creators of Tiki Mugs, designed by Juan Cives, the creative mind behind our brand. Our designs are ideal for enjoying your favorite cocktails."

This is one of those cases where a site is not closed or fallen into disrepair, but for the interested tikiphile, there's not much here worth checking out.

Oriental Gardens is a typical Chinese restaurant today but at one time it was adorned with tikis, thatched roofs and authentic looking decor.

The only thing apparently left from its tiki heyday is the rock pond/fountain as seen below in vintage photos...and a lengthy tropical cocktail menu still in effect.

It's located in a strip mall, has a small lounge and a decent size dining area. It looks as though it was remodeled around 2000 or so and doesn't really show any signs of neglect. If you are looking for a decent Chinese restaurant or tropical beverage and are in the area, it could be worth a look, but don't expect to see any tiki decor.

*NOTE: Cocktail menu is current as of 2022.

Milan Flores Guanko (1906-1994) had a carving shop at Gray's Nursery on Beach Boulevard in Westminster.

Guanko learned to carve from his father in the Philippines before immigrating to the U.S. in 1928. During WWII, he began carving full-time. His tikis appeared at Disneyland, the Western Hills Hotel, the Royal Hawaiian Restaurant in Laguna Beach, The Islands Restaurant in Phoenix, Ren Clark’s Polynesian Village in Fort Worth, Texas, and many more restaurants, hotels and apartments throughout the world.

He died at age 87 in Glendale, where he’d moved his shop in later years.

*NOTE: The large dark-stained tiki with hands crossed on the far left can still be seen at the Kon-Tiki in Tucson although it has been painted a few times and stood outside for many years (now in their covered outdoor patio).

This huge A-Frame store carried all sorts of exotic goods, including gifts, sportswear, and gourmet food from all over the globe. Appears to have been built circa 1958 or so.

It had barefoot footprints leading up the concrete walk to the front door, a statue of the trader himself on the roofline below the peak of the A-frame, and in the front was a large Moai head with a lit torch at the top.

Mentioned in the book, Tiki Pop, by Sven Kirsten -- page 102 -- as having multiple locations but this one appears to be the most recognized. One other location was in Pompano Beach, Florida.

Copy from one of their ads:

"Seeing is believing! But when you step into the Polynesian Paradise you won’t believe your eyes. You’ll find a treasure of gifts, food delicacies and sportswear that have been collected from the wide, wide world all set in exotic design.

The store is sectionalized according to the country of origin of the merchandise. From Norway, Sweden and Denmark come striking examples of modern Scandinavian. The continental flavor of Belgium, Holland, France and Germany is found in the gift selections from Europe. Who can resist the incomparable results of British industry or the artistry from the shores of the sun-drenched Mediterranean, South America, South Sea Isles, Oriental art, or the United States?

Outside the building is a playground with swings and acrobatic accoutrements to keep youngsters occupied while parents explore the store. Children, however are invited inside. Inside the Polynesian theme is carried out. Palm trees and fronds adorn the walls, while fixtures reinforce the South Seas decor. Self-service is invited—or if you wish service, you need only to call on any of the clerks who answer all questions. Be sure and don’t leave the Cape until you have visited the Barefoot Trader."

Today, the A-frame building still exists, but it is currently home to the Cape Abilities Thrift Shop.

Barney West (1919-1981) was a tiki carver during the golden age of midcentury Polynesian Pop.

West, a native of Seattle, came to the Bay Area as a boy when his parents moved to Oakland. His father was chief engineer for the steam schooner Wapama which is now part of a San Francisco waterfront museum. During World War II, West joined the Merchant Marine and served as a steward on Liberty ships in the South Pacific. During his 15 years at sea, West became interested in the native art of Easter Island, Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Hawaii, an infatuation that later had a great influence on his art. West moved to an ark on Corte Madera creek shortly after the end of World War II. To set himself up in the woodcarving business, he drove spikes and laid heavy rails for a railroad crew. West’s first wood carving came from redwood pilings he floated to his home from San Pablo Bay. His first major customer was restaurateur Trader Vic Bergeron who purchased many pieces of West’s early art.

After establishing himself as a wood carver, West opened a studio in Sausalito ("Tiki Junction") on land lent to him by Zack’s by the Bay owner (Zack’s became Margaritaville, then Paradise Bay, now Salito’s Crab House), Sam Zakessian in 1963. The tiny studio soon became engulfed by tikis and other assorted tropical carvings and vegetation. West began his carving career with conventional carving tools but soon progressed to a chain saw. He shipped in mammoth redwood logs by rail and shipped his commissioned works on flatcars all over the country. West’s art can be found in London, Hawaii, and Cuba. West’s business thrived well in Sausalito and at one time he had five apprentices working with him.

Tony's on the Pier (also sometimes called "Old Tony's") was opened by Anthony A. Trutanich, a World War II veteran and former San Pedro fisherman, on Redondo Beach's Fisherman's Wharf in 1952. Tony's started out as a simple shack, expanding the dining room in 1961, and adding a crow's nest-like bar on top of the building in 1965.

The restaurant has open-air sliding windows opening out to waterside views, and the bar in particular has stunning 360-degree views around Palos Verdes and out over the Pacific Ocean.

Tony's decor is nautical rather than tiki, but the preserved midcentury furnishings, fishnet-covered ceilings and large fish floats will make Polynesian Pop lovers feel right at home. They serve a Mai Tai that comes in a souvenir glass.

Rock-a-Tiki was a clothes store carrying both vintage and rockabilly-label items in the Prenzlauer berg of Berlin. It was once in another location on Eberswalderstrasse.

This and several other stores were reportedly folded into a store called Class of Berlin.

Deluxe was a retail store catering to the rockabilly crowd, selling clothes, tiki mugs, art, books and some carved tikis.

Trailer Happiness is a retro-California lounge in the Notting Hill section of London, opened by John Downey in 2003.

Rather than finding its inspiration in midcentury Polynesian restaurants, it aimed for the feel of an American, kitsch-heavy, basement rumpus room.

The tiki-heavy drink menu was developed with a helping hand from famed cocktailian Dale DeGroff.

They proclaimed over 300 rums behind the bar.

The bar changed hands and has been owned by Sly Augustin since 2012.

For many years, patrons were greeted by Bianca the topless hula girl statue in the front window, but it appears Bianca has gone on vacation for parts unknown in recent years...

Augustin has made changes and updates since the early years, and especially after a disaster that happened to the bar right on the heals of Covid...

On July 12th, 2021, the location was flooded, but since then, they've been able to deal with the damages, do extensive remodeling, and re-open thanks in great part to help from the bar and spirits industry who have been very supportive and consider the location to be an iconic part of the bar landscape.