Post #149884 by Tiki_Bong on Tue, Mar 29, 2005 7:50 AM

Chuck's (off Beachwalk) closed the day or so before we got there. I was stunned.

I walked up the steps to the front door and peered inside through the plantation window slats. There was no window between me and the aroma of 35 years of broiled steaks and mixed drinks. A few lights were on and a ceiling fan twirled away over by the bar area.

The original Chucks did in fact serve the best and most accurate version of the Mai Tai in Waikiki. In 2004, Mdm Bong and I went into the bar and talked with Les Hong the owner as he mixed us up a few.

He said that the Lewers street redevelopment project was moving along and he didn't expect to be in business at that location much longer. He sold us one of his large bowls (still with OMC sticker), a small bowl, and a couple of the dark blue Mai Tai mugs.

He offered to sell us a case of them as he had a few unopened cases in the back. I declined (duh).

Each morning and at every night I took a walk around Waikiki. I always found myself unexplicably drawn to the old Chuck's location. I always had to walk up the steps and look in hoping to see someone inside. The only inhabitants were the ghosts of tourists past.

I tossed a Smokin' Menehunes band card inside the gutted building hoping to capitalize on a bit of the mana that may have still lingered there. If nothing else the card would be forever intwined with the Chuck's carnage.

The day we left I walked by Les Hong's other business - the House of Hong - and saw him cataloging all the booze behind the counter for shipment somewhere, as the House of Hong was also closing. I walked in and he stopped for a second and he said 'hi' to which I replied the same and walked out.

I loved the rancid, disgusting Lewers street, and when it comes down I believe I'll find it hard to return to Waikiki. I'm sure it will become a Mission Viejo of standardized, cookie cutter establishments.

In 1974 I stayed at the Reef Towers, it was a hole then and had become more so in later years. The Red Lion was always a fine Lewer sewer to toss back a drink or two. Davey Jones served up a pretty good rib, and Porgies buffet wasn't bad after a night of heavy drinking. Now all gone.

The ONLY decent Mai Tai is now served at either the Royal Hawaiian Mai Tai bar, or the Halekulani. The other Chuck's location by Duke's served a typical tourist Mai Tai although the steaks are still pretty good.

Aloha Lewers street, I'll miss you.