Tiki Bars
Twisted Tiki
Santa Ana, California, United States
Opened in 2019.
This small tiki bar is located behind a nondescript sliding bamboo door and curtain inside the McFadden Public Market -- sort of a speakeasy vibe. It probably can hold about 30 people.
Among the interior decorations is a large octopus chandelier on the ceiling (created by David Outline of Outl1n3 Island), fish floats, ukuleles, tiki masks, palm & monstera leaf wallpaper, and lots of bamboo. Dimly lit with lots of purple and blue and red mood lighting.
Word on the street is their drinks are well made and dialed in to what the tiki crowd likes also.
Mojave Oasis
Newberry Springs, California, United States (Closed)
Mojave Oasis was opened in Spring 2011, in Newberry Springs, by Amy Boylan (Queen Kamehameha on Tiki Central).
The concept was definitely influenced by the 1960s Lake Loreen's Blue Lagoon (which was located in Newberry Springs and was also situated on a man-made lake and had a plane called "The Tiki Bird").
Newberry Springs is a very isolated area, located 20 mi (32 km) east of Barstow, approximately 40 mi (64 km) due west of the Mojave National Preserve, and approximately 100 mi (160 km) south of Death Valley National Park.
Mojave Oasis was a private campground centered around a small pond/lake with both tent and trailer camping.
In addition to vintage trailers which could be rented, the property had paddle boats for going out on the lake, a wrecked vintage plane (The Tiki Bird), dozens of vintage tikis (some from Benzart Davis and some from Ben Wilson who ran the old El Tiki) and new carvings (like the carved mermaids by Tiki Ray for instance), a clam shell roofed bar (The Mermaid Lounge) and a hut called The Rapa Nui Roost -- both created by Danny Gallardo (Tiki Diablo), and an A-frame stage for live music performances.
Camp spaces could be rented out by appointment and Amy also held an annual Mojave Oasis event.
Financial difficulties forced the closing and sale of the property in 2016.
El Tiki - Imperial
Imperial, California, United States (Closed)
Ben Wilson 7/7/1929-2/18/2021 was the owner of El Tiki. Ben opened El Tiki in 1962 on Highway 111 and Worthington Rd.
They served great Mexican food combined with exotic Hawaiian decor, and it was the site of many memorable birthdays, anniversaries, and prom dates. He carved all the Tikis himself, collected nets and shells and tropical curiosities, and decorated it in true beachcomber fashion. There was even a full whale rib in front of the restaurant. The booths were lined with bamboo and had thatched roofs, it was dark and mysterious. Ben was the consummate host and bartender, he always had a smile and a story for everyone.
He closed the restaurant around 1978 but converted the property into a house and lived there for many years. The building is still there. Many of the original Tikis proudly stand guard on the property to this day.
3 of the larger tikis were purchased by Amy Boylan (Queen Kamehameha on Tiki Central) for her Mojave Oasis location in the early 2000s.
Tropical Hideaway - Disneyland
Anaheim, California, United States
This open-air dining area opened in December 2018 and is nestled between the Jungle Cruise and Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room in Disneyland's Adventureland.
It replaces the space that had previously been Aladdin's Oasis, although there is one small section to the left as you wait in line that is still decorated with lanterns and barrels filled with Persian rugs from the Aladdin era - hearkening back to the street vending of Agrabah.
This was not a full turning back the clock to the original Tahitian Terrace, which had live shows and occupied the space before Aladdin's Oasis, but it is a significantly better use of the space - diverting traffic from the Enchanted Tiki Room's Dole whip line and providing a pressure relief valve from an area that was growing more and more congested each year. Before this, the Aladdin's Oasis was only opened sporadically as a character greeting site.
The Tropical Hideaway features an open-air dock where patrons can sit back and relax on the Jungle River waterfront while enjoying sweet and savory bites (bao dumplings or chilled ramen shaker salads) or enjoy a Dole whip. As the sun goes down, flickering torch lights illuminate the area. Rosita is also hanging out with the visitors, awaiting a Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. boat (which is running uncharacteristically late) to take her on a journey towards a solo career. She spends her time telling jokes and reminiscing about the Hideaway from way back when.
Souvenirs from this location include collectible sporks - each with Adventureland inspired imagery on their handles - occupying an ambiguous collector niche adjacent to swizzle stick collecting.
Kala Kai Apartments
Lomita, California, United States
This 34,356 square foot condo features 74 bedrooms and 42 bathrooms. It was built in 1963 and still has many of its original tikis in place.
Canoe House
South Pasadena, California, United States
Previously Wild Thyme Restaurant, Canoe House opened in January 2012.
The restaurant design layout features a canoe hanging from the rafters as you would expect. They also have several very nice tiki lamps throughout the building, paddles, Hawaiian art prints, and at least one large Papua New Guinea tiki mask.
Big screen TVs at the bar and throughout the restaurant kill the island ambience somewhat but it brings in a sports crowd.
Food is sort of Hawaiian fusion -- not as high-end as a Roy's -- although you can get herb crusted mahi mahi -- but with a wide variety of sandwiches, burgers, and tacos it feels more like a Hawaiian-styled Applebees.
They have a very limited cocktail menu and don't feature traditional tiki cocktails, but do have an island style mai-tai made with Gosling's and Malibu rum as well as pineapple and orange juice.
The restaurant also has a very nice outdoor patio with a fire pit.
