Discovery & Restoration of vintage Oceanic Arts tiki in Kansas City, MO and now, AMAZING chapter 2 ! - General Tiki

8T 8FT Tiki Tiki Socialite Kansas City, MO Joined: Nov 30, 2003 Posts: 1411	8T 8FT Tiki Posted posted on Thu, Mar 4, 2010 11:10 PM I don't know why i never updated this thread to add the fact that this big tiki was from the Kona Kai Kansas City location at 45th and Main which was inside of the Hilton Plaza Inn. A recent visit there revealed that the hotel has changed owners a few times but there is NO evidence of the Kona Kai's existence left intact and no one there remembers it either. I occassionaly add related finds to another thread I started in Locating Tiki including this: I recently found a different magazine ad for the K.C. Kona Kai restaurants. It was in a souvenir program from the Starlight Theatre (a large outdoor theatre in Swope Park where concerts and Broadway shows have been performed for almost 60 years). The ad is from 1977 and measures about 2 1/4" X 6". Imagine my surprise and delight when I first glimpsed the artist rendition of our very own 8FT tiki !!! OK, I know it is just his head, but WOW was it ever cool to finally get a local confirmation of sorts that he was indeed in the Kona Kai. Yeah, I'm pretty happy with this discovery. In fact I actually found 2 of the programs and the best part is that they were FREE. Now, if the ad is accurate, I think I need to go searching for a big moai or two that may still be in the area. Thanks for dropping by for the latest update. 8FT Tiki

I don't know why i never updated this thread to add the fact that this big tiki was from the Kona Kai Kansas City location at 45th and Main which was inside of the Hilton Plaza Inn. A recent visit there revealed that the hotel has changed owners a few times but there is NO evidence of the Kona Kai's existence left intact and no one there remembers it either.

I occassionaly add related finds to another thread I started in Locating Tiki including this:

I recently found a different magazine ad for the K.C. Kona Kai restaurants. It was in a souvenir program from the Starlight Theatre (a large outdoor theatre in Swope Park where concerts and Broadway shows have been performed for almost 60 years).
The ad is from 1977 and measures about 2 1/4" X 6".

Imagine my surprise and delight when I first glimpsed the artist rendition of our very own 8FT tiki !!! OK, I know it is just his head, but WOW was it ever cool to finally get a local confirmation of sorts that he was indeed in the Kona Kai.

Yeah, I'm pretty happy with this discovery. In fact I actually found 2 of the programs and the best part is that they were FREE. Now, if the ad is accurate, I think I need to go searching for a big moai or two that may still be in the area.
Thanks for dropping by for the latest update.
8FT Tiki

Post #515238 by 8FT Tiki on Thu, Mar 4, 2010 11:10 PM