Post #574321 by bigbrotiki on Wed, Feb 2, 2011 8:54 AM

Not directly pertaining to the question of why the present owners did what they did when they did it, but just to keep the timeline facts straight and get everybody up to par:

1964 -- The Hotel was converted from a basic "Country"-styled Motel called the "Crossroads Inn" to the "Hanalei" (with their "Adobe Room" becoming "The Islands" