The Polynesian Lounge opened in 1990, as a newly themed bar for the New Chinatown Restaurant. It was owned by Freddie and Jane Baker. Freddie "Kekaulike" Baker was born in Hawaii and moved to the mainland in 1949, he was an extra in Hollywood for some time, before forming a band. His band played hapa haole and other Polynesian-tinged tunes all over the country, including the Aku Aku in Las Vegas. He started headlining at the Tiki Kai Supper Club in the '60s, where he met Jane. The couple performed at the lounge regularly, along with a hula dancing friend, Evalani.

The New Chinatown was co-owned by the Ong family, and opened circa 1976. The restaurant was built using hundreds of green tiles which were brought over from China and are much coveted today (but these tiles were destroyed when the site was later leveled). When first opened, it advertised a Pagoda Bar and Kung-Pei Cocktail Lounge (one or both of these was probably coverted over to the "Polynesian Lounge"). It sat 400 people and they touted it as the finest Chinese restaurant in the Southwest.

When the New Chinatown Restaurant changed hands in 2003, the Polynesian Lounge was also sold, and the new owners turned it into a non-tiki, cabaret joint, and re-branded the restaurant as Mr K's Oriental Restaurant & Bar.

That was short-lived. This site has been re-developed (some time prior to 2015) and is now home to Labor Finders and Albuquerque Distilling (as of 2022) on the footprint of where the New Chinatown Restaurant used to be.

On June 23, 1937, the world-famous Hawaiian Room opened. This marks it as a pre-tiki venue although it produced its own tiki mug years later.

The Hawaiian Room was located in the Hotel Lexington (now the Radisson Lexington Hotel). Guests had a hula of a time sipping coconut willies and watching live hula performances. The space became synonymous with entertainer Arthur Godfrey, a well-known TV personality in the 1960s. He’d broadcast his radio show live from that space. The hotel's recently renovated Arthur Godfrey Suite pays homage to his legacy.

The Hawaiian room closed in 1966.

*NOTE that the brochure image shows full detailed recipe for the "Pineapple Paradise" which is only briefly described in menu: 4 small pineapples, 2 oz pineapple juice, 2 oz lime juice, 3 oz Demerara rum, 2 oz light Puerto Rican rum, 2 oz peach brandy, 2 teaspoons fine sugar. Use pineapple shells as containers for this drink. Cut the edges off of pineapples about 1 1/2 inches down, then cut a small notch in the top through which you can insert a straw. Scoop out the interior leaving a shell about 1/4 inch thick. In a shaker put pineapple juice, lime juice, Demerara rum, Puerto Rican rum, peach brandy, and sugar. Add crushed ice and shake. Pour into pineapples, replace pineapple tops, and insert a straw in notches.

Polynesian Village was in the Edgewater Beach Hotel (its sister hotel, Hotel Somerset in Boston, also had a Polynesian Village).

The Edgewater Beach Hotel was built in 1916, facing Lake Michigan. This pink-painted hotel had 400 rooms and was a landmark for half a century. The complex had a private beach and offered seaplane service to downtown Chicago. During its lifetime, the hotel served many famous guests including Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Charlie Chaplin, Bette Davis, Tallulah Bankhead, and Nat King Cole.

On June 14, 1949, Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Eddie Waitkus was shot and nearly killed by an obsessive fan at the hotel; this later would be a large part of the inspiration behind Bernard Malamud's novel The Natural (adapted to screen starring Robert Redford).

The original and very elegant Marine Dining Room was replaced by the Polynesian Village in the 1950s. Employees who were trained in serving fine cuisine at the Marine Dining Room disdainfully referred to the new restaurant as "that chop suey joint."

Less Waverly, a band leader during the Polynesian Village era, has these reminisces:

"They had huts and all the motifs of a Polynesian village. There was one act called the Pearls of the Pacific and they had Tahitian drum dancers with them. The Tahitian drums were actually fuel cans and they made a high-pitched metallic sound. It was a pretty ordinary stage but, instead of a curtain, they had something like bamboo crossed. You could see through it, but it still gave you the feeling of a curtain.

Martin Denny performed there. He was a very big act and he had records with bird calls on them. The Boyd Twins performed there. They were quite well known throughout the country because they were the Doublemint twins. We had Dorothy Shay, the 'Park Avenue Hillbilly.' She did a song about underage hillbilly marriages and marrying your cousin.

They replaced the Polynesian Village and they tried to bring back the Marine Dining Room. There would be people who would come back to relive their honeymoon of 20 or 30 or 40 years ago and they were looking for that nice hotel that they enjoyed so much - and they’d spend one night in the rooms up there with the peeling plaster and the crummy bathroom and all that. We saw the hotel slip little by little. The stores began to close and they stopped operating the summer theater, but still you thought it would keep going."

