The King Kamehameha Tiki House, Sedalia, MO (other) - Locating Tiki

8T 8FT Tiki Tiki Socialite Kansas City, MO Joined: Nov 30, 2003 Posts: 1411	8T 8FT Tiki Posted posted on Sun, Feb 3, 2008 10:36 PM Are you ready to go inside? Well just a minute, I need to tell you a bit more about this impressive Mid-Western hideaway. The building and gounds were all designed and built by Mr. William Parkhurst. I hope to learn much more about him later and will share it when I can. But for now I can tell you that he passed away in the early 1990's. He had traveled to Hawaii on several occassions and sent back lots of souvenirs and art. In fact he brought home so much stuff that his wife said you need to get this stuff out of the house and that's what he did! I'm told that he used a bulldozer to dig out this massive lake and create the island upon which the Tiki House is perched. The metal work and details are what really set this place apart. And it's a good thing he chose to do it that way because exposure to the elements of more than 4 decades have caused some things to be in need of a little TLC. Sure there's some rust, rot and peeling paint but the bones are so good that these things are merely superficial blemishes. The eye of a tikiphile can see the potential of new glory days and dream of what this amazing place looked like when it was completed in the mid 60's. If you look closely at the postcard photo you will notice that the roof was originally a shake shingle type and now it is a metal one. It was necessary for preservation reasons to make this change recently and makes good sense. The eave above the door where the King Kamehameha figure is located still has the shingle type roofing. After visiting this place in person I feel like we found a real diamond in the rough. For us, the tiki starved midwesterners, we now have our own place to brag about. And the best part is: it isn't just a memory of a place that used to be here and now is a Walgreens store. Nor is it only a souvenir mug, swizzle or menu. It is real, beautiful and a fascinating legacy of the man who dreamed it into being. Okay, I hear you saying "c'mon 8FT let's go on in!" Alright, here we go. This is the view upon entering. They have one of those huge clam shells (a real one!) which sits on a stand made of those metal warrior figures Mr. Parkhurst created. This view is looking back at the entrance. You will notice there is a thatched roof bar on each side of the entrance. An awesome lava stone waterfall that still is in working order is on the left. You can see that there are 2 lofts in the room. One in the North end and one in the East. Both have iron staircases leading up from either side of the headhunter carving. The beautiful accents and decor are great but I want you to notice the floor in this photo. It is all brick and is in fantastic condition. It hasn't shifted and cracked like you might expect to have happened in more than 40 years in a building that is not heated in winter. A great view of the ceiling and peak of the roof. I am looking up at the big hanging lamp in the center. It certainly is not tiki but was dismantled and in various boxes when Mr. Parkhurst found it at a sale. It had been in a local church for many years and was removed after a fire. The lamp is powered by natural gas! Many of the metal figures in the house and on the grounds are also set up with gas lines to be able to burn their own flames resembling tiki torches. Fantastic details!!!! This is the view from the North loft. I love this old rootball palm tiki.(except for the fluorescent paint)It has to be ten feet tall! Here is the closeup of the headhunter carving. Although over the years his weapon has disappeared and his earrings are needing to be put back on, it is an amazing piece of artwork. I'm in awe of this very detailed piece. Well, for now that is all of the photos we have for you. I think Silverline and I will discuss a few more detail pictures that were taken and post them in case they may help you understand the composition of the entire place a little better. There is much more to share and we will update this from time to time. And I know we will be going back when the weather turns more Springlike. In fact we may be helping to do a little sprucing up and I'm sure we can drop a heapin' helpin' of TLC on the place too! So,until we bring you more from "the boonies" of Missouri, here is one final photo: Aloha from Your Tiki Central Kansas City Urban,Suburban and now Rural archeology team: Mr. and Mrs. Silverline and 8FT Tiki

Are you ready to go inside? Well just a minute, I need to tell you a bit more about this impressive Mid-Western hideaway. The building and gounds were all designed and built by Mr. William Parkhurst. I hope to learn much more about him later and will share it when I can. But for now I can tell you that he passed away in the early 1990's. He had traveled to Hawaii on several occassions and sent back lots of souvenirs and art. In fact he brought home so much stuff that his wife said you need to get this stuff out of the house and that's what he did! I'm told that he used a bulldozer to dig out this massive lake and create the island upon which the Tiki House is perched. The metal work and details are what really set this place apart. And it's a good thing he chose to do it that way because exposure to the elements of more than 4 decades have caused some things to be in need of a little TLC. Sure there's some rust, rot and peeling paint but the bones are so good that these things are merely superficial blemishes. The eye of a tikiphile can see the potential of new glory days and dream of what this amazing place looked like when it was completed in the mid 60's. If you look closely at the postcard photo you will notice that the roof was originally a shake shingle type and now it is a metal one. It was necessary for preservation reasons to make this change recently and makes good sense. The eave above the door where the King Kamehameha figure is located still has the shingle type roofing. After visiting this place in person I feel like we found a real diamond in the rough. For us, the tiki starved midwesterners, we now have our own place to brag about. And the best part is: it isn't just a memory of a place that used to be here and now is a Walgreens store. Nor is it only a souvenir mug, swizzle or menu. It is real, beautiful and a fascinating legacy of the man who dreamed it into being. Okay, I hear you saying "c'mon 8FT let's go on in!" Alright, here we go.

This is the view upon entering. They have one of those huge clam shells (a real one!) which sits on a stand made of those metal warrior figures Mr. Parkhurst created.

This view is looking back at the entrance. You will notice there is a thatched roof bar on each side of the entrance. An awesome lava stone waterfall that still is in working order is on the left. You can see that there are 2 lofts in the room. One in the North end and one in the East. Both have iron staircases leading up from either side of the headhunter carving.

The beautiful accents and decor are great but I want you to notice the floor in this photo. It is all brick and is in fantastic condition. It hasn't shifted and cracked like you might expect to have happened in more than 40 years in a building that is not heated in winter.

A great view of the ceiling and peak of the roof. I am looking up at the big hanging lamp in the center. It certainly is not tiki but was dismantled and in various boxes when Mr. Parkhurst found it at a sale. It had been in a local church for many years and was removed after a fire. The lamp is powered by natural gas! Many of the metal figures in the house and on the grounds are also set up with gas lines to be able to burn their own flames resembling tiki torches. Fantastic details!!!!

This is the view from the North loft.

I love this old rootball palm tiki.(except for the fluorescent paint)It has to be ten feet tall!

Here is the closeup of the headhunter carving. Although over the years his weapon has disappeared and his earrings are needing to be put back on, it is an amazing piece of artwork. I'm in awe of this very detailed piece.

Well, for now that is all of the photos we have for you. I think Silverline and I will discuss a few more detail pictures that were taken and post them in case they may help you understand the composition of the entire place a little better.

There is much more to share and we will update this from time to time. And I know we will be going back when the weather turns more Springlike. In fact we may be helping to do a little sprucing up and I'm sure we can drop a heapin' helpin' of TLC on the place too! So,until we bring you more from "the boonies" of Missouri, here is one final photo:

Aloha from Your Tiki Central Kansas City Urban,Suburban and now Rural archeology team: Mr. and Mrs. Silverline and 8FT Tiki

Post #358934 by 8FT Tiki on Sun, Feb 3, 2008 10:36 PM