Overlooking Halema‘uma‘u Crater at the summit of Kilauea, this casual hotel in a restored 1846 building is 2 miles from Thurston Lava Tube and 3 miles from the Jaggar Museum.

Cozy, basic rooms come with free Wi-Fi and desks; many rooms offer volcano views. Simple cabins with BBQ grills and shared bathrooms are available in Namakanipaio campground.

Amenities include a relaxed restaurant overlooking the crater and a cocktail lounge (Uncle George's Lounge) with a TV and regular live music. The property also offers loaner bikes and daily guided walking tours of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

They have a large gift shop as well.

HISTORY:

In 1846, the original Volcano House was built – a simple one room shelter made of grass and native Ohia wood.

In 1866, a four bedroom wooden structure replaced the original hotel. Notable guests included Mark Twain who recounted his stay in Roughing it: “Neat, roomy, well furnished well kept hotel. The surprise of finding a good hotel at such an outlandish spot startled me, considerable more than the volcano did.”

In 1904, George “Uncle George” Lycurgus purchased an interest in the Volcano House Company and managed the Volcano House until 1921 when he sold his interest. He subsequently regained the hotel in 1932 and remained the manager until his death in 1960. He was known as the dean of Hawaiian hospitality and died at the age of 101 after 45 years of direct involvement with the Volcano House.

Like many restaurants, they were temporarily closed due to the Covid pandemic, but have since re-opened.

Der Blume von Hawaii (The Flower of Hawaii) was originally opened in downtown Nuremberg in 2014 at Rosental 15 by Zack Stingl, a longtime Exotica and Hawaiian music lover who became obsessed with tropical drinks, especially through the work of Beachbum Berry. His small bar payed tribute to both.

Then, in Fall 2019, the bar moved to this larger new location at 16 Weinmarkt.

Aloha: A Taste of Hawaii closed in 2003.

This restaurant operated under three owners and three names in 2003. It went from Aloha: A Taste of Hawaii to 2 Palms Island (same owners) then Cancun Cove (two different owners). The first Cancun Cove owners were there only a couple of months before Adkins and Josephine Bautista acquired the restaurant and decided to keep the name. This final incarnation served a mix of Filipino/American food.

The tropical decor remained pretty much the same throughout the changes with thatched-roof accents around the ceiling, a long rock fountain at the entrance, colorful wall murals, mustard- and maroon-colored walls and a mixture of red carpet and hardwood floors.

As of 2021, this space is home to Sutures, a medical themed pub inspired by the growth of hospital and medical buildings prevalent in this South Tulsa neighborhood.

Coco Joe's was located in Punaluu, Hawaii. Located on the windward side of Oahu near Laie. Their grass shack eventually became completely covered with Wood Rose vines and was a photo opportunity in its own right.

The company was a maker of lava-based and Hawaiian wood-based ("hapawood" or half-wood) resin souvenirs. Coco Joe's was started in 1960 by Donald R Gallacher (a returning WWII veteran). They continued into the 1980s before going out of business. Gallacher was honored by the U.S. Small Business administration as the Hawaii Small Businessman of the Year in 1973 at which time he had 50 employees producing 400 designs (including jewelry and children's books, ashtrays, statues, plaques, and more).

Opened on October 12th, 1963.

The Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) is a family-centered cultural tourist attraction and living museum located in Laie, on the northern shore of Oahu, Hawaii. The PCC is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and occupies 42 acres (17 hectares) of land belonging to nearby Brigham Young University–Hawaii (BYU-Hawaii).

The PCC encompasses eight simulated tropical villages, in which performers demonstrate various arts and crafts from throughout Polynesia. Visitors may also take a free shuttle tour of the university and see the LDS Church's Laie Hawaii Temple and its associated visitors' center.

Seventy percent of the PCC's approximately 1,300 employees are students at BYU-Hawaii. Since it has opened, the PCC has provided financial assistance to more than 12,000 BYU-Hawaii students. Students may work up to 20 hours per week during school terms and 40 hours during breaks. As a non-profit organization, PCC's revenue are used for daily operations and to support education.

The PCC is one of the most frequently visited tourist destinations in Hawaii, attracting 700,000 visitors annually. The PCC is the venue for the annual World Fire Knife Dance Competition, in which contestants display their skill with blazing swords. Since it opened its doors in 1963, over 32 million people have visited the center.

*As this is a LDS-run institution, there are no cocktails, nor have there been, historically, on any of their menus. However, interestingly, despite LDS prohibitions agains "Hot Drinks" and caffeinated beverages, these are offered to guests. This prohibition against cocktails has not stopped them from issuing souvenir tiki mugs in the past to tourists, either.

Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, is a beachside resort hotel at the Ko Olina Resort in Kapolei, Hawaii, on the island of Oahu. Alongside Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort and Disney's Vero Beach Resort, Aulani is Disney's third "stand-alone" hotel located in an area without any adjacent theme parks.

Aulani was opened to the public on August 29, 2011, with 359 hotel rooms and 460 time-share villas on 21 acres. A November 2018 report stated that, at that time, there were 351 rooms (in two 15-story towers), including 16 suites and 481 villas, most being "2-bedroom-equivalent." In an October 2018 review, it was noted that there were three restaurants with seating (Makahiki, Ulu Cafe, and 'AMA'AMA) as well as smaller outlets providing snacks, including the 'Off the Hook' poolside lounge. The bars (including The ‘Ōlelo Room adjacent to the Makahiki, Off The Hook, and the Wailana Pool Bar) offer a small selection of a dozen or so tropical cocktails. See menus below for Off The Hook and Wailana poolside dining/cocktails.

*NOTE: In 2011, when Aulani opened, Critiki chose not to include it in their directory and, indeed, mytiki.life held off from including it for some time as well. This is not because it isn't a wonderful resort, but because its very concept was outspokenly anti-Tiki in concept design. It was conceived as a love-letter to the Hawaiian people and they wanted to be as respectful of local culture as possible by downplaying Disney and tiki concepts and elevating Hawaii's historical and cultural aspects (lowercase "d" and upper case "H" as some designers put it). They did not want to overwhelm visitors with conflicting themes from other Disney IPs or draw criticism for including Enchanted Tiki Room/Rolly Crump style fantastical elements that were more of an Imagineer's dream than anything rooted in Polynesian culture.

Of course, being Disney, and a corporation with a need to synchronize properties and merchandise, they immediately began breaking their own rules, but even at that they were studiously rigorous about keeping things contained. A tiki-like Stitch statue from the film Lilo and Stitch, was placed prominently. Character actors portraying Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Stitch, and Moana interacted with visitors. Tiki-like menehune statues dotted the grounds, especially in child-friendly areas. These seemed like fairly unobtrusive and tasteful inclusions.

But no tiki mugs to be found...until Fall of 2023 when some elegant and restrained pieces showed up as part of a large set in their gift shop -- and not labeled as tiki mugs, but as "serveware".

So, with these "serveware" pieces in circulation, we've finally decided to add this resort to the listings. It may not embrace the Tiki Aesthetic as much as Disney's Polynesian Resort in Florida or other locations, and may remain more "tiki adjacent" than truly "poly pop tiki" but Aulani has definitely set foot into the mug collectors realm with their 2023 gift shop offerings.

The governor, on April 27, 1951, signed an act to change the name of Honolulu Airport to Honolulu International Airport.

There was still much construction to do, however, and the new terminal and facilities took a few years to develop, but several airlines, including Pan American Airways and United Airlines inaugurated jet service between the mainland United States and Hawaii in 1959.

Eventually, the Okolehao Bar was added to entertain guests. This was probably when the new John Rodgers Terminal was dedicated on August 22, 1962, during the annual conference of the Airport Operators Council, held in Honolulu August 19-25, 1962. The entrance to the bar can be seen in the press photo below.

This bar functioned through the 60s and into the 70s.

Eventually, in 2017, they changed the name of the Honolulu International Airport to the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.

Turtle Bay opened its doors in May 1972 as Del Webb’s Kuilima Resort Hotel and Country Club. The hotel boasted 443 ocean view rooms and a golf course. Webb was inspired by the name of the area the hotel sits on called Kuilima. In the Hawaiian language kui lima means "joining hands".

The former owner of the New York Yankees opened the resort with none other than Bob Hope as the headliner.

Webb had the vision of making Kuilima the first casino in Hawaii, however a bill that would make gambling legal that he anticipated passing died.

The resort took the Turtle Bay name officially in 1983. However, locals called the area Turtle Bay before then because turtles commonly feed in the bay.

Over the years what hasn’t changed is Turtle Bay’s untouched coastline, expansive grounds and legendary surfing. The resort rests on 1,300 acres of paradise. It is home to the stunning Kawela Bay, Kuilima Farm and the most northern tip on the island of Oahu, Kahuku Point.

The splendor of Turtle Bay has drawn Hollywood to its shores over the past 5 decades. More than 150 movies, TV shows and series have been filmed at Turtle Bay including Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Hawaii Five-0 and Jumanji - Welcome to the Jungle.

In April 2020, the hotel closed to the public in the wake of the COVID19 pandemic. Owners used the down time to completely transform Turtle Bay from the inside out with world renowned designer Dianna Wong and the architects of WCIT Architecture leading the charge.

*NOTE: It does not appear that the three tikis that stood outside in the 70s are still in place, although with all the remodeling it is possible that there may be new Polynesian art and decor somewhere on the grounds.

Long before Waikiki was developed as a tourist destination, it was a favorite residence and recreational center for Hawaiian kings and chiefs. King Kamehameha I had his home where The Royal Hawaiian stands today, and Queen Kaahumanu’s Summer Palace was previously located on what is now the resort’s Coconut Grove.

The opening of The Royal Hawaiian on February 1, 1927, ushered in a new era of luxurious resort travel to Hawaii. The resort was built with a price tag of $4 million, and was completed in 18 months. The six-story, 400-room structure was fashioned in a Spanish-Moorish style, popular during the period and influenced by screen star Rudolph Valentino. The first general manager of the hotel, Arthur Benaglia, presided over a staff of 300, including ten elevator operators and lobby boys dressed in “Cathayan” costume. At the grand opening’s black-tie gala celebration, members of the Honolulu Symphony entertained over 1,200 guests at the $10-a-plate event-of-the-year. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin described the newly opened Royal Hawaiian as “the first resort hostelry in America.” Built on 15 acres of beautiful beach frontage, the luxurious hotel with its distinctive Moorish-style architecture, painted pink, was promoted world-wide as a premier visitor destination. Elaborate opening ceremonies and festivities included dinner and dancing, concerts, and pageants.

The era of opulence came to an abrupt end on the morning of December 7, 1941 when Japanese planes flew alongside Waikiki Beach on its way to the US fleet berthed at Pearl Harbor. The Navy recreation and morale office leased The Royal Hawaiian, transforming the resort into a major rest and relaxation center for the Navy personnel. The resort was restored to its pre-war elegance in 1947.

Since then, the Royal Hawaiian has always remained pink, but has nonetheless undergone many changes over the years.

One such change is reflected in the quiet removal of the hotel's one and only tiki statue. This cement tiki was moulded by Homer Merrill, an island artist, and was a representation of the Shark God Kamuualii or Kamohoali'i, brother to Pele and known as the Fisherman's Friend. This mammoth version, six feet high on a three-foot base, stood on the lawn of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel since the 1910s, although in his final years the hotel was embarrassed about the sculpture and allowed vegetation to grow around it -- then finally ordered a contractor to knock it over one night and dispose of it during a round of renovations in 2009. Today, only the feet of the tiki remain, hidden behind some plants. The full and original tiki can be seen below...

Another change is the closing of the famous Surf Room - replaced by the Surf Lanai on the same footprint.

After passing through the colonial-style Royal Hawaiian lobby, one will find the property's Mai Tai Bar nestled in back, the bar itself a small hut sitting against the ocean. The Mai Tai bar was once a large outside dance floor back in the day. You'll still have to watch your footwork, though, especially if you work your way through all the menu's mai-tai variations!

Opened @ November 2022.

This venue is located in the heart of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. It features craft tiki cocktails and island influenced food accompanied by a gorgeous view overlooking Kailua Bay.

They do have a few tikis and tropical elements like rattan furniture, lauhala matting, and tiki mugs to serve drinks in, however, the open floor plan and white ceilings, as well as the outside seating all lend themselves to much more of a beachy resort vibe than a dark and intimate tiki bar vibe.

Still, the views are spectacular and cocktails have received high praise.

This Coco's was built on the site of the famous Kau Kau Korner which stood here from 1935 to 1960.

The well-known Hawaii restaurant chain, Spencecliff, took over the site in 1960 and remodeled the existing structure into a more modern building for Coco’s. This Coco's was one of three Hawaiian-style coffee shops designed by the famous architect Pete Wimberly. The other two were Tops and Popo's.

Within this Coco's coffee shop was the Calabash Bar. This location lasted until August 31, 1986.

The Hard Rock Café replaced Coco’s in 1987.

Today, as of 2022, this location is home to the Honolulu Coffee Experience Center.

Opened in 1963 with the reputation of being the first upscale Chinese restaurant in Hawaii.

As one postcard proclaims: "One of the most beautiful Chinese Restaurants in the world offering superb Cantonese cuisine, graciously served in an atmosphere enhanced by fine art reproductions. Kuan-yin, the Goddess of Mercy, carved in 5 feet of rosewood, greets diners at the second floor landing of the restaurant and Waikiki's only indoor waterfall is presided over by the God of Longevity."

Raymond Hong took his restaurant chefs to China for training and they introduced Peking duck to Honolulu.

In its heyday the restaurant was the place for glittering celebrities and for ordinary people marking special occasions, looking to enjoy a multi-course Cantonese dinner over several hours.

Closed in April 2005 and eventually replaced by the new Outrigger Hotels & Resorts' Waikiki Beachwalk project.

Although not a tiki restaurant, most tiki restaurants at this time (and many today) served the same Chinese food and tropical drinks -- and House of Hong did have several drinks that came in ceramic mugs made by Otagiri.