The Edgewater Beach Hotel closed in 1967 and was demolished mid 1970. There is now a high-rise condominium building in its place.

The Mainlander restaurant was opened on July 3, 1962 at the intersection of Bonhomme and Hanley roads in Clayton, Mo (which borders the west side of St. Louis). The restaurant's primary owner was Dale McGowan. McGowan lived in Webster Groves and had formerly lived in Tahiti.

The Mainlander's dining room featured grass shacks, a tiki fountain, bamboo covered walls and many Polynesian artifacts. Outside in front was another fountain and a white sand beach. The tiki fountain, designed by William Westenhaver and sold through his Witco company, was used as The Mainlander's signature tiki, appearing on its advertising, matchbooks and in the form of its souvenir mugs.

In its lower level, a waterfall of lava rock decorated the Mainlander's Huki Lau bar and lounge.

On November 18, 1971, a shooting took place in The Mainlander's lower level bar, with two customers killed and a waiter injured.

Shortly thereafter, Dale McGowan sold his restaurant to John Bristow.

Bristow ran the restaurant for six years until the Mainlander closed in early 1977.

Former owner Dale McGowan went on to become a broker developing real estate on the island of Maui. He passed away at the age of 84 in 2011.

Afterwards, The Mainlander became a non-Polynesian restaurant called Lautrec's. There was a fire in the building in 1978, and an office building is now in the location.

The Kon Tiki Lounge (no relation to the Steven Crane Kon-Tiki chain) is a classic original tiki bar. Open since 1961 according to the old Critiki site (January 30th, 1962 according to the Arizona Daily Star and 1963 according to the Kon Tiki website), the Kon Tiki Lounge has seen modern-day Tucson grow up around it on all sides. It is tucked back a bit on its busy street, surrounded by strip malls and small office buildings. The small-looking building feels a bit out-of-place. There is an almost lush little garden area out front, with tikis and a small "water feature" -- Tucson's arid climate wouldn't easily support a pond, so a tiled mosaic pond is in its place, with a small walkable bridge over it. To the left of the building was a great old Milan Guanko tiki originally purchased from Gray's Nursery and which was eventually brought in to the outdoor patio area for its protection.

Inside, the restaurant is dark and mysterious, with no windows, and much of the original decor still in place. A former aviary behind the bar is a jarring flash of light -- it used to house parrots, then a lizard cage, now it is used as an outdoor patio space. Large bamboo, gorgeous light fixtures, and tikis aplenty are throughout. The room is structured with smaller sub-rooms encased by bamboo and thatch dividers, giving a feeling of coziness and mystery.

The menus are standard fare for an old tiki bar -- barbecue ribs & similar items for food, and lots of tropical drinks (though a bit on the sweet & sugary side).

Today, the Kon Tiki's future continues to look very bright. It has been kept open through the years with a never-ending supply of college kids who love the place and keep it packed on weekends. These people are who we have to thank for keeping the place alive, but it's a bit more enjoyable when visited earlier in the day or on a weeknight, when the music is more in keeping with the environs and the place isn't so packed with bodies that the decor can't be seen.

In recent years the management has been working on spiffing up the place, while keeping it classic. The Kon Tiki now has their own tiki mug, designed for the Milan Guanko tiki outside (now in the outdoor patio), and has undergone some sprucing up courtesy of Bamboo Ben. A new Bamboo Ben bar looks like it has always been there.

The Imperial Luau was part of the Harris Imperial.

It opened in 1959 and was 20,000 square feet in size.

The stone was supplied from Cuba for the wall treatment in the Kon Tiki Lounge and the American style grill room. Germany supplied the antiqued gold mirrors which covered the entire 2-story front section of the building. Japanese craftsmen built seven bamboo panels for the Polynesian dining room in the Imperial House. Each panel was 6' by 8' with 18-inch sections of bamboo cut to give the impression of various sized circles. The bar was entirely of stained cypress wood.

James B. Kirby was the builder.

At one time this restaurant was the most popular restaurant in the area (45 minutes north of Miami).

Luckily, several of the floor to ceiling tikis were salvaged by local collectors before it was torn down. There were 10 in the restaurant and Max’s South Seas Hideaway in Grand Rapids, Michigan has three of them. The first two guard the entrance to their Atomic Lounge bar and a third is mounted on the wall in the Atomic. A fourth one resides at the Tabu Tiki Room, the home bar of Duke and Amy Carter.

The Imperial Luau appears on page 24 of Sven Kirsten’s “The Book of Tiki.”