Del Rosa Isle Apartments
San Bernardino, California, United States
This site is right next door to the Del Rosa Palms Apartments at 2640 Del Rosa Ave and they were probably two sides to the original complex which was envisioned as a sort of Hawaiian Village. They are often mentioned together or interchangeably in apartment listings or other posts.
Opened on May 3rd, 1964, the complex advertised itself as having 71 one, two, or three-bedroom and efficiency units, a putting green, badminton and shuffleboard court, and 2 swimming pools.
This was also the former home to 15 large tikis, some weighing up to 5000 pounds, by local tiki carver Ramar, but they are now long gone. Little is known of Ramar beyond this location.
The Del Rosa Palms has an A-frame entrance in front, but the Del Rosa Isle has an even more impressive A-frame building back by the pool, that is HUGE, with 10-12 original lucite swag lamps hanging from the rafters (the flower blossom variety in multiple colors). This A-Frame was probably meant to be more of an open entertainment area or pool house before, but today the lower half has been walled off to use as a laundry facility and there is a stairway leading up to the top which is a rather bare patio area.
Del Rosa Palms Apartments
San Bernardino, California, United States
This site is right next door to the Del Rosa Isle Apartments at 6262 Del Rosa Ave N and they were probably two sides to the original complex which was envisioned as a sort of Hawaiian Village. They are often mentioned together or interchangeably in apartment listings or other posts.
Opened on May 3rd, 1964, the complex advertised itself as having 71 one, two, or three-bedroom and efficiency units, a putting green, badminton and shuffleboard court, and 2 swimming pools.
This was also the former home to 15 large tikis, some weighing up to 5000 pounds, by local tiki carver Ramar, but they are now long gone. Little is known of Ramar beyond this location.
The Del Rosa Palms has an A-frame entrance in front, but the Del Rosa Isle has an even more impressive A-frame building back by the pool, that is HUGE, with 10-12 original lucite swag lamps hanging from the rafters (the flower blossom variety in multiple colors). This A-Frame was probably meant to be more of an open entertainment area or pool house before, but today the lower half has been walled off to use as a laundry facility and there is a stairway leading up to the top which is a rather bare patio area.
Mona Kai Apartments - Culver City
Culver City, California, United States
The Mona Kai Apartments were built in 1965 on Sawtelle Boulevard in Culver City, CA. They feature a large A-frame entrance.
It doesn't appear that there is any other surviving tiki decor.
There is also a Mona Kai Apartments in Goleta, CA but it is not clear if there is any connection other than the use of the name.
Mona Kai Apartments - Goleta
Goleta, California, United States
This apartment complex features 4 A-frames in front and is 2 stories with 21 units.
Other than this, it doesn't appear to have any other tiki decor.
There are also Mona Kai Apartments, originally built in 1965, at 4600 Sawtelle Blvd., Los Angeles 90230 (Marina del Rey), CA. It is not clear if there is any connection to the apartments in Goleta other than the name.
Ports O' Call Restaurant - at Ports O' Call Village
Los Angeles/San Pedro, California, United States (Closed)
David Tallichet's Ports O' Call Restaurant, housed in a Polynesian longhouse and surrounded by a forest of tropical foliage in pure Adventureland tradition, opened February 8th, 1961 and proved an immediate success. A lagoon at the entrance, ringed jungle-thick with tropical plants, had a Chinese sampan boat partially sunken in it. Rooms inside were themed to Hawaii (Waikiki), Tahiti, the Hong Kong Yacht Club and a Japanese "Tea Room" - a concept lifted wholesale from Steve Crane's Kon-Tiki Ports chain in Hiltons across the country.
The restaurant sat in the larger Ports O' Call Village -- a seaside plaza that featured souvenir and gift shops, along with restaurants, sweetshops, fish markets and quick-bite eateries. This New England-style seaside village encompassed 15 acres of shops, restaurants and attractions. A meandering promenade of cobblestone streets connects the specialty shops.
More than 40 surrounding merchants were in place when the entire complex held its grand opening on July 13, 1963. When the Whaler’s Wharf section, south of the restaurant, opened in 1967, there were 85 businesses operating in Ports O’ Call Village.
The village drew a good number of people who passed through San Pedro to visit Marineland, a high-profile aquarium/theme park attraction next door, in Rancho Palos Verdes, that closed in February 1987.
By the late 1970s and early 1980s, village merchants began to complain about their leases and the upkeep.
By 1984 Tallichet was forced to make some changes and address concerns. The Ports O' Call Restaurant was given a new look and they added a second level with banquet facilities, although the Polynesian theme was done away with almost entirely. Described as "Nautical Victorian", photos of the place which survive online resemble more an 80s retirement home recreation room with bits of tropical decor here and there.
The refurbishments weren't enough and the village continued a slow decline over the years...
The Ports O' Call Restaurant hung on until 2018, when it was forced to close.
Currently, as of 2022, this area is scheduled to be re-developed and has been re-branded as West Harbor (with restaurants, shops, and fresh markets). The $155 million project is scheduled to complete in three phases, with the first phase introducing new restaurants, shops and bars with a finish date of 2024.
Kon Tiki Motel - Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa, California, United States (Closed)
Built in 1958 with 46 rooms.
Costa Mesa’s Kon Tiki Motel was the New Harbor Inn for a time up until about 2017/2018 but is now the Mesa Motel.