Tiki Bars
Tiki House Key West
Key West, Florida, United States
Opened in August 2017 in the location formerly occupied by Rumor lounge.
This two-story white-painted structure may resemble a large fraternity house made over for a luau weekend on the outside, with its brightly painted tiki masks and Corona beer ads and banners/pennants strung across the balconies, but on the inside they appear to have something for everyone.
The bar offers classic and house cocktails in tiki mugs. They also have two full pages in their menu devoted to rum tasting notes on their large selection should you prefer to sip your spirits neat.
Additionally, they have a large selection of vodka, tequila, and beers on tap.
Albert Gee's Poly-Asian
Houston, Texas, United States (Closed)
This was the first location for Albert Gee's Poly-Asian.
It had three distinctly defined spaces: The Poly-Asian Dining Room, The Kabuki Tea House, and The Club Luau -- a private section of the Poly-Asian.
Albert Gee sold it to Peter Chin in 1962 and it continued until 1969.
A second location was opened at 5200 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX (sometimes listed as 5138 Westheimer, Houston, TX) by Albert Gee after selling his first location in 1962. This second location had, until recently, been a Dobb's House Luau location.
Both Poly-Asian locations advertised themselves as serving Polynesian, Cantonese, and Japanese cuisine as well as Tropical Beverages.
Jane E. Gee, Albert's wife, outlived her husband of 38 years but passed away in 2019 at the age of 98. She was a co-owner of the business.
Stephen Crane's Final Resting Place
Crawfordsville, Indiana, United States
Joseph Stephenson "Steve" Crane (February 7, 1916 – February 6, 1985) was an American actor and restaurateur. A Columbia Pictures actor in the early 1940s, Crane opened the Luau, a popular celebrity restaurant in Beverly Hills, in 1953 and established a successful 25-year career in the restaurant industry. Steve also owned the Kon-Tiki chain in Sheratons, and Ports-o-Call restaurants.
In addition to his own accomplishments, Crane is often remembered as Lana Turner's twice ex-husband and the father of her only child Cheryl. Steve's first marriage to Turner in 1942 was annulled when it was discovered he was not divorced from his first wife. Turner then married Steve again in 1943 because she was expecting a child.
The Waikiki - Washington D.C.
Washington, District of Columbia, United States (Closed)
The Waikiki opened in 1960, in a building that previously been a Chinese restaurant called The Chinese Lantern. The Waikiki operated until 1967, when the business was sold to Moon Kim who opened the second location of her Luau Hut there, retaining much of the decor. Since 1978, the building has been Kelly's Irish Times, though the Chinese origins are still clear in the building's architecture.
Holiday Inn
Anaheim, California, United States (Closed)
The original Disneyland Holiday Inn was on the southeast corner of S. Harbor and W. Katella.
Construction began March 6, 1968.
It was home to a Dobbs House Luau (one of several locations).
This Dobbs House Luau housed a Polynesian Room (Kapena Lanai, with decor supplied by Oceanic Arts) and a Ship's Lounge. The Kapena Lanai later merged into the Pirate's Table restaurant on or about April 4th, 1969, when it was publicly announced in the Santa Ana Register.
Most recently, this property was home to a Red Lion Hotel but that appears to have closed permanently in 2021.
Kon-Tiki Ports - Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States (Closed)
Opened August 6th, 1962.
This restaurant was operated by Steve Crane Associates, which also operated the Kon-Tiki chain, and the Luau in Beverly Hills. It was in the Sheraton-Chicago; this building had begun as the Medinah Athletic Club, which was exclusively for Shriners.
The hotel closed in 1986 for renovations and that was the end of the Kon Tiki Ports. The hotel reopened in 1990 as the Inter Continental.
There was a Kon-Tiki Ports in Boston as well. These locations featured themed rooms modeled after Singapore, Papeete, Saigon, and Macau.
Ports o' Call - Dallas
Dallas, Texas, United States (Closed)
This was a Steve Crane Associates restaurant, part of the same group of restaurants as the Kon-Tiki chain and the Luau in Beverly Hills.
It was located on the 37th floor of the Sheraton Hotel's Southland Life Tower. It opened on July 29th, 1960 and had four different themed dining rooms (Macao, Saigon, Papeete, and Singapore).
The Sheraton Dallas hotel was a very modern hotel when it was built as part of the Southland Life Insurance complex in 1958.
The entire complex went through some changes of owners and names over the years but eventually came under the ownership of Sheraton once again and underwent a series of renovations from 2009-2019 and is once again known by its original name as the Sheraton Dallas Hotel.
Kon-Tiki Ports - Boston
Boston, Massachusetts, United States (Closed)
This was a Steve Crane Associates restaurant, part of the same group of restaurants as the Kon-Tiki chain, and the Luau in Beverly Hills. It was in the Sheraton-Boston at Prudential Center.
There was a Kon-Tiki Ports in Chicago as well. These locations featured themed rooms modeled after Singapore, Papeete, Saigon, and Macau.
Kon-Tiki - Montréal
Montréal, Quebec, Canada (Closed)
This restaurant, the first of the Kon-Tiki chain owned by Steve Crane and his second restaurant after the Luau in Beverly Hills, opened in 1958 and was in the Sheraton-Mt. Royal. It closed in 1981. Some of the decor from here went to the Jardin Tiki.
Green Turtle Restaurant - at The Hawaiian Inn
Daytona Beach, Florida, United States (Closed)
Originally called the Waikiki Lounge & Supper Club.
The Green Turtle Restaurant was part of the Hawaiian Inn resort complex. Teauila's (pronounced like "tequila" would sound if the q was silent) Hawaiian Luau Dinner Show took place here four nights a week. The dinner show was a package deal, including the entertainment and a Chinese-food buffet; tropical drinks were extra.
The room featured lamps from Oceanic Arts, and a very heavy use of black-light. The show itself featured a full band, male and female hula dancers, and included a dramatic use of fire. A handful of male visitors were selected from the audience to try their hand at hula-ing on stage while wearing a coconut bra and grass skirt.
NOTE: This restaurant was closed as of 2017, although the Hawaiian Inn Resort still hosts a Hawaiian Luau Dinner Show in this space, but you should check for scheduling.
Just up the street you can find the Aku Tiki Inn and Traders Restaurant.
Island House Restaurant & Lounge
Freeport, Bahamas (Closed)
This location was opened in the 1970s by Kim Moon, singer & restauranteur, who also owned the Luau Huts in Washington D.C. and Silver Spring, Maryland.
This Polynesian restaurant was short-lived, however, and soon became "Island Lobster House".
The Temple Bar
Berkeley, California, United States (Closed)
The Temple Bar opened around 2006 and was owned and run by a Hawaiian family.
For a time they were only open for special events, such as visiting Hawaiian musicians, or occasional Sunday luaus, and focused mostly on their catering business.
Toward the end, it began staying open five nights a week as a restaurant.
It closed in 2011.