The Mai-Kai is perhaps the last of the grand Polynesian palaces still operating from when tiki was at its peak in the late '50s and early '60s. That the Mai-Kai not only still exists today, but is vibrant and thriving, is something we should all be very grateful for but not take for granted.

The Mai-Kai was opened December 28th, 1956 by two brothers from Chicago, Bob and Jack Thornton, in an age when roadside attractions were springing up all over Florida; eventually Bob took over the business. Like many of these attractions, the Mai-Kai grew over time to be quite a spectacle -- it includes eight dining rooms, a bar that on its own would stand as perhaps the best tiki bar in the world, tropical gardens with walking paths and waterfalls, a stage in the center to showcase the Polynesian floor show, and of course, a gift shop.

Today, experiencing the Mai-Kai is much as it was in the '60s. The experience begins as you listen to the wooden slat bridge you drive over to reach the porte cochere and valets. As you enter the restaurant, you are greeted by an elegant maitre'd. Be sure to bring some singles when you visit the restroom, as the bathroom has attendants on hand to assist you. The Mai-Kai's manager is Kern Mattei, who took over the position from his father.

When you're drinking at the Mai-Kai, you're drinking tiki history. The bar program here was created by legendary bartender Mariano Licudine, who came from the Don the Beachcomber in Chicago, and brought Don the Beachcomber drinks with him.

Bob and Jack have passed away, and the restaurant is now run by Bob's wife Mirielle. Bob met Mirielle when she joined the Mai-Kai as a Tahitian dancer, and still today she runs the Mai-Kai's Polynesian revue. As new dances are added to the show, Mirielle first visits the island where the dance originates to ensure it will be performed properly and will be blessed by its people. All dining rooms overlook the popular show, and dinner reservations are recommended.

The enchanting nature of the female form is something that is celebrated throughout Polynesian pop, but perhaps nowhere quite so extensively as the Mai-Kai. The beautiful waitresses to this day are attired in bikini tops and wraparound sarongs. For many years, a Mai-Kai calendar was offered featuring the many beautiful women of the Mai-Kai. This worship reaches its zenith with the Mystery Drink, delivered by the Mystery Girl, an experience that must be witnessed to be fully appreciated, so I will not describe it here, but rather urge you to visit the Mai-Kai yourself and order one.

In February 2015, the Mai-Kai was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

At the end of October 2020, the Mai-Kai announced what was hoped to be a temporary closure because of flooding and damage caused by heavy rains. This damage proved to be more extensive and the costs of repair more prohibitive than expected. Eventually, on January 21st, 2020, the Mai-Kai announced that it was making the business available for acquisition or joint-venture development.

On September 28th, 2021, the Mai-Kai made public that after considering numerous interested parties, the Thornton family agreed to a new joint venture with the Barlington Group, a South Florida-based real estate investment and development company focused on growing unique and eclectic legacy businesses that give their communities character, and Mad Room Hospitality, the proprietors of iconic establishments such as Ball and Chain, Los Altos and Taquerias El Mexicano.

The long close since 2020 ended with the Mai-Kai having an exclusive "Preview Opening" for select groups on November 15th, 2024. November 21st, 2024 marked the general opening and reinstatement of their dinner show performances.

During the four years the restaurant was closed due to water damage, it underwent a $20 plus million remake and re-imagination.

Perhaps the flashiest addition is a glowing 20-foot-high caldera fashioned from cement that has lights to replicate the lava glow and water jets to make the lava flow.

It also has a new Bora Bora bar, located under the port cochere, which was lovingly refurbished to look like the original. A faux bamboo finish was applied to metal supports and Marquesan-style artwork was added to the beams.

And the service bar, where all the hidden magic happened, is now visible through a window in the gift shop!

Additionally, they have re-vamped the menu (see below) with some new additions. They are also introducing some new mug designs to celebrate the opening.

Kahiki Supper Club is a legend in the tiki world a massive polynesian palace in the frozen land of Columbus, Ohio. Kahiki founders Bill Sapp and Lee Henry started work on the Kahiki after their bar, the Grass Shack, burned down on this site in 1959. The Kahiki opened February 20th, 1961 and closed August 25th, 2000. The Kahiki's building was a classic example of midcentury Polynesian pop architecture, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. Despite this, Walgreen's purchased the building and bulldozed it. The Kahiki company now is focused on selling a line of frozen foods.

Some of the interior decor had been stored in a warehouse, and there was talk of the restaurant reopening in a new location. The potential for that seems to have ended: some of the decor was installed in the frozen food factory; the Kahiki's last owner, Michael Tsao, has died; and many of the remaining artifacts appear to have been sold at auctions.

