Tiki Bars
Aloha Cruz
Redondo Beach, California, United States (Closed)
Opened in 1996.
Aloha Cruz was a vintage Hawaiiana store with some tiki offerings. Vintage tiki mugs, tikis and other tiki collectibles were for sale, along with vintage aloha wear and rattan furniture.
Aloha Cruz used to be located in Hermosa Beach, but in April 2004 relocated to a smaller space in Redondo Beach.
The storefront has been closed, and the owner now sells items online only.
For 10 years (1998-2008), Aloha Cruz organized a large vintage Hawaiiana collectibles event, called "Da Show."
Rock-a-Hula
Los Angeles, California, United States (Closed)
Opened in 1998.
Rock-a-Hula was a small vintage and new clothing store in the heart of the trendy Melrose shopping district. All sorts of clothes could be found here, but there was an emphasis on aloha wear, including a handful of very nice '40s era rayon shirts in a locked case. The inside of the store used bamboo, rattan, lauhala matting and thatch extensively, but there was very little in the way of actual tikis here -- only a handful of small mugs for sale.
Closed in 2006.
Now home to a different vintage clothing store -- 2nd Street.
Kelbo's - Pico - Los Angeles
Los Angeles (Pico), California, United States (Closed)
This Kelbo's was the first of two, built in 1947. Two men, Thomas Kelley and Jack Bouck, combined the first syllables of their last names and invented Kelbo’s, a small chain of Hawaiian barbecues whose food was not all that Hawaiian: burgers, barbecue meat sandwiches and some miscellaneous seafood. The concession to the islands was that every plate was garnished with a piece of pineapple and the fried shrimp was coated with coconut. They also served very sweet (but very good) barbecued ribs and had a menu of tropical drinks, some of which came flaming or served in a skull mug. Eli Hedley was the main designer and he was also responsible for the interior of other tropical-themed restaurants like Don the Beachcomber. Kelbo’s felt like a place that had been decorated in the thirties or forties and then no one changed anything. The second Kelbo's was on Fairfax in La Brea, opened in 1950 across from CBS Television City, and was later torn down. It was a popular hangout for crew members who worked across the street at CBS Television City in the fifties and sixties. This first Kelbo's was over on Pico at Exposition. After this Pico location was shuttered, the building was converted into a bikini bar called Fantasy Island for a time. Much of the Kelbo’s advertising art was done by Bob Hale who otherwise turned up on Los Angeles TV from time to time as a cartooning weatherman. (He was also active in Seattle where he owned a popular hobby shop that bore his name.) Hale’s drawings of a fat Hawaiian guy in native garb could be seen on Kelbo’s napkins and menus, and both of the outlets had huge Bob Hale murals on the outside.
Closed in 1994.
NOTE: Fourth photo is of Jack Bouck in aloha jacket. Seventh photo shows Sonny Heideman at bar. Last photo shows Tom Kelley on the right.
Whispering Lakes Apartments
Ontario, California, United States
Built in 1962.
The Whispering Lakes Apartments (formerly an unnamed apartment complex) once featured four large Milan Guanko tikis in front.
There are still some smaller tiki influences present, including some simple stylized Tiki Bob-ish carved tikis at the entrance.
Royal Tahitian
Ontario, California, United States (Closed)
The Royal Tahitian, built in 1960, and opened June 24th, 1961, claimed to be the world's largest Polynesian restaurant, with 250 acres of tropical landscaping and "lagoons" -- however, this was simply a reference to the Ontario National Golf Course next door. The main floor was the restaurant, with a bar downstairs, and a show area outside. It featured a dramatic asymmetrical swooping A-frame entrance.
In later years, after the Royal Tahitian closed in 1967, its building became the club house for the golf course. In 2003, the building was set to be demolished, but it lingered for several more years and was torn down some time after 2010.
Just down the street there is an apartment building built in 1962 (now the Whispering Lakes Apartments) that once featured some large Milan Guanko tikis, and still retains some Polynesian influence.
Waikiki - San Francisco
San Francisco, California, United States (Closed)
Opened in 1956 through at least 1957 according to old newspaper ads.
