King Yum was a classic example of the style of Chinese-meets-Polynesian Pop restaurants that have peppered the U.S. Northeast for decades. It was opened in 1953 by the Eng family, and was still run by the Eng family today until its closure in August 2016.

The entrance had a rock wall waterfall, and there were tiki poles and tiki masks throughout the restaurant... painted in unfortunate primary colors. The restaurant had broad A-frame details over the dining room, and bamboo was used heavily. There was an awful lot of white on the walls, though. Lamps were old classics from Orchids of Hawaii. There was a second dining room with more traditional Chinese decoration rather than Polynesian. The exterior of the building had no Polynesian influence, but did have a beautiful green tile roof.

The food was good old American Chinese, and a number of tropical drinks were served, some in tiki mugs or coconuts.

As of 2021, this location is now home to One Banquet Hall, a wedding hall rental location.

Opened @1960s and closed @ December 2000.

Later re-named Paco's Hukilau in its final years.

Background photo and first two photos show Hukilau during the 60s and final photos (circa 2005) show the site after its closure, when much had been removed.

The structure appears a bit ramshackle with lots of additions. Heavy tropical plantings around the exterior hid much of the structure, even in the early years. The center bar was in a round room with heavy beams and poles supporting a very high ceiling.

60s interior shot shows they once had Witco Tiki barstools and tables held up by nautical chain as well as Orchids of Hawaii swag lamps. The bar front side slants inward at the base, which can be matched with the later color photo of the interior after the bar closed.

The site has been re-developed and no signs of the Hukilau exists. In its place are condominiums.

The Tropics Motor Hotel was located in Seattle by the Space Needle.

It was built in 1958-1959 and opened in 1959.

It served as the host hotel for the 1962 World's Fair. It was once the only luxury hotel in downtown Seattle.

The masonry, five-story hotel cost approximately $1,750,000 to erect.

The Island Room had a mix of island decor - including Polynesian as well as Caribbean.

The pool area of the hotel also had a lava rock waterfall feature with clamshells and a tile mosaic of Hawaii's Diamond Head.

Closed some time shortly prior to 1991, when the iconic sign was taken down.

It then became a Quality Inn and Suites, and continues under that name today (as of 2024).

Opened in 1972 under the ownership of David Tallichet with a Polynesian vibe and cuisine as well as a panoramic patio overlooking the City of Miami.

The overall impression of the place was dark and cozy with a mostly nautical vibe accented with some tiki touches. It featured rough hewn dark wood boards, nautical rope, some small carved tikis throughout, fishing nets, lit glass fish floats, strands of cork floats, shell lamps and pebble lamps, lauhala matting, and some brightly colored Orchids of Hawaii lamps.

The original menu featured favorites like a teriyaki-glazed sirloin steak, Chicken Kona Kai (grilled chicken served in a pineapple with sweet and sour sauce), and Cherries Jubilee (simmered cherries, vanilla ice cream, and Chantilly liquor).

Beyond its views and fare, Rusty Pelican gained even more notoriety after being featured in the 1980 blockbuster Caddyshack, starring Bill Murray and Chevy Chase.

In 1984, however, disaster struck and the restaurant burned to the ground. It was rebuilt and re-opened in 1987 with a large second floor space, but other than the added space, it appears they tried to rebuild along the same theme.

Then in 2011, all the tiki decorative elements went away in a brand new remodel...

The restaurant reopened in December of 2011 after a five-month, $7 million top to bottom renovation. Additions to the massive restaurant included a swanky cocktail bar; floor-to-ceiling bay windows; outdoor tables flanked by fire pits; a glass-enclosed wine corridor, mid-century style furniture, wood paneling and cushioned booths creating a Mad Men vibe.

Today, the venue is associated with weddings and other events that can make use of its floor space and fantastic views.

Although no longer tiki in its decor, they have been known to serve tropical drinks in tiki mugs from time to time as can be seen below...

Located at Route 3, Service Road East at Plaza Center in Secaucus, New Jersey 07094.

The South Seas was a Chinese & Polynesian fusion restaurant, similar to many others on the East Coast, that owed much of their decor to Orchids of Hawaii -- featuring a plethora of Orchid hanging lamps and a goodly amount of tiki masks both on the interior and exterior. It had a separate bar and a large open dining space lined with bamboo paneled booths lit by different colored puffer fish lamps.

Not much history to be gleaned on this location, but it appears to have been active in the late 60s - early 70s (at least as late as 1974).

Opened April 4th, 2012.

Located in Potsdam, Germany. Americans, especially Californians, might find it similar to the Islands Hamburger Restaurant chain.

In addition to burgers and other fast food offerings with a Hawaiian twist, they offer Hawaiian beers and cocktails at their bar.

On September 16th, 2017 they had their 5th anniversary party with a Hula dance show and live Hawaiian music.