In 2006, former employees opened a new restaurant in a strip mall in nearby Hilliard, called Tropical Bistro. It didn't have the Kahiki's grand looks (much of the decor came from the space's earlier, typical Chinese buffet incarnation), but the food and drink recipes remained the same, and drinks were served in tiki mugs. The Tropical Bistro closed also in 2008, however.

This location has a unique circular structure that reminds many of the Don the Beachcomber "Flying Saucer" locations (such as in Dallas and Marina del Rey).

From Hawaii Cinco Cero:

"A bridge over a stream and a breathtaking waterfall are the elements at our main entrance that’ll take you to an exotic and sophisticated facsimile of the Hawaiian Islands. Founded in 1982, Hawaii Five-O restaurant opens its doors to offer the most exquisite tastes to those demanding palates, with its delicious and varied dishes.

Our world-class menu will invite you to try the best dishes and wine for the most demanding connoisseur, with five chefs and six different cuisines and styles including: seafood, grill, Japanese, Chinese, regional (Mexican) and contemporary fusion. Offering a wide variety of lobster preparation and our famous dish ‘Paradise Shrimp’, cuts of flank steak, and the traditional Rib-Eye Five-O (Certified Angus Beef), or a dish of our famous oriental cuisine such as sushi or teppanyaki, or our delicious seafood tacos and our famous Mexican entries.

A combination of raw materials, such as bamboo, palms, and crystal, create a scene, complemented with vegetation and exotic flowers that invite you to a gastronomic paradise. A combination of objects, traditional utensils, masks, and crafts dress the restaurant’s walls to give you a taste of the Hawaiian paradise islands. Atmosphere, color, culture and high cuisine, make Hawaii Five O create a unique place in Monterrey.

We also have a different option for our guests located on the lower level of our facilities, an extension called Aloha Sushi Bar & Lounge."

The Federal Hotel opened August 31, 1957 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Kontiki appears to have been an original restaurant that opened on or around the same time.

When it was built, The Federal Hotel was the tallest and most impressive building in the area, constructed to accommodate international guests for the Independence Day celebrations.

Initially a 9 story building with 90 guest rooms, it was later adapted to become a 21 story building with 450 rooms and a revolving restaurant at the top.

Kontiki is located on the mezzanine floor. The mezzanine section appears to have a traditional Malay style multiple pitched roof -- so the exterior does stand apart with its design aesthetic. However, it is NOT the hotel's currently showcased fine dining restaurant.

Rather, after its extensive remodeling (circa 2014?), the Kontiki is an impressive buffet style restaurant with huge selections of BBQ, seafood, desserts, and more.

The huge open-design dining area has some rattan furniture, but little else that calls to mind Polynesian decor or design. However, the exterior entrance is flanked by two large tikis and within the threshold are an additional 5 tiki pillars that have been painted a bright and cheerful yellow.

They do not appear to have a bar or cocktail menu, even though at one time the earlier version of the Kontiki issued swizzle sticks and probably did serve cocktails.

Today the hotel has an Irish Pub, and various other restaurants to cater to different interests. So, the Kontiki does not try to be all-inclusive or compete with the revolving restaurant's amazing views. It does seem to excel at being a buffet restaurant, however.

The C'est Bon opened in May 1966 and for a while was Park City's only hotel. It was sold in September 1978 to the Sweetwater group, who turned the building into condominiums, later expanding with additions to the sides and back. The complex is Sweetwater Lift Lodge Resort today, with the renovated C'est Bon portion taking up the Empire Avenue façade.

From a vintage postcard:

"The C'est Bon Hotel and Convention Center, nestled at the foot of Treasure Mountains, in the picturesque old mining town of Park City, Utah. Offering the finest in hospitality and superb service. Featuring the Outrigger Lounge and Beach Boy Restaurant, which are must stops on your skiing or summer vacation."

It appears their restaurant did change over the years. For a time it was "The Mandarin".

Among other entertainments, they also had exotic dancers. The best known was Shirley Price, known as “The Duchess”, who arrived in Park City in the 1960s after leaving Hawaii and Las Vegas, and made the town her home and stage. She performed her illustrious act at the C’est Bon and the Ore Haus (which stood at 1410 Empire Avenue). She was so popular that famous actors, especially Chuck Connors from the TV series “The Rifleman”, and children’s book author Shel Silverstein, came to Park City just to see her dance.

Opened in 2002.

This brightly colored bar features tropical birds and serves drinks in tiki mugs.

This bar has no cocktail menu, but you order the "cocktail of the day" and they serve you from a pre-mix.