These unnamed Duarte Apartments probably had a very Polynesian or Island-themed name when they first opened, but have switched hands several times and are often just named unimaginatively as "Duarte Apartments" or after whichever managing company owns them from year to year.

This is a 30-unit courtyard-style multifamily property built in 1966, with 23,917 square feet of building and an oversized lot of 52,024 square feet. The property has a mix of two three-bedroom/two-baths, nineteen two-bedroom/one-baths, and nine one-bedroom/one-bath units. The property features two A-frame main entrances with tiki poles forming the frames. A round glass swag lamp hangs from the tallest points.

There are also tiki railings (or there used to be) leading up to these entrances.

Inside is a tiki roof decoration over the tenant mailboxes.

In back is a community pool.

This location had a very nice sign once-upon-a-time and was located on El Centro's motel row @1960s-70s.

Around 2012 it was converted to the "American Inn" and later to "Villa Hermosa Apartments".

This pre-tiki establishment was open at least as early as 1952, but probably even earlier right after WWII.

Advertising proudly proclaims it is "G.I. owned and operated."

Decor and theming probably didn't extend much past the impressive sign out front.

Built in 1961, this complex has 42 units and is 2 stories tall.

Pop Polynesian features include a lava wall, outrigger beams, an A-frame entrance, and a pool hut (originally with large outrigger extensions, but now long since cut away).

Smaller photos below from 2002 provide contrast to larger 2025 background image.

Most recently, the building has had a severe pruning of all its palms and tropical foliage and many of the outrigger beam extensions have been cropped. This, combined with a much lighter paint job than in previous years makes the property much less "exotic", but it still survives and with the original name intact as of 2025 (see background image).

Joe Chastek was first introduced to Polynesia when he and a high school buddy stowed away to the Philippines when they were both 17. Joe was one of the first to open a club with the South Seas motif. His first pre-Tiki bar was the Zamboanga. His second was the Tradewinds. His third was Vagabond's House.

The Trade Winds was opened during the war, in December 1944. He kept the same monkey theme that worked for him at the Zamboanga.

This Trader Vic's was opened in 1975, along with the opening of the Hotel Toronto (later the Hilton Toronto).

Closed in 1991.

Now occupied by a Ruth's Chris Steak House.

Opened summer of 2021.

Build-out completed by Northstar General Contracting.

The duo of owners behind the bar are also the owners of Saint Franks, located on Broad Street.

The bar does have a limited food menu and also features a private karaoke room.

This Chinese and Polynesian eatery appears to have opened in the 60s or 70s.

At some point, the very Polynesian interior (seen from an early postcard) was refurbished and all the bamboo and rattan and lauhala matting was stripped out, leaving only the amazing swag lamps to mark that this had been anything other than just a normal Chinese restaurant.

It was open at least through 2016 when these later photos were taken below.

Opened December 23rd, 2022.

Pōā Tiki Bar claims to be the first permanent bar in Ottawa to have a tropical Hawaiian atmosphere.

The entire space is filled with tiki and pirate-themed decor - with nautical ropes and flotsam & jetsam hanging from the ceiling -- all artfully lit with colored lighting.

Their cocktail menu features some unorthodox creations of their own and some unusual serving vessels, including their "Shokin Pirate" which is served in a clear glass bong with dry ice to provide a smoke effect in the chamber.

Opened in 1978.

There may once have been more tiki decor in the 70s, but today it has a fairly common bar/roadhouse interior with a pool table and karaoke being the biggest draws.

Still, they have a pretty cool exterior front roofline and vintage looking logo sign still in use.

First established in 1946, the hotel was remodeled and a two story addition added in 1952.

The hotel has a large indoor open pool area and lounge with several tikis.

One tiki with spear, appears to be originally from a Steve Crane Kon-Tiki location.