Tiki Bars
Hawaiian Garden
Seabrook, New Hampshire, United States (Closed)
Open under this name from about 1967-1975.
This restaurant had a lounge area with large bandstand for live entertainment. It was decorated with tikis, thatching over the bar, and served tropical cocktails. There were also motel rooms in back.
Wing Gwong Chin (1937-2018) started his long career in the restaurant business working at Trader Vics as a bartender, then later as a chef and bartender at other restaurants. He had a dream to own a restaurant so he learned the business and eventually partnered with his cousin Wing Foo Chin and others to open this location which was first named the Ye Cocke and Kettle Restaurant and Motor Inn. From the late 1960’s to 1980’s, the business changed names to Hawaiian Garden and then to the South Sea Restaurant and Motel.
In 1975 there was a big murder case revolving around one of Wing Chin's partners in a new restaurant start-up they were putting together in Marietta, Georgia. Wing Chin was President in the new partnership and his Vice President, a boyhood friend of his named John Oi, was killed by a third member of their partnership, named Armand Therrien (the Treasurer and only occidental involved -- an ex police officer who worked as the Hawaiian Garden's security and general handyman). Armand was judged to have shot John Oi and it was speculated in the trial that he did so because John Oi's death would have resulted in a $200,000 insurance payout to the partnership which would have surely helped the business and indirectly helped Therrien who wanted a higher salary and a greater role in the business. This indirect motive seems barely enough to warrant a murder, but a jury found it enough to convict Armand along with supporting evidence (gun, handcuffs, and shells). Speculation was that there were deeper motives involving gambling and the mob, but the specifics were never proven.
Shortly after this murder, the Hawaiian Garden underwent a name change to "South Sea Restaurant and Motel" and Wing Chin moved to Texas where he lived out the remainder of his life.
Secret Island
Long Beach, California, United States
Opened September 30th, 2021.
This bar is underground, below Shannon's on Pine. The build-out was completed by Bamboo Ben.
Some features include a poured resin bartop with a "stream" of resin running along the middle of the wood surface, a "lava" throne for photo ops, a floor with bright orange/red "lava" rivulets painted where you might normally see grout lines, and plenty of thatch and tikis.
This is also a live music venue.
The entire building is under one owner, so they are able to utilize several different levels and areas of indoor space for marketplace events as well (beyond just the bar). They started their own marketplace in June 2022 -- held roughly at quarterly intervals throughout the year.
Misfit Tiki Bar
Tromsø, Norway
This bar opened on Friday, October 1st, 2021.
From their website:
"Misfit Tiki Bar is Tromsø’s own little exotic oasis, adding warmth and color to an otherwise cold and dark arctic city.
Misfit Tiki Bar is created to honor tiki culture's past and reinvigorate it here in the north. Located in the city center of the arctic capital, Tromsø. Misfit Tiki Bar features a variation of both original and modern tiki-tails, as well as a few simple yet delicious bar snacks.
Misfit Tiki Bar offers a large collection of rum from numerous countries around the world, while handcrafting a wide variety of homemade ingredients. The bar taps into the history of Tiki, paying homage to the heritage and indigenous artforms of Oceania’s treasured past that originally inspired Tiki culture. The decorations are crafted by both local and international carpenters and artists, from Norway to The UK and Hawaii."
Misfit Tiki Bar is located above their big brother bar, the Bastard Bar, known as a thriving live music venue that started in 2009.
Playa del Rey Polynesian Village Apartments
Los Angeles, California, United States (Closed)
Located in a surprisingly welcomed proximity of just over 3200 feet from the North tarmac of the Los Angeles Airport, the Polynesian Village Apartment complex was the epitome of primitive, space-age bachelor pad living when it opened in 1962. Designed by prolific mid-century architects, Armet & Davis, the immersive environment featured a stylishly themed atmosphere, complete with 24/7 flaming gas Tiki torches and cascading lava rock waterfalls. Made in a series of three sister developments across Los Angeles county, the dingbat cubist apartment structures were adorned with redwood carvings by the renowned sculptor team of Andres Bumatay and Richard Ellis.
Torn down in 2003. Many of the tiki carvings were salvaged and some are on display at Max's South Seas Hideaway in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Sing's Polynesian Restaurant and Lounge
Bangor, Maine, United States (Closed)
The Sing family operated Sing's Polynesian Restaurant and Lounge since 1969 in the Penobscot Plaza in Bangor, Maine.
