Post #405218 by Tiki-Kate on Sun, Aug 31, 2008 7:22 PM

Yesterday I finally achieved one of my silliest personal goals ever. I completed Zulu Magoo’s Tiki Tour of Southern California. Back in 2005, Mike published a list of tiki locations in and around Orange and Los Angeles Counties which he gave out at Oasis V. The list consisted of more than 50 sites.

Earlier this year, I found a matchbook from the Royal Tahitian in Ontario. I thought, “What an amazing place this must have been,” and I wondered if any of the bones were left. I went home and did a TC search and found Johnnie velour’s post from 2003 stating that the building was about to be torn down. I don’t know why I felt the need to see it for myself. I swung by one day on my way home and found the building still standing. I also met an employee who told me some great old stories about the place.

That seemed to have sparked something in me. I got out my copy of the Tiki Tour to see how many places I had already visited. 16. Yes. 16 out of more than 50. Lame. I’ve spent the past five months hitting the other 36 locations. I live out toward Palm Springs, so I’m over an hour away from most of these locations. This project got much tougher as the price of gas continued to rise.

I really wish I had started sooner because so many of these places have disappeared. :(

Here is what I did find.

Aloha Arms Apartments - Pico Rivera

Beautiful, but also scary and gang-ridden. Going here alone was a very bad idea.

Paradise island Apartments - Pico Rivera

Kapu Tiki Apartments - Pico Rivera

Bahooka Restaurant - Rosemead

I try to make it out to Bahooka at least once a month for my pile of ribs. I’ve been doing this for several years now, and this is the only picture I could find. We’re at Bahooka. I swear.

Kahlua Apartments - Rosemead

Kona Kai Apartments - San Gabriel

Outrigger Apartments - Pasadena

Kona Kai Apartments - Torrance

Eli Kai Apartments - Torrance

Tiki Apartments - Torrance

Samoan Sea Apartments - San Pedro

Islander Apartments - Santa Ana

Hanakiki Apartments - Santa Ana

Kona Luanii Apartments - Anaheim

Oceanic Arts - Whittier

I visit Oceanic Arts once a month without fail. I make one purchase, and it is always something that you can only buy at OA. I spend a lot of time admiring all of the flotsam and jetsam that fills the place. This is my favorite lamp.

Islander Apartments - Gardena

Tiki Apartments - Los Angeles

Gone. They are now nameless box apartments.

Purple Orchid - El Segundo

Tiki Aloha Apartments - Torrance

Exotic Isle Apartments - Alhambra

Now the Jade Gardens. No tikis remain.

Tahitian Village Apartments - Reseda

Tonga Hut - North Hollywood

This is another one of those places that I visit frequently but could only find one usable picture. These are Tiki Diablo’s mugs.

Island Village Apartments - Fullerton

Hawaiian Village Apartments - Norwalk

Kona Gardens Apartments - Anaheim

Now the Hidden Village Apartments. No signs of tiki anywhere.

Kona Gardens Apartments - Garden Grove

Kona Kai Apartments - Westminster

Kona Kai Village Apartments - Glendora

Now the Valley Glen. Boo.

Hale Hawaii - Torrance

Tony’s on the Pier - Redondo Beach

I’ve been to Tony’s and yet could not find a single picture. I was there last month and took this shot of another building on the pier.

Hurricane Room - Lawndale

I could not find any evidence that the Hurricane Room still exists. I followed the directions in the guide, but all I found was La Bamba.

Trader Vic’s - Beverly Hills

Islander Motel - Eagle Rock

Royal Hawaiian Motel - Hollywood

Java Lanes - Long Beach

I had to scan this one. I took it before I owned a digital camera. The Java Lanes is long gone.

Tiki Apartments - Los Angeles

Gone. Another nameless box apartment.

Mauna Loa Gardens Apartments - West Covina

Maui Apartments - West Covina

Now the Atrium. Serious boo.

Pacific Isle Apartments - West Covina

Now the Oasis Apartments. Still stunning.

Aku Aku Motor Inn - Woodland hills

Now a Best Western. Boo again.

Tiki-Ti - Hollywood

Sam’s Seafood - Huntington Beach

Now Kona.

The Warehouse - Marina Del Rey

Don the Beachcomber - Marina Del Rey

No longer operational, but still a swell building.

Horace Heidt’s Magnolia Estates - Sherman Oaks

Shangri-La Apartments - Sherman Oaks

Kona Pali Apartments - Granada Hills

Caliente Tropics Hotel - Palm Springs

Royal Hawaiian - Laguna Beach

Islander Apartments - Inglewood

Unnamed Tiki Apartments - Duarte

Lucky Tiki - Mission Hills

I never made it to the Lucky Tiki while it was open. Here are the remains.

I could not seem to find any pictures of the places that I frequent most often. I know that I take them. I just have no clue where they are. (I borrowed the photos of Sam's, Tiki-Ti and the Purple Orchid.)

Thanks again for the guide, Mike. This was so much fun.