Stockton, California, United States
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
Pooch went with parents before he could drink
Islander Palm Tree Bowl
Islander Three Moai Bowl
Tommy Lee's Islander Outrigger Bowl
Tommy Lee's Islander Ashtray
Islander Ashtray
Tommy Lee's Islander Maori Salt & Pepper Shakers
Islander Bamboo Mug
Hop Louie's Islander Ku
Tommy Lee's Islander Three Moai Bowl
Islander Kon-Tiki Mug Tall
Islander Kon-Tiki Mug Short
Islander Peanut Lined Face Tan Mug
Islander Small Skull with Side Handle Brown and White
Islander Small Skull with Side Handle White
Islander OMC Surfer Girl Mug
Islander OMC Bug Eyed Moai
Islander Earring Head Mug
Islander Smiley Mug
Islander Three Tiki Bowl
Islander Coconut Mug
Islander Hula Girl Mug
Islander Bumatay Tiki Mug
Islander Headhunter Mug
Islander Peanut Lined Face Black Mug
Islander Pineapple Mug
Islander Maori Face Bucket Green
Islander Three Face Bucket Standard Size
Islander Three Face Bucket Slim Size
Islander Three Face Bucket Glazed Slim Size
Islander Outrigger Bowl