Post #18351 by aquarj on Sun, Jan 5, 2003 10:10 PM

Hey, fun to see talk of the Lanai tiki by Barney West! If you think that tiki looks big, just consider that PolyPop is about 6'6" tall!

Thanks for mentioning my slideshow of the move, BigBro. In case it helps for anyone following that link, use the "Photos" link on the page BigBro listed to get to the Lanai tiki slideshow link.

So, here's some longwinded additions to the discussion...

Yes, the tiki is out in the elements all the time, just as he has been for the last 40 years, I guess. Actually, I keep wishing I could gather more facts about his age and so on. I've contacted some restoration / preservation experts in the bay area, and the consensus from most of them is to do nothing, since it has lasted well all these years. There are a couple things I will do though.

And yes, this tiki was most recently in front of the Lanai Liquors, which is still there and which still has a neat, but flickering neon sign. But the store owner is the one (among others) who told me that it used to stand in front of the Lanai restaurant. Having never seen the restaurant before it was Walgreen'd, I can't say for sure. Here's part of an old brochure that shows a couple shots of the front of the restaurant:

There's actually some kind of moai guy shown in this photo! But no sign of the other tiki in these pics, or any others that I've seen of the restaurant. The story I heard was that there were originally two big Barney West tikis out front of the Lanai, and that one ended up at the liquor store and one went somewhere in southern CA. Supposedly the owner thought they were bad luck. I can say it has brought me good luck since I've had it though!

The other story I heard was that the liquor store was indeed originally associated with the restaurant, and also with the Villa hotel and the Chartier restaurant, which were all in the same plaza called Villa Square (see the note on the brochure). One stop shopping - stay at the Villa, dine in simulated paradise at the Lanai, and then get stock up at the liquor store for the late nite hotel room escapades. Today that plaza is a Kinkos and a Walgreens, but the hotel and the liquor store are still there.

And yes, hulahula, stop on by! It's always a pleasure having TC'ers over, since as a lot, they tend to be very gracious guests!

-Randy