Post #18406 by bigbrotiki on Mon, Jan 6, 2003 11:07 AM

Great research, Randy, and my apologies to Polynesian Pop, you were better informed by Randy as the on-site urban archeologist.
I love that shot of the Lanai entrance! It makes sense that they had two Barney West Tikis there (You can see two of his Maois in front of the Washington Trader Vic's on page 53 of the BOT). In their time, there were surely snapshots posed with both of them, which now rest in some box in some attic, to be thrown out eventually...

The sign similarity is a more difficult question. It is likely that they were done by the same sign company. But then again, the old Polynesian restaurants (of which the Lanai was one) spawned entrepeneurs among their (often Chinese) managers that, after they left, or the place closed, went out and opened their own Tiki supper clubs, using the experience they had gained in the Polynesian/Chinese Cuisine field.

The Leilani on Blackstone in Fresno was a dual business with the Luau on 1663 Fulton Ave., owned and run by brothers Jimmy, Roy and Stanley Dunn. Maybe they used to work at the Lanai? I have a black Moai mug with "The Leilani" AND "The Luau" inscribed on the back.

[ Edited by: bigbrotiki on 2003-01-06 11:11 ]