One such ad from The San Francisco Examiner July 20, 1957 states:
"Only I year old and world-famous. Under the management of BOB KENNA. Entertainment-Exotic Beverages and Foods. Jimmie Borges, 'The Hawaiian Johnny Ray' FLOOR SHOW ENTERTAINMENT FEATURES authentic Hawaiian music. SHOW TIMES: 9:45-11:15-12:15 TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. Under the expert supervision of Chef Bill Seaburg authentic Island cooks prepare exotic dishes as well as the traditional seafood and steak dishes you'd expect in a fine wharf restaurant. Waikiki Far Eastern Specials include: TAHITIAN CANTONESE HAWAIIAN INDONESIAN MANDARIN FOODS and a Complete Sea Food Menu, Steaks, Chops Tropical Bar features 30 exotic beverages ranging in strength from an 'Hawaiian Sunrise' to a 'Typhoon.' Hot hors d'oeuvres during Cocktail Hour. OPEN 11:30 A.M. to 2:00 A.M."
Address no longer exists. Old building was probably torn down. Today this area is home to a thriving shopping area.
Trader Vic's - San Francisco
San Francisco, California, United States (Closed)
This new Trader Vic's location opened in November 2004, marking the return of Trader Vic's to San Francisco proper. Until the early '90s, Trader Vic's had a location in San Francisco at Cosmo Alley. This new location had most recently held the famous Stars restaurant. Renovations were rumored to be budgeted at $3.5 million dollars.
The restaurant had several dining rooms, many suitable for private parties. The main dining room and bar area were large and open, with many Papua New Guinea masks and very large carved tikis. There was a bit of a rough start as the restaurant first opened, but after a series of improved bartender hirings, the drink quality improved.
The restaurant never quite found its footing, and closed in December 2007, after just three years in operation.
Kono Hawaii
Santa Ana, California, United States (Closed)
Opened @ November 18th, 1955 when they started advertising in the Santa Ana Register.
Walt Disney recruited the first performers for Adventureland's Tahitian Terrace from here in 1962.
Hosted many musical acts, including Don Ho.
Was open as recently as 1992 (when No Doubt played there). Closed in the early 1990s.
Latitude 20°
Torrance, California, United States (Closed)
Before becoming Latitude 20°, this was The Polynesian (1957-1964).
The Polynesian opened in 1957 and closed due to fire in 1959, but was refurbished and re-opened in 1960 to run for 4 more years before being sold in 1964.
Hop Louie re-opened it as Latitude 20° on July 15th, 1966. Latitude 20° ran through 1980 before being sold to developers who decided to stray from the Polynesian theme and go Country. It was a Waco's and then a Calamity's before the structure was finally leveled in 1984.
This location is now a strip mall.
Martini Monkey
San Jose, California, United States (Closed)
Opened in 2001. This sleek, modern tiki-ish bar may not have had the lush and dense decor of a Trader Vic's or the Mai Kai, but there's one thing it had: the drinks. Martini Monkey (specifically, bar manager Jay Crabb) prided itself on recreating classic tropical cocktails by keeping true (well, mostly true) to the original recipes.
The back bar was notable for its large mural copied from Mark Ryden's famous painting, Exotica (but minus the tiki in the center and with a few other changes).
Martini Monkey thrived in its location in the San Jose Airport's Terminal C, until the airport reshuffled and Martini Monkey wound up behind security. The airport closed Terminal C in June 2010, and Martini Monkey closed with it.
Club Mallard
Albany, California, United States
Club Mallard came into existence in 1945, but this same building has been a bar since 1934, just after the end of the Prohibition. It was originally called The Doghouse and then became Club Pago Pago in 1941. Some of the Club Pago Pago roots can still be seen on the outdoor patio and have been accented with some Oceanic Arts decorations as well.
Overall, though, this bar is themed more like a duck-hunting lodge than Polynesia, but in addition to the tiki-themed patio, some of the bartenders (Robin, in particular) can be trusted to make classic tropical drinks. The bar is pretty popular with East Bay folks, and the doormen can be quite strict about checking IDs -- be sure you have yours on hand.
The current owner of the Mallard also owns Kona Club in Oakland.
Billy's at the Beach
Newport Beach, California, United States
Billy's at the Beach started out as a somewhat generic Hawaiian/tropical restaurant, but has upped the tiki angle in recent years, adding more pieces from Oceanic Arts and hiring Bamboo Ben to make some improvements.