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...

Formerly the Mayo Fish Camp in the early 1960s.

Opened in the 70s and closed in 1984.

Burned down mysteriously after 1984.

This venue consisted of a restaurant, floating outrigger bar (Tiki Isle Outrigger Club), gift huts, tropical cruise ship (Tahiti Queen Paddlewheeler), canoe rental, and of course, Polynesian shows.

In 1986, Jules Undersea Lodge opened at mile marker 103.2, very close to, and probably overlapping the original location of Tahiti Village located at mile marker 103.

Opened in October of 2022.

Hubba Hubba Tiki Tonk describes themselves as: "a bit tonk, a bit tiki and a lot of rock n roll."

This is accurate.

It is not a tiki bar in the strictest sense, but it does have some tiki decor, including their logo (which is based on a mass-produced 5' tall fiberglass Ku with glowing eyes who oversees a special corner inside). There are also a bunch of tiny pufferfish hung over the main bar. They do serve tiki cocktails (but only 5 classics on the menu, including the Mai Tai, Planters Punch, Blue Hawaiian, Painkiller, and Jungle Bird).

The majority of the bar is dedicated to kitsch of all kinds, including many velvet paintings of rock stars and pop figures like Elvis, Eddie Van Halen, Alf, ET, etc...

The overall take-away is of a vintage rumpus room/dive bar that's exploded with pop culture art and collectibles.

So, if you are there drinking a mai-tai while a surf rock track is playing and you are seated in a corner across from the Ku, you might find yourself having a very "tiki" experience. However, if loud hard rock is playing while you and your friends are slamming back shots under the movie poster for Terminator II, you may find yourself wondering how this could remotely be considered "tiki" at all.

Mileage will vary...

This second Nalu location opened in Rehoboth Beach on April 9th, 2019.

It tilts a bit more to the surf than the tiki spectrum of decor with surfboard tables and Hawaiian wave mural walls, but no carved tikis in evidence like the original location.

The food menu is much the same as the sister location. They have a self-described "Pacific island fusion" menu with pad thai, tacos, burgers, and poke bowls leading the way.

The cocktails are served in tiki style glassware.

This Kahunaville was one location in a nationwide chain of restaurants.

It was located in Wilmington, Delaware from 1995 - November 27th, 2006.

Like the others in the chain, this restaurant featured a synchronized water fountain show, waterfalls, caves, talking idols, a sophisticated sound system, an arcade, and a variety of tropical drinks. Their eclectic food menu featured about 90 items, which included "Kahunaville-sized" sandwiches, salads and entrees with American, Mexican, Cajun and Asian influences.

This location was well known for its 65' volcano outside which was visible for far around. It was also a well-known dance club location which was fine in the early days, but after later condos and residential development, the new neighbors complained about the noise and traffic from the still-thriving nightclub.

The parent company of Kahunaville, Adventure Dining Inc., once operated nine nationwide locations, including homes in Delaware, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Michigan and Tampa. The Las Vegas, Nevada "Party Bar" (2001-2016) was their last holdout before the chain folded.

This type of corporate chain typifies what many tikiphiles dislike most about corporatizing the Tiki aesthetic -- bending the decor more towards a Chucky Cheese buildout (or perhaps Rainforest Cafe if one is being kind) with cheaply molded and cartoony fiberglass and plastic decorations in primary colors, dumbing down the cocktails of Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic into chemical-tasting slushy boat drinks (but served with "flair"), offering a big scattershot food menu in hopes of appealing to every American tourist palate, and supplying loud video games and animatronics to entertain the kids. For those that grew up with these, there is some nostalgia, but they were not terribly mourned by fans of traditional tiki bars and restaurants.

This Wilmington, Delaware location was closed by the owner for several reasons, not the least of which was the death of his father which caused him to prioritize things differently. The space remained vacant for a bit and a fire broke out, causing some damage.

Later, the space was became home to the Delaware Children's Museum, which is still in operation as of 2025.

Opened in 1960.

One of the first mall-type shopping centers in -or around- California's capital, SOUTHGATE CENTER was developed by a joint venture of Sacramento's James J. Cordano Company and San Francisco's Blumenfeld Enterprises. The single level, open-air complex was designed by Los Angeles' Chaix & Johnson firm and W.B. David, of Sacramento.

