Tiki Bars
Green Garden
Hanapepe, Hawaii, United States (Closed)
The Green Garden Restaurant was established in 1948 on the south side of Kauai, and had a number of tikis inside. It closed in 2005 and appears to have been abandoned.
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.
Htel-Motel Coconut
Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada
Htel-Motel Coconut has been owned by the Landry family since it opened in 1958, and became Polynesian-themed in 1963 after the owners went on an inspirational honeymoon in Tahiti. In addition to the hotel, there are two lounges: the Coconut Bar and in 2015 a second lounge was added, Volcano. Coconut Bar has more traditional and immersive decor, while Volcano is more lightly themed but bathed in all-red light. However, the Coconut Bar has incongruous modern music, while Volcano has the more relaxing lounge sounds one wants in a tiki bar.
Islands Restaurant - Torrance
Torrance, California, United States
This is one of a growing chain of Islands restaurants in the Southwest (California and Arizona) that started in West Los Angeles in 1982.
Islands restaurants have a vague and generic tropical theme that leans towards "Surf" but usually has a few tiki masks and other tiki-friendly decor.
For some time they were using masks and other wall-hangings from Oceanic Arts, although less in builds in later years.
This particular location in the Rolling Hills shopping plaza does have a rather nice, large tiki inside.
Aku Aku - Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States (Closed)
The Aku Aku was a Polynesian restaurant inside the Stardust Casino, at the north end of the Las Vegas strip. The restaurant opened in 1960, and closed in 1980. Some of the interior carvings were done by famed carver Edward Brownlee. The iconic moai statues that stood guard over the Aku Aku were carved by Eli Hedley (grandfather of Bamboo Ben). These statues became famous symbols not just for the restaurant or the Stardust Casino it resided in, but Las Vegas itself. One of these statues can be viewed today at Sunset Park in Las Vegas.
Pacific Island Traders
Oceanside, California, United States (Closed)
Open circa 2003-2006.
This place featured new retail items -- such as new bamboo furniture, including bedroom and living room sets. Lots of gift items like soaps, candles, and wind chimes. They had tikis but they were imported. They may have had a few Tiki Farm mugs.
Most recently, this site was home to UP Sports (sporting goods, surf & paddle shop). As of 2022, the building appears to be vacant.
Tiki Village Theater & Restaurant
Haapiti, Moorea-Maiao, French Polynesia
Opened in 1988.
Tiki Village is a tourist attraction on the west side of Moorea, the small island directly to the west of Tahiti in French Polynesia.
Here visitors can see Tahitian traditions and dances in a utopian tropical setting and dine on roast pig and other delicacies at their restaurant.
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.
Lava Lounge - Long Beach
Long Beach, California, United States (Closed)
The "East Indies Room" was the original name of this space at the Java Lanes bowling alley when it was built in 1958. Over the years, business at Java Lanes cooled somewhat, but enjoyed a revitalization in the ’90s when the East Indies Room with its space-tropical vibe was re-branded as the "Lava Lounge". Mark DiPiazza reactivated Java Lanes’ long-dormant entertainment license and put together years of high-energy music shows in the Lava Lounge, nurturing tons of local bands and playing host to touring acts like Weezer, Rocket From The Crypt and Lit, who filmed the video for their hit “My Own Worst Enemy” at Java Lanes.
The Java Lanes and Lava Lounge were demolished in 2004 to make way for new development.
Luau - Fresno
Fresno, California, United States (Closed)
Luau, along with its sister restaurant just across town, The Leilani (opened in 1951), was owned and operated by the Dunn brothers, Jimmy, Roy and Stanley.
Luau opened later in 1964.
It used to have a tiki bar, and drinks were served out of tiki mugs. The Leilani and Luau both had the same mugs printed up, with both names on each: a black moai mug, and a three-face bucket mug.
In later years, Luau didn't have much to offer to a tikiphile -- it had devolved into an inexpensive all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet, with no tiki at all to be seen inside (not even a bar!). For many years, however, its sign remained as a fabulous example of classic midcentury graphic design.
In 2013 the restaurant closed, and the sign is gone.
The Bambu Hut - Ontario
Ontario, California, United States (Closed)
This pre-tiki bar with its classic neon palm tree sign outside dates back to the 1940s but eventually succumbed to the wrecking ball some time after the late 1990s.
The Outrigger - at the Martinique Motor Hotel - Columbus
Columbus, Georgia, United States (Closed)
Opened around 1959.
Located at 4th Avenue at 10th Street in Downtown Columbus, Georgia.
The hotel originally boasted 198 rooms, a restaurant, and a heated pool.
The Martinique Motor Hotel in Columbus, Georgia changed hands many times and was eventually demolished. The hotel underwent an expansion and a renovation in the 1980s, but the renovation made the building look worse.
The Outrigger was open at least as late as 1978.