They later decided to expand southward to Greater Portland where they opened Sing's Cantonese Polynesian American Restaurant and Lounge at 152 Main Street, Westbrook. The family lacked the management structure necessary to operate two such widely separated restaurants and closed the Westbrook location by 1976. This Westbrook location became site of the Polynesian Village until its close in 1997.
Sing's in Bangor is now the site of Hero's sports bar.
There was also a Sing's location in Lewiston, open at least as late as 1980 (color photo of sign below may have been from the Lewiston location).
Polynesian Village - Westbrook
Westbrook, Maine, United States (Closed)
The movement of Chinese restaurants into suburban locations continued in 1972 when the Sing family, which had operated Sing's Polynesian Restaurant and Lounge since 1969 in the Penobscot Plaza in Bangor, Maine, decided to expand southward to Greater Portland. They opened Sing's Cantonese Polynesian American Restaurant and Lounge at 152 Main Street, Westbrook. The family lacked the management structure necessary to operate two such widely separated restaurants and closed the Westbrook location by 1976. This site soon after became Polynesian Village until its close in 1997.
Bali Hai - Massillon, Ohio
Massillon, Ohio, United States (Closed)
Emil and Helen Chapnar's Polynesian restaurant, in Massillon, Ohio (on Lincoln Way E. in Perry Township) flourished from 1960 to 1984. This fine dining restaurant is often remembered for its landmark torches at the entrance.
Photo shows "torches out for the energy crisis" of the 1970s.
Kau Kau Restaurant & Polynesian Room
Seattle, Washington, United States (Closed)
"The Kau Kau Restaurant, at 1115 1/2 Second Avenue, took up the Polynesian theme in 1958 with tropical cocktails and authentic Cantonese dinners until 2:00 AM. Owner Wai C. Eng thoroughly remodeled the place in 1965 with new seating arrangements, wall paneling and booth lighting in the main dining room. Thirteen years later, Eng started up a branch location in Chinatown called the Kau Kau Barbecue Market; it was principally a lunch place and contrary to the name, had not much barbecue on the menu--mostly mein and sweet-and-sour dishes. The downtown Kau Kau closed in 1985; the barbecue evolved into the still-existing Kau Kau Restaurant on King Street." -- from Lost Restaurants of Seattle by Chuck Flood (2017)
Polynesian Village - Parker Strip
Parker Strip, Arizona, United States (Closed)
This location operated in the 1960s and appears to have been torn down around 1968.
Old advertisements tout "Shade Cabanas at the water with electricity and restrooms, Concrete Ramp, Tiki Beer Bar, Dancing, Charcoal Broil Your Steaks, Shell Gasoline Service for boats, Restaurant serving breakfast, hamburgers, sandwiches, and cold beer).
It is now home to Moonridge Marina, a private community located 1 mile south of the Parker Dam, fronting the Arizona side of the Colorado River.
Gecko'z South Sea Arts Studio
Kapolei, Hawaii, United States
Gecko is a tiki carver, artist, and mug maker based out of Honolulu, Hawaii.
Previously, Gecko'z studio space was just his garage and backyard space where he made his tiki carvings and ceramics. As of 2021, Gecko has created a polished showplace in that same studio space for visitors to admire his work...and maybe purchase pieces straight from the artist.
This studio is not open to unannounced walk-in visits. You must call or contact him ahead of time.
Makai Island Kitchen & Groggery
Santa Cruz, California, United States
Opened in May of 2020, Makai Island Kitchen and Groggery on the Santa Cruz Wharf features what owner Peter Drobac describes as Hawaiian food and beyond, with flavors that draw on influences from Chinese, Thai, and Japanese cuisine.
Housed in the same space that was previously occupied by Splash.
The food, décor, and music are all themed toward a tiki bar kind of atmosphere with an upscale Pan-Asian menu.
Imperial Palace
San Francisco, California, United States (Closed)
This Chinese Restaurant was located directly across from the Kuo Wah Restaurant in San Francisco's Chinatown.
Like Kuo Wah, Imperial Palace had its own cocktail mugs, many of which were patterned after ancient Chinese serving vessels.
The Imperial Palace was in this location up through at least the mid 90s. At some point thereafter, they moved around the corner to 818 Washington St., where they are still located as of 2021.
An episode of Season 4 of Beverly Hills 90210 was shot inside the old location, called "Emily" (a.k.a. The Pink Pearl).