The Beachcomber was a Canadian chain of elaborate Polynesian restaurants in the same vein as other popular chains like Kon-Tiki, Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic's. Other locations were in Edmonton, Vancouver, Victoria and Winnipeg.

The Calgary location was open at least as early as 1967, judging by newspaper advertisements.

However, it burned down on April 19th, 1972, and there is now an office building where it once stood.

Lei Low opened in Houston's Heights neighborhood in late February 2014. The force behind Lei Low is husband-and-wife tikiphile team Russell and Elizabeth Thoede.

Lei Low serves drinks inspired by the historic tropical standards, but in their own modern style. Although Lei Low doesn't typically serve food, they do have occasional luau events.

A brightly colored mural of a tropical scene adorns the front entrance. Inside, the centerpiece of the space is a dramatic thatched A-frame structure behind the bar, which holds a collection of tiki mugs. There are a couple of vintage Witco pieces, and a few colored floats hang from the ceiling. There is seating in green booths, or on stools along the large bar. Tiki posts are found between booths and behind the bar. A grand peacock chair is near the entrance. Along most of the walls, the decoration comes in the form of framed art hung on framed pieces of lauhala matting.

This was a two-story tiki bar and Polynesian restaurant in Orlando's Wall Street Plaza, owned by a developer who owned six other clubs in the complex.

Waitiki opened in August of 2004, and featured a downstairs bar made of antique ironwood, outdoor balconies, many wood carvings and teak flooring.

It was not an immersive tiki environment, but there was much artwork from modern-day tiki artists like Flounder, Joe & Donella Vitale and local tiki carver Wayne Coombs (Mai Tiki).

Tropical cocktails were available, and the food was a more modern take on Polynesian cuisine, with a focus on seafood.

Upstairs bar was the "Monkey Bar" with the expected theme reflected in the decor.

On December 26th, 2024, the bar re-opened as "Warped Pour". Anything tiki-related was gutted and the new interior is themed around the Vans Warped Tour traveling rock music festival.

The Islands was a Polynesian restaurant just south of Camelback Road in Phoenix, operating from July 4th, 1958 through at least the '70s. It had four rooms: the Tapa Bar, the Tiki Room, the Cannibal Room, and the Waterfall Room, which was available for private events when it wasn't used for live music and dancing,

The building had two swooping A-frames, facing in opposite directions, covered in thatch, and two cone-shaped thatched huts to the left of the main building. The exterior sides of the restaurant were decorated with oversized, graphic tapa-style designs. The restaurant was fronted by two large rootball tikis that were sometimes used as logos for the restaurant.

From 1977 onward, it was known as Tommy Wong's Island Restaurant after being purchased by Wong, who had worked at the Chicago Don the Beachcomber and at the Aku Aku in Las Vegas before becoming a successful restaurateur in his own right. Tommy Wong also had an Island Restaurant (or "Islands Restaurant" depending on the advertisement) in Colorado Springs and Denver, Colorado.

Some time in the '80s, The Islands/Island Restaurant building in Phoenix was razed. The rest of the chain in Colorado also went under in the 80s.

The Islands Restaurant was situated in the former Hanalei Hotel, now called the Crowne Plaza. This once-elaborate mid-century Polynesian restaurant was designed by George Nakashima along with Hendrick & Mock Architects, starting in 1964. It had an A-frame entrance from the hotel's courtyard, elaborate water features and lush surrounding landscaping, and was thoroughly and richly decorated inside. The restaurant featured lovely carved railings throughout, large glass float lights, and dramatic clam shell fountains. Some of the tikis here were salvaged from Steve Crane's Luau in Beverly Hills.

Over the years, remodels of the restaurant (and surrounding hotel) gradually stripped the restaurant of its defining features. In November 2006, a six-month renovation of the restaurant began, which removed many of the waterfalls, fountains and other water features, along with nearly all of the tiki artifacts. The end result was a fairly generic hotel restaurant, though some decor in the hallway outside remained intact for some time after.

