Post #291215 by Volcano Girl on Mon, Mar 12, 2007 8:43 AM

On 2007-03-10 10:43, Hula Cat wrote:
Another echo of excitement after reading this thread......after a too long winter this gets the blood moving again!....it's great to see the enthusiasm,fun and passion this forum fosters..(seeing some of my favorite Red Sox players involved is a bonus!) ....all this has given further impetus to Melissa and myself to continue our Kahiki book project.....as you might guess to really honor the Kahiki's place in poly pop history involves much. ......so many lives and so many stories! ! our problem is the magnitude and breadth of such a greatness and how to keep that spirit alive...with the continued help of all you T.C.ers.... it WILL HAPPEN!.....Ma halo "Volcano" you have re-inspired our creative magma.

Hula Cat, when you get that Kahiki book finished, would you let me know? Even though I had only been there two or three times, the ambience there was just so similar to the Volcano. It was a certain "je ne se quois" (sp?) that I can't quite put my finger on. My husband and I talked about this on our drive home from Tropical Bistro last week. He had never (of course) been to the Volcano, but I know he and my Dad had talked about it many times, especially after we all visited the Kahiki together (probably 1998 or 1999, we figured). Dad had made the same kind of comments about the atmosphere there. What is amazing is that Dad had never heard of the Kahiki until we introduced him to it. I thought Dad knew every great restaurant in every town and city across America! I know that sounds absurd, but he reviewed restaurants as a hobby, and wrote about them for an independent local paper in Gainesville.

A quick update for others following along:

I did receive a few more photos from Mom over the weekend, and have been trying to enhance them. She was right...they are very dark and of pretty poor quality. Lots of scratches and blemishes. I guess it's just that I can see there are some details in them that are just...out...of...sight (darn!). I keep trying to get those things to come into closer view because I think they provide further clues. For instance, in one I can see that there are three large dark images, similar to the dark picture hanging behind the bar in one of the lounge (Lava Club) photos. Problem is, you can't really make out what they were images of. In another you can see a table set for a banquet or other event, but it's too dark down the table to see what is in the background. I can see that it's a part of the dining room, and it would be helpful for me to see it more clearly. It would help me remember just how Dad had this place laid out. I am particularly frustrated by his sketches. They still don't make any sense to me. It's like they are an extension of the restaurant, but where?

So I'm sorry I'm not posting as much. I'm trying really hard to put together these memories that are sketchy. The basic ideas are there, but the nuances are so hidden and mysterious right now. To add to my frustration, I've somehow "lost" some of the pictures and documents I've scanned. I'm sure they must be on my computer somewhere, but which folder, and where? I think I scanned a few things things in that may have overwritten other files. So as soon as I find them, I'll get them posted. I know you all are interested in more, and it will come...eventually!