Post #166698 by Sabu The Coconut Boy on Sat, Jun 18, 2005 3:13 PM

Sven had asked me to track down the Kala Kai apts several years ago. He had photographed the sign for the BOT (pg 219) but had since forgotton the exact location, although he thought it was in Lomita.

I garage-sale a lot in Lomita, but in the next 2 years I saw no trace of the elusive Kala Kai. Finally, today, while shopping yard sales with my mom-in-law, I made a turn I don't usually make and voila! - there it was. My wife's mom spotted the tiki for me as I was focused on the A-Frame architecture, so we knew we had Polynesian Apt building. We parked and moved some foliage and there was the sign that read: "Kala Kai"

Here are some photos of the building from the street note the wonderfully slanted A-frame to the left and the ship's pulleys hanging from the beams.

Here is the entrance bridge and guardian tikis. The stream and fountains have long since ceased to flow:

Completely hidden from view is this monster tiki that towers against the lava-rock facade of the building. I had to climb through dense birds of paradise and banana plants to photograph him. He must be at least ten feet tall. He rests on a lava-rock base, so he has not rotted at all. The first photo is just his mouth:


Pulling aside some of the fronds, I get a view of his eyes:

Tikis around the pool:

The thatching is gone from the mailbox hut:

Another tiki hidden deep in the interior of the apartments (left) seems to have been carved by the same carver who did the tikis at the Islander Apts in Gardena (comparison right):

This tiki was severely rotted from the back, (as is the one at the Islander)

Another slumbering giant slowly mouldering away into the earth and vegetation. These fallen idols have an eerie feel and always raise the hairs on the back of my neck. They make me sad as well for the lost glory that they once possessed.

Sabu

[ Edited by: Sabu The Coconut Boy on 2005-06-18 15:16 ]