Post #29191 by Sabina on Thu, Apr 3, 2003 12:40 PM

On 2003-04-02 09:47, donhonyc wrote:
Damn..wish Hawaii Kai (50th & Broadway) was still around. Anybody know any history on this one??

That's my current obsession. We actually named our home bar "The Lounge of the Seven Pleasures" after the Hawai'i Kai's lounge of the same name! (Not that ours comes close, just that due respect to that which is now gone is important.)

Here's a postcard showing the Hawaii Kai in all its glory-

upper left-
The Waikiki Outdoor Waterfalls- overflowing with the exotic flowers of the islands

upper right-
Okole Maluna Bar with Diamond Head Diarama- Scenes from dawn to dusk in realisticly colorful settings

lower left-
The Lounge of the Seven Pleasures- featuring authentic native entertainment

lower right-
The Island Huts of Oahu- Here royal pleasures await you. Sumptous delicacies served by our native food bearers.

The World's Greatest Polynesian Restaurant
"In the heart of the theatrical world"
Broadway at 50th Street, New York City
For Reservations PL 7-0900

Drinks were served in a variety of tiki mugs, a search on e-bay will give you a feel for some of the variety they featured.

Then there is the cookbook from 1970-

Which is a treasure trove of recipes, some of which are from (to quote from the awknowledgements)-

'Manny "Blackie" Andal, a chief mixologist who, like all island bartenders, jealousy guards the secrets of his native concoctions, but nevertheless contributed them to our book.'

And yes, even a bizarre urban savage ritual or two, which if I have time, I'll share here later.

So, anyone else?