It has undergone many developments over the years and is hardly recognizable today.

Most recognized by tikiphiles for having a Barney West tiki on display outside, which was viewable at least as late as 1984.

Notably, the phallus was removed from the carving, for fear of hurting the delicate sensibilities of shoppers.

Today the entire statue is gone...

This Kahunaville was one location in a nationwide chain of restaurants.

It was located in the Rivertown Mall from @2002-2004.

Like the others in the chain, this restaurant featured a synchronized water fountain show, waterfalls, caves, talking idols, a sophisticated sound system, an arcade, and a variety of tropical drinks. Their eclectic food menu featured about 90 items, which included "Kahunaville-sized" sandwiches, salads and entrees with American, Mexican, Cajun and Asian influences.

The parent company of Kahunaville, Adventure Dining Inc., once operated nine nationwide locations, including homes in Delaware, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Michigan and Tampa. The Las Vegas, Nevada "Party Bar" (2001-2016) was their last holdout before the chain folded.

This type of corporate chain typifies what many tikiphiles dislike most about corporatizing the Tiki aesthetic -- bending the decor more towards a Chucky Cheese buildout (or perhaps Rainforest Cafe if one is being kind) with cheaply molded and cartoony fiberglass and plastic decorations in primary colors, dumbing down the cocktails of Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic into chemical-tasting slushy boat drinks (but served with "flair"), offering a big scattershot food menu in hopes of appealing to every American tourist palate, and supplying loud video games and animatronics to entertain the kids. For those that grew up with these, there is some nostalgia, but they were not terribly mourned by fans of traditional tiki bars and restaurants.

This liquor store was re-located to this location at 8 41st Avenue when the Lanai Bar & Restaurant closed in 1988 -- later to become a Walgreens.

Before this, from @1960-1988, it was located between the Villa Chartier and The Lanai (right next to the main entrance), in the Villa Square.

The store had a beautiful neon sign and a Barney West tiki out front at one point.

The Barney West tiki was sold off due to the owner's financial difficulties when their liquor license was revoked in 2002.

Closed @ 04/2024. Later became Phillips Liquor, and more recently King's Liquors.

The Hawaiian Inn was opened by Frank Cannova in late 1974. Its building used to be the Desert Ranch hotel which dates to the mid 1950s. The lobby was decorated with tiki masks and outrigger canoes. They had a restaurant called the Kon Tiki Supper Club, which had the traditional Polynesian floor shows such as hula and fire knife dance, and there was also a separate lounge. In November 1978 a fire gutted the restaurant and lounge, and it remained closed until May 1979 when it became the Beachcomber Resort, run by Resort Inns of America, who decided to change the bar/restaurant area into a German Beer Hall complete with an oom-pah-pah band.

Opened in December 2024 in the basement under the historic Phoenix Saloon in New Braunfels, Texas.

The build-out was designed and carried out by The Boozy Doodler (Jason Straughan). Owners of the Phoenix Saloon had visited Jason's home bar, the Taboozy Lei, during Covid and had asked him if he could transform their basement into something similar.

The space incorporates lots of old school tiki elements and touches from Jason's own invention, like an animated ship in a bottle. Details include: Papua New Guinea carvings, a nautical section (with mermaid prow figure and windows looking out at the sea), tons of routered wood trim, bamboo, lauhala matting, hanging fish floats, cork floats hanging from strands of nautical rope, and much much more. The incredible attention to detail should satisfy even the pickiest of tikiphiles and is evidence that this was a true labor of love.

The Tiki Mirage cocktail bar started in 2019 as a pop-up in West Los Angeles. It's now a bookable cocktail experience for parties and collaborations, re-located to Chinatown for the time being.

Founders Max Masuda-Farkas, Aaron Girard, and Nick Newberg, decked out a box truck with a detailed tiki interior and crafted it into a show with its own original story.

Those who book the $85 gratuity-included tickets will be asked to meet at a Google-pinned location in Chinatown and get escorted over to the truck. Once seated, bartenders will assemble a cocktail menu by World’s 50 Best Los Angeles bar Thunderbolt while the trio tells a narrative based on tales of a fictional sea explorer named Daniel T. Coleridge.

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.