Tiki Bars
The Temple Bar
Berkeley, California, United States (Closed)
The Temple Bar was owned and run by a Hawaiian family, and for a time had only been open for special events, such as visiting Hawaiian musicians, or occasional Sunday luaus. Toward the end, it began staying open five nights a week as a restaurant. It closed in 2011.
Alfredo's Beach Club
Long Beach, California, United States
This is a snack bar -- no liquor license. It is part of an in-line skate shop. They rent themselves out and help with private parties, sometimes luaus or other Hawaiian-themed events.
There are a couple of tikis on premises but this is by no means a full-time tiki establishment.
Kelbo's - La Brea - Los Angeles
Los Angeles (La Brea), California, United States (Closed)
This location on Fairfax was the second of two, built in 1950, the first being built at Pico 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. As mentioned, there were two Kelbo’s. This one was on Fairfax across from CBS Television City in La Brea, 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. The building that housed the other was over on Pico at Exposition. After that 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 Kelbo's outlets had huge Bob Hale murals on the outside.
Oceanic Arts
Whittier, California, United States (Closed)
Oceanic Arts was a major contributor to tiki culture since its opening on June 25th, 1956, when it was opened by LeRoy Schmaltz and Bob Van Oosting.
Bob and LeRoy have provided carvings, decorations, signage, light fixtures, and all the outfitting needed for a tiki location to nearly all of the major spots, including Disney. Oceanic Arts served as a Home Depot of sorts for the tikiphile.
The store was closed for good on November 24th, 2021.
Bob and LeRoy went out on a triumphant note by announcing the publication of a book chronicling their much beloved business on the same day. This book, authored by Jordan Reichek and published by Peekaboo Gallery, was issued in a regular or slipcover edition. This was accompanied by 2 rounds of auctions and accompanying auction books. Together, these books give a very thorough overview of the work produced by Oceanic Arts.
Cabana Joe's
Los Angeles, California, United States (Closed)
Opened in 1995, this was a store in Venice owned by Joe O’Brien, a surfer who followed his passion for the ocean and incorporated it into his interior design, collecting vintage items that brought that tropical beach feel. Joe's wares included reproduced vintage fabrics as well as authentic beach furniture from a time gone by.
It is now home to Pretties, a lingerie shop.
Kona Kai Apartments - Torrance
Torrance, California, United States
Built in 1961. The Kona Kai apartments are located just half a block from the Eli Kai Apartments.
There is a stone carved tiki out by the pool.
Tiki Aloha Apartments
Torrance, California, United States
The Tiki Aloha Apartments were originally called the Tiki Tabu Apartments. They opened in January of 1963 and were still calling themselves the Tiki Tabu Apartments as late as 1965.
Developed by Ray Watt, designed by Phil Blair, and built by Dan Ostrow. From a concept by Dan Ostrow. Originally opened with 35 available apartments, most of which were leased immediately in the first 6 weeks.
The building has two peaked a-frames with outrigger beams, and support posts carved with tiki faces. The grounds once had many tiki carvings and thatch details, and some still remain, although some of the bigger carvings like the two that flanked the front entrance are no longer there.
Eli Kai Apartments
Torrance, California, United States
Opened in 1965. The name "Eli Kai" translates to "Peaceful Garden" in Hawaiian.
The complex sports a nice A-frame. There is an underground parking garage and the units start on the second floor. A unique rock wall fountain, long ago turned off, still evokes the time period, and there are a plethora of tikis, from the Marquesan tiki beam holding up the ceiling outside the manager's office to the more decorative beams all throughout the complex.
The Islander - Stockton
Stockton, California, United States (Closed)
The Islander (1966-1980) was a staple of Stockton's late-night entertainment in the 70s and 80s. Tommy Lee bought The Islander from restaurateur Hop Louie, who had hired architect Warren Wong to design the building to resemble a shipwreck on a sandy beach.
Most of the Islander's mugs were manufactured by Otagiri (OMC) and included: the "Islander child's tiki" mug, more commonly called a peanut mug today, which was available in black and the more common brown; three-face bucket mugs in both a short and tall size, which Mai Tais were served in; a rare green Maori-face bucket mug; a strangely large Scorpion bowl for two with an outrigger scene on one side and palm trees on the reverse; a "surf rider" mug that was also used at the unrelated Latitude 20; a tall wahine mug in the shape of a palm tree trunk (also the same shape as a Tiki Bob mug); a tiki mug with the image of an Andres Bumatay tiki on it (this same tiki was also used for early Islander menu cover artwork); a three-tiki bowl by an unknown manufacturer, and marked as being from the Islander only with a clear sticker on the bottom; a "Hurricane" mug (more commonly called a Kon Tiki mug today, as the face was borrowed from Thor Heyerdahl's Kon Tiki); a later Hurricane mug that looked like a section of bamboo; a Wan Fu mug that is commonly called Mr. Sleepy by collectors; an unusual bug-eyed moai mug sometimes seen with white eyes; skull mugs for serving the Kona Grog, which came in black or white; a coconut mug which can be found in varying shades of brown, for serving the Coconut Punch; a pineapple mug with holes for two straws, which came with the Pi-Yi; a Suffering Tiki mug with two straw holes and a toothy grin that will be familiar to Kelbo's fans; and a Bora Bora head mug, also with two straw holes.
In the mid-90s, the building was moved to 10464 North Highway 99, and operated as the Pollardville Chicken Kitchen. The building is now demolished. The left-behind original lot is now a Tower Records.
Tommy Lee passed away at age 87 in 2002.
The Stockton Islander is not to be confused with the earlier Los Angeles Islander.
Images attribution: The Bank of Stockton Archives
Zen Island
Santa Cruz, California, United States (Closed)
This location was formerly called The Zen Trading Post, but is now called Zen Island.
It is a women's clothing and bikini boutique.
They also have a large selection of jewelry, art and coastal home decor, including tiki mugs, although it's not clear at this point how many of the mugs shown are for sale and how many are just store decoration (especially along top wall rails).
Islander Motel
Santa Cruz, California, United States
Built in 1963.
The structure looks to have stayed intact and it still appears to have its original fish-shaped sign.
From postcards, it appears that the lobby once had hanging globe lights and some Witco furnishings that did not survive remodeling, but much of this motel is still very much the same.
Polynesian Motel - Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California, United States (Closed)
The hotel now in this location is called "Inn by the Harbor." It doesn't look like it could have once been Polynesian, it looks too Spanish-influenced, and seems probable that the original Polynesian Motel has been razed.