In the beginning of the Covid pandemic the hotel was contracted by the city to house homeless Covid victims and this restaurant was closed since @2020 to the public. Fences and security were put up and those not registered to stay were turned away. Then, another remodeling was completed and the hotel opened back up in 2024 to show that all traces of Tiki decor had been removed from the premises, save some lava rock on some of the walls and some tiki railings.

So, although you can visit the hotel now, as of 2024, it is essentially finished as a tiki point of interest, save for the memories.

The Crowne Plaza, originally the Hanalei Hotel (built in 1959), was remodeled and expanded just a few years later to include features like flaming Moai and Tikis atop its towers. This 1964-1966 expansion was by Hendrick & Mock, architects.

This hotel was also host to Islands Restaurant and Islands Sushi and Pupu Bar.

The hotel became part of the the Crowne Plaza chain, and was later formally called the Crowne Plaza San Diego. Before becoming a Crowne Plaza hotel, it was a Red Lion hotel, and before that it was a Best Western. The sign for the Hanalei used to be a fantastic example of Googie signage, but tragically, it was replaced with an exceedingly bland sign when "updated" by Best Western. The "Hanalei" name was dropped entirely from use when it became the Crowne Plaza in 2007.

For many years, the Crowne Plaza was able to retain a little bit of its Polynesian feel, including tikis salvaged from Steve Crane's Luau in Beverly Hills. It is a large hotel, and the remaining tiki touches were more scattered than immersive.

In late 2006, the Islands Restaurant was gutted for "renovation", and the amount of tiki to be found here dwindled to near nothingness by 2024.

*This site was a host of the ever-growing Tiki Oasis event (2006-2019) before it moved and was held at San Diego's Paradise Point (2020) and later re-located to San Diego's Town and Country in 2021. From 2001 to 2005 Tiki Oasis was held at the Caliente Tropics in Palm Springs.

In the beginning of the Covid pandemic the hotel was contracted by the city to house homeless Covid victims (and then later, apparently immigrants) and this restaurant was closed since @2020 to the public. Fences and security were put up and those not registered to stay were turned away. Then, another remodeling was completed and the hotel opened back up in 2024 to show that nearly all traces of Tiki decor had been removed from the premises, save some lava rock on some of the walls and some tiki railings.

So, although you can visit the hotel now, as of 2024, it is essentially finished as a tiki point of interest, save for the memories.

*NOTE: House of Buzz (Buzzy Meeker) was able to salvage much of the removed decor and tikis. He sold them through direct sales and through an auction, complete with auction catalog. The catalog could be purchased through his Etsy store. One particularly large and noteworthy tiki (seen below with model) and attributed to Mexican artist Deme Chavez (carved from South American hardwood in the 1950s) stood proudly in the Hanalei garden atrium for decades but now has a new home at False Idol in San Diego.

Opened in 1960. A charming tiki restaurant, where employees and customers alike are treated like family. The Omni Hut's creator, Jim Walls, started the Omni Hut after taking up cooking as a hobby and second job while stationed in Honolulu as a pilot before World War II. The military took him all over the world, and he picked up culinary tricks wherever he went, and it when it came time to retire, he decided to open a restaurant. He chose this location in Smyrna, near Ft. Stuart, and opened a restaurant called "Chinese Cuisine," which soon became the Omni Hut. Walls also owned the nearby Mahi Mahi for a short time. The Omni Hut suffered a fire in 2000, but luckily the restaurant was able to reopen with the decor largely intact.

The Omni Hut did not have a liquor license, but customers were encouraged to spike their own drinks - the Omni Hut had a "Hawaiian Tea" drink that was perfect with a little rum added. They served a Fiery Pu-Pu Platter, and a Volcano ice cream dessert which arrived on fire.

To celebrate 50 years in business, the Omni Hut had two special souvenir mugs created by Tiki Farm.

