Post #54132 by Kailuageoff on Tue, Oct 7, 2003 11:32 AM

Sounds like you had an outstanding journey, but I respectfully must insist that no tiki trip to Central Florida is complete without visiting the Hawaiian Inn in Daytona Beach and enjoying Teauila's Hawaiian luau and dinner show.
If anyone is coming here and wants to experience tiki the way it was 30 years ago, you absolutely NEED to go there. The story of the Hawaian Inn and the fine people who do the luau buffet and show is yet to be written, but needs to be. For example, who on this board can tell me the names of the people who ran Orchids Hawaii and OMC? And what other tiki joint sold so many custom imprinted mugs that we practically stumble over them at thrift stores and flea markets? And what other tiki spot has about as much Witco on the premises as Hala Kahiki?
While in Daytona you may also want to visit Julian's Restaurant in Ormond Beach, the Mai-Tai Bar on the Daytona Beach boardwalk, and I suggest a room at the Best Western Aku-Tiki in Daytona if you want to spend the night in clean, quiet surroundings.
I'm not posting this to dog anyone about missing these spots, but if I had to save only two tiki places in the state of Florida it would be the Mai-Kai and the Hawaiian Inn. Nothing else in this state comes close, except maybe the Tahitian Gardens in Tarpon Springs, and they don't serve tiki drinks or have Hawaiian entertainment.
All of these places are in "Tiki Road Trip", by the way. Go while you still can.
KG

[ Edited by: Kailuageoff on 2003-10-07 11:35 ]