Post #49361 by ikitnrev on Tue, Aug 26, 2003 8:38 PM

Earlier today I stopped at the Honolulu Resturant in nearby Alexandria, for a small celebration. It was on August 26, 1978 - 25 years ago today, that current owners David and Anna bought the Honolulu restaurant. I want to congratulate them here for the job they have done at keeping the restaurant, the best tiki place in the D.C. area, operating today.

David relayed me one of the low moments during those early years, shorty after he opened, when business was bad. and they were struggling. After closing time one day, they learned that they had only done $32 worth of business. This gives some perspective for why they are very appreciative for the recent surge of interest, perhaps inspired by the tiki revival, when David will find at the end of the day that he has served over 100 mai-tais.

I had a small anniversary card prepared for David and Anna today, and was pleased to discover when I approached the entrance, a special diamond shaped sign on the front door, recognizing them for their 25 years of being open. It had been created by another couple who greatly appreciate what David and Anna have done.

David presented me with a complimentary mai-tai, and a bit of sad news later in the evening. He was glad to be able to celebrate 25 years of his restaurant, but informed me that he did not expect the Honolulu to be open for a 26th anniversary.

The Honolulu Restaurant lies right off of the I-95 interstate/beltway that goes around the Washington D.C. area, about one mile west of the Potomac river. They are currently building a new bridge over the Potomac River, and along with that comes new exits, new road interchanges, and so on. Sadly, the Honolulu Restaurant lies near a busy intersection, and will likely be torn down within a year -- I am not sure of the dates involved. If it is any matter of consolation, I do feel better that the Honolulu will end as a result of a major, multi-billion dollar highway project, at the end of a long restaurant career ..... and that there will be no Walgreens built in its place.

It is a bittersweet moment. On the good side, it is nice to see the Honolulu being recognized in its final years. I wrote an article on the Honolulu for Tiki News a few years back, and shortly afterwards an article appeared in the Washington Post, and other recognition has since followed. The Honolulu will be a place that will be missed. As one friend told me, David is friends with several other restaurant owners in the area, some who also kept their restaurants open for many years, but were never recognized as the Honolulu has been. David is very proud, and has some respect and cachet, from his other restaurant friends, because the Honolulu has been recognised as it has.

Right at about the time of this year's Hukilau, I showed David the 'Tiki Road Trip' book, with the '3 tiki' description of the Honolulu inside. David was so proud. He told me then that he had been thinking about retiring, but he was so inspired about being mentioned in the book that he thought he might continue on for a few more years. Sadly, it looks as if other events have intervened, and perhaps David and Anna will now be able to retire, as originally planned, on a high note, at a peak period of recognition.

I feel very saddened. The Honolulu was the place where I loved to take both my closest friends and out-of-town visitors ... and more often than not, those people fit into both categories.

I don't know what the schedule for the Honolulu will be over the coming year but I will offer an invitation to those of you who are from out of town, and have either already visited or have not yet visited the Honolulu. Come to the D.C. area, for either your first, or perhaps your last farewell visit to the Honolulu. I would love to be able to share a mai-tai with you, mixed by David, the same person who made Navy Grogs for then President Nixon in the 70's, while working for the D.C. Trader Vics.... and perhaps others in the DC/Maryland area will want to share in those times also. I might even be able to provide lodging for you for a night or two, in my own personal tiki pad.

The Honolulu is smaller than the Mai-Kai, it is smaller than the Kon-Tiki, and it is smaller than any Trader Vics that ever existed, but it has a big spot in my heart, and I'd like to share some of that with you while we can.

Aloha David and Anna, and thank you for 25 years of keeping the spirit of tiki alive.

Vern

[ Edited by: ikitnrev on 2003-08-26 20:40 ]

[ Edited by: ikitnrev on 2003-08-26 20:44 ]