The Omni Hut closed its doors for good on Friday October 12th, 2018.

The Tropics was purchased by Stephen Crane and renamed The Luau for its opening on July 25th, 1953. This was Crane's original restaurant; after the success of the Luau, he eventually went on to open the popular Kon-Tiki chain of Polynesian restaurants.

Steve Crane's Luau was one of the Hollywood/Beverly Hills restaurants (along with Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic's) that established Polynesian cuisine (and more importantly drinks) as de rigueur in the 1950s and '60s. The Luau produced some of the most beautiful and highly desired serveware objects (designed by Gabe Florian) to come out of midcentury Polynesian restaurants.

The Luau was demolished in 1979 to make space for a Rodeo Drive shopping complex.

There is no connection between this historic restaurant and a newer restaurant that briefly operated with the same name in Beverly Hills.

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.

The Oriental Luau was originally opened in 1965 as “Tiki” by none other than Bob Gaudio, part of the famous group “The Four Seasons”.

Soon after, in the late 1960s or early 70s, “Tiki” became “The Oriental Luau”, most likely with a new owner, and it lasted until almost 1995. It retained much of its previous decor but with the addition of a floor to ceiling waterfall feature in one room.

This bar/restaurant opened in the beginning of 2022 in the site of the former Kona Kai Tiki Lounge (which ran @2013-2016?).

It is set in an unassuming strip mall, but the interior space is quite large, with plenty of seating to accommodate live music and other events which the hosts schedule regularly (as you can see through their social networks).

From the Pau Hana Lounge website:

"Pau Hana Lounge is your prime bar destination for authentic Hawaiian food with the freshest, premium ingredients and traditional, regional recipes. Located in Wood Dale, IL, our Hawaiian restaurant is proud to provide quality service, delicious food, and a warm, comfortable atmosphere. Our goal is to make sure that you have a memorable dining and drinking experience at our cocktail bar with your companions.

At Pau Hana Lounge, our bar and grill restaurant specializes in a wide range of Hawaiian cuisine made with fresh ingredients and expert techniques. In addition, we have a cocktail lounge and karaoke bar that offers premium drinks, live music, and even tarot readings for quality entertainment that you are sure to enjoy!"

The interior decor is a bit swallowed up by the space, but they have added some bamboo and thatching around the bar and some smaller tiki masks and other elements. The vast ceiling is broken up with some netting and lights but could use some swag lamps and maybe even an outrigger canoe. As with all tiki bars, they can certainly add more carvings, floats, lights, and art as time and budget permits.

This restaurant took over the space previously occupied by Les Sablons and has been slowly rolling open since late December 2021, starting with the upstairs tiki bar. The downstairs section, which is focusing on affordable Hong Kong deli-style rice plates to start, debuted February 1, 2022 in time to ring in the Lunar New Year.

From the Wusong Road Website:

"Hidden away in the historic 100 year old Conductors Building on the outskirts of Harvard Square. Wusong Road is named after the first Conductors building located in Wusong China. Located in the outskirts of Harvard Square, Wusong Road tells the culinary love story about classical Asian American cuisine and tropical Tiki escapism that was central to Cambridge Massachusetts. With food crafted by Chef owner Jason Doo, guest experience by owner Kaila Fong and our beverage program by Justin Crooks and Charlie 'Rocco' Napoli, we hope you will join us for an escape from the hustle and bustle of Cambridge city life.

The team behind Wusong Road (Jason Doo, Thomas Brush, Kaila Fong, and Charlie Napoli) renovated the abandoned conductors building during the COVID-19 outbreak of 2020. The conductors building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 27, 1988.

The team behind Wusong Road with the help of architects Analogue Studio, master craftsman Thomas Morgan (Morgan Construction) and Frank Simotics (Tiki Rancher) beautifully converted the once French Restaurant interior and converted the second story into a tropical Tiki escape."