Tiki Bars
Hale Pele
Portland, Oregon, United States
Hale Pele is a tiki bar in Northeast Portland, opened by Blair Reynolds, who ran Hale Pele until 2016 when the failure of his second bar enterprise (Americano) forced him to sell his share in Hale Pele to Martin Cate and step away. However, Blair Reynolds has another claim to fame in the world of tiki mixology: his line of flavored syrups sold under the name B.G. Reynolds which is still thriving.
Hale Pele opened in late August 2012, in a space that had previously held a tiki bar named Thatch. At the entrance, you cross a bridge past a small water feature, and are greeted by a large, sunken bar -- this allows seated bar patrons to be at eye level with their bartender. Behind the bar are a trio of large cannibal tiki carvings, these originated at Portland's Kon-Tiki and also lived for many years at the Jasmine Tree. At the very back of Hale Pele is the elevated Chieftain's Hut, a semi-private large booth, which can be reserved in advance.
The drink menu focuses on both classic tiki drinks and new creations. The bar has a small kitchen, so food is available in addition to the drink menu.
The Rendez'vous
Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States
The Rendez'vous opened in Summer 2005. Tropical drinks are served in tiki mugs and volcano bowls, and are mixed using fresh ingredients -- including mint. Decor includes pieces from Oceanic Arts and local carver Lake Tiki. Pretzels are available, and light food may be added in the future.
Tahitian Terrace - Hong Kong
New Territories, Hong Kong SAR China
The Tahitian Terrace is a restaurant in Adventureland at Hong Kong Disneyland that opened in 2005. It is somewhat different from the original Tahitian Terrace, which was in Disneyland's Adventureland for many years. It does have tikis cast from the originals at the Enchanted Tiki Room in Disneyland.
South Pacific - Newton
Newton, Massachusetts, United States (Closed)
Opened in 1964.
South Pacific had been serving Chinese food in a Polynesian environment for many decades, and the decor was still present when it closed in September 2012 upon the owners' retirement. There were several tiki poles, and carved details in the trim. The walls had painted tropical scenes, and a back room was decorated like a tropical hut. Shell lamps and other tiki-style lighting were used throughout. Drinks were served in tiki mugs.
The last sign of what once was, its lovely neon sign, was removed in May 2016.
Tiki Bay Bar & Grill
Baytown, Texas, United States (Closed)
This restaurant & bar was of the more generic, vaguely islandy sort, and appeared to only have a small muddling of Polynesian influence with more of an emphasis on Caribbean style... one of those places that thinks that you just add a little bamboo, thatch and the word "Island" before "Hot Wings" on your menu, and you've got a tiki bar. It opened in 2004, and was closed by 2011.
Tiki Lounge - Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
This tiki bar opened in 2002 after four years of effort by owners Scott Kramer and Steve Zumoff, who also owned a non-tiki bar in the same neighborhood called Lava Lounge (closed in 2016). Tiki Lounge features three waterfalls, thatch & bamboo hut booths, and a large tiki head entrance reminiscent of the large tiki fireplace at the now defunct Kahiki Supper Club. Tiki Lounge offers a variety of tropical cocktails in souvenir tiki mugs. The bar is full of regulars and probably has more appeal to tikiphiles on weeknights, as on the weekend it becomes a packed hip-hop dance club.
The Reef - Boise
Boise, Idaho, United States
Opened in 2004, the Reef is a tropical restaurant in downtown Boise, with Latin, Caribbean and Polynesian cuisines mixed together, and furnishings from Indonesia. The restaurant has a huge outdoor patio with lots of round thatched huts, a stage for live music, and at least one tiki. They also have several prints on the wall that celebrate tiki bartending history (one for Don the Beachcomber, one for Trader Vic, one for Ray Buhen, etc...). In addition to their house tiki mug which premiered several years ago and was an adaptation of an older Tiki Farm "Warrior" design by Squid, they sometimes have promotional tie-ins like the more recent Zafra Rum tiki mug available.
Bali-Hai - Las Condes, Chile
Las Condes, Chile
Bali Hai opened in 1980. The restaurant has a thatched roof, and is guarded by a row of five large moai at the entrance. Inside, the ceiling has cascades of strung shells, there are wood carvings representing Polynesia and also South and Central America, and a dramatic white coral wall is pegged with stone tikis. There is a floor show featuring dances from both Chile and the South Pacific.
The British Museum
London, United Kingdom
The British Museum has a large collection of Polynesian artifacts, including an actual moai from Easter Island, and one of three historic Heiau Ku carvings (the other two are at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA and the Bishop Museum in Honolulu). Call the museum ahead of time to ensure you will be able to see the exhibit.
Peabody Essex Museum
Salem, Massachusetts, United States
The Peabody Essex Museum has a large Oceanic art collection, and features one of three historic Heiau Ku carvings, the other two are in the British Museum in London and the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. They also have some interesting pop culture exhibits, including a Gill-man prop head from The Revenge of the Creature, Universal Pictures (1955). A stunt man would wear this full-head latex mask made by Bud Westmore underwater while filming. They tend to rotate their exhibits, so call ahead if you want to check on what is available for viewing.
Ho Kong
Woonsocket, Rhode Island, United States (Closed)
Built in 1970, this small neighborhood bar and restaurant served Chinese food and tiki cocktails.
It had an A-frame entrance with a large Maori style tiki carving hanging below the peak. Inside, much of the decor was Chinese-themed, but they did have thatch-covered booth seating with a number of Orchids of Hawaii style hanging lanterns over each booth.
Closed in 2019. Demolished in 2023 and added to the Cass Park expansion.
Aloha Beach Health Spa
Denver, Colorado, United States (Closed)
This used to be a gravel and gold mining site. In 1965, the owners of the property, Archie and Virginia Calvaresi developed the mining pits into lakes and a community beach known as Aloha Beach. The Aloha Beach Club offered a restaurant and snack bar and the family eventually added a health spa, driving range and motel. In 1974 they sold the property and the history becomes murky until the Gillan family purchased it in 1994. During the next two years the Gillan family cleared and built up the property and at the same time the City of Westminster purchased adjacent land and created a reservoir moving Aloha Beach out of a flood plain and guaranteeing unobstructed panoramic mountain views for the soon to be residents.
Aloha Beach has 60 subdivision lots designed for water skiing around lakes which were reshaped by the Army Corps of Engineers. Although the subdivision still exists, the "health spa" community center is gone.