The owner changed in 2023. The tropical atrium was closed by the new owner and all wall paintings were removed.

The Sheraton Motor Inn, built in 1964 at the southwestern corner of Interstate 40 and Knollwood Street, offered the traveler more than overnight accommodations. With 122 bedroom units, the inn featured a 315-seat K & W Cafeteria and the Hawaiian-themed Kona-Kai Lounge. Palmetto trees surrounded the motel and a swimming pool and putting green provided entertainment for the guests. An explosion, blamed on a natural gas leak, leveled the motel on January 18, 1988. Today, a variety of tenants occupy the 380 Knollwood Street buildings that replaced the Sheraton Motor Inn.

Open @1960-1972.

Created by Melvin Berry.

This establishment overlooked "Millionaires Row," a panorama of expensive yachts along the Providence waterfront, and featured Castaway Village where (the menu promised) your dreams of "white beaches and dusky hula maidens, tantalizing foods and exotic drinks" could come true.

The centerpiece restaurant was the maritime-themed Copper Galley, decorated with antique ship models and a collection of vintage copper ware. The Beachcomber Lounge featured picture windows overlooking the Shipyard Marina.

Berry created his own Waikiki Beach by spreading tons of super fine beach sand along the waterfront and dotting it with rattan chairs and Hawaiian-style huts.

Guests entered the complex through "fountains of fire" and then crossed the bamboo "bridge of joy" with drum accompaniment.

The drink menu featured around 20 classic tiki cocktails, including a Zombie ($1.75) but the most expensive cocktail, the Royal Ceremony of the Islands with the Beachcomber's Gong would set you back $7.50!

Much of the decor was taken from the New York World's Fair of 1964-65 -- including the entire artificial jungle for the Ford Pavillion, a pineapple garden, thatched huts, and an artificial volcano!

Berry eventually sold all of his waterfront property and it was re-developed, with little, save menus, to prove it ever existed...

Opened in November 2019 by Neal Warner and his brother Paul Warner in partnership with Love Handle’s Chris and Ally Benedyk and Flatland Kitchen designers Eric and Rebekah Nolan.

This is yet another newer bar that eschews the title of "Tiki Bar" but reaches deeply into the genre/category, borrowing much of its atmosphere and, of course, its drinks. The owners prefer to call Strange Bird a "Rum Bar" or "Landlocked Exotica" and acknowledge the tiki-leanings but state that they have purposefully kept things a bit more spare with what they consider "cleaner" and more "minimalist lines".

While there may be no tiki carvings on display, there is a ton of lauhala matting behind the backbar which is overseen by a taxidermied wild boar who looks like he would be right at home at a Hawaiian luau. Some contrasting walls are wall-papered in a large banana leaf print. Nearby booths are bordered with variated bamboo. The roof is blanketed with loose thatch panels that give a nice hut-like feel. Fish trap lamps, and round capiz shell lamps give plenty of mood lighting. This is contrasted with white painted boards on the front of the bar and white modern barstools, but this use of white calls to mind not so much a spare modern aesthetic as it does the sides of a white-painted boat's hull, and plays off all the nautical rope looped about.

This apartment community was built in 1957 and has 2 stories with 159 units.

The lush 10 acre estate in the heart of Sherman Oaks has 120 Palm Trees, Fountains, an 18 Hole Par 3 Golf Course, a recording studio, Health Spa, 4 Pools, Tennis Courts Singles, 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartment Homes Plus 15 Individual Family Homes.

They also have a party/banquet room, the Aloha Room, which can be rented for special events. The Aloha Room Rental Office can be reached at (818) 995-6827.

NOTE:

• First black & white photo is dated April 12, 1963 and is of Horace Heidt, owner-developer of the Magnolia Estates and new Hawaiian Village apartments and homes in Van Nuys showing actress Joan Huntington the entrance to his colorful new apartment complex.
• Fourth image attribution: Adsausage Archives - https://www.adsausage.com

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 tiki bar soft opened in San Pedro Square in downtown San Jose on Monday, December 13th, 2021. Opened to the public on Thursday, December 16th.

Located in the former site of Peggy Sue’s 1950s-style diner.

Designer Notch Gonzalez transformed the venue with thatched-roof booths, bamboo railings and blowfish lights hanging from the ceiling. There are tikis everywhere, including a six-footer that Gonzalez carved in about a week.

Notch hearkened back to classic tiki carver Milan Guanko with his own versions carved in the recognizable Guanko style.

They serve Dr Funk's namesake cocktail (of rum, absinthe, lime, lemon, demerara syrup, grenadine and seltzer) alongside 12 original tiki tipples and eight classics.

There is also a limited food menu with coconut shrimp, Hawaiian ribs, burgers, chicken sandwiches, etc...