Tiki Bars
Gene's Hawaiian Village
Los Angeles, California, United States (Closed)
Gene’s Hawaiian Village opened as a dance pavilion about 1932. Run by Harry Eugene Long.
This pre-Tiki venue featured native performers.
The “village,” located to the north of the cafe itself, consisted of Samoan huts, canoes, beachcomber shacks, and “everything authentic enough to transport you in imagination to another world,” according to columnist Win Morrow.
The building had a large neon sign across its flat front, and the entrance was flanked by two large, blocky tiki guardians.
Gene’s operated into 1948.
At some point, the building was demolished, and today a hotel is on the site.
The Banana Hut Hawaiian BBQ
Eureka, California, United States (Closed)
The Banana Hut started out in 2004 as a simple fair-food shack selling banana fritters and ice cream. In 2009, owners Ken and Fatima Evans expanded into a full restaurant in downtown Eureka.
In 2011, they were able to purchase the remains of the interior of Chicago's Kona Kai, and planned to expand to add a tiki bar and banquet room.
The restaurant had plenty of thatch and a scattering of smaller tiki masks on the walls, with a bright and airy modern surf feel. The food was Hawaiian cuisine with all the plate lunch favorites, and tropical cocktails were available.
Closed in August 2020.
Heddy's Hawaiian & Bamboo Room Tropical Bar
East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, United States (Closed)
This bar & restaurant opened April 21st, 1961 in Echo Lake/East Stroudsburg (Pocono Mountains area).
It became the Bamboo House and lost most of its tiki decor at that time. The Bamboo House is still running as of 2021.
Palm Beach Hawaiian Motor Lodge
Palm Beach, Florida, United States (Closed)
Opened in 1964.
This oceanfront resort had 60 units in its 2-story motel, a heated swimming pool, and a restaurant. The front part of the motor lodge was shaped like a Hawaiian longhouse and had torches at either end. The front sign was also capped by a torch.
The site lost most of its beach during Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and was not well maintained. The property changed hands with the intention of building condominiums on site, and although the new owners made small improvements in the interim to upkeep the property, it was only for the short term.
Closed September 22nd, 2014. Demolished April 2016.
Arne's Royal Hawaiian Motel
Baker, California, United States (Closed)
The original long and low building was Pike’s El Rancho back in the 1940’s.
Arne and Carolyn Jacobson added the A-frame and theming. They opened Arne's Royal Hawaiian Motel in 1957 and it closed in 2009.
Originally, those staying in one of the 43 rooms could enjoy color TV, a rec room, tennis court, and a swimming pool.
The rooms featured Hawaiian inspired motifs, including palm tree murals and rattan furniture.
The iconic sign and the impressive A-frame with curved beams (even more impressive in an interior view) caught the eye of many a traveler on their way to Las Vegas.
Unfortunately, after its closing, it became a focus for graffiti and vandalism.
Many hoped that someone would re-open or salvage this site, but it was not to be.
The building was leveled in 2025.
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.
Coco Joe's
Hawaii, United States (Closed)
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).
Hukilau - San Jose
San Jose, California, United States
Modern Hawaiian restaurant. Opened @ 2005.
There was another slightly older Hukilau in San Francisco, but it has closed.
Ala Moana Motel
Wildwood, New Jersey, United States
In Hawaiian, Ala Moana means "path to the sea" and this hotel is exactly that -- a resort located only a block away from the beach and the beginning of the Wildwood, New Jersey boardwalk.
It is known for its vintage moai neon light with flaming tiki torches.
This hotel and several others along Wildwood Crest are commonly referred to as being a part of the Doo Wop style of architecture, named after the popular music of its time, but this style is also referred to as Googie architecture in California and other parts of the country.
Built in 1977. The Polizzes took over the Ala Moana in 1999 by redesigning the interior and exterior of the motel. 18 winters were spent refurbishing the Ala Moana Motel to the modernized resort it is now.
At this same time, the Polizzes bought four adjacent houses to expand the Ala Moana Motel Resort. The four houses were turned into suites and special motel selections known as the Ala Moana Tiki House, the Quiet Cottage, the Beach House and the Coconut House.
Aloha Inn Cafe
San Diego, California, United States (Closed)
This Hawaiian-themed bar and cafe opened in 1939. It remained at its original location (3827 Park Blvd.) until 1966 when it moved next door to 3811 Park Blvd. It closed in the mid-1970s.
Lani Kai
New York, New York, United States (Closed)
Lani Kai was a Hawaiian-inspired (but not tiki) restaurant and bar in lower Manhattan. It was opened in 2010 by Julie Reiner, who grew up in Hawaii and has been behind several high-end cocktail spots in Manhattan including Pegu Club, Flatiron Lounge and Clover Club. While Reiner made it clear that Lani Kai was not intended to be a tiki bar, she and her staff knew traditional tropical cocktails inside-out, and executed them perfectly.
The space was dimly lit, mainly by candles... no beachcomber lamps here. The seating and tables were sleek and streamlined, and the rooms had lots of green plants. The feel of the spot was that of a modern, high-end spa in a Hawaiian resort. The upper level had restaurant seating and a small bar, and the lower level had a spacious bar area with a fireplace.
Lani Kai closed abruptly in the early fall of 2012.
Momilani's
Dana Point, California, United States (Closed)
Momilani's was a Hawaiian goods store that carried some tiki items. The same space had previously been a similar store known as Hot Lava.
Momilani's was open at least as early as February of 2010 and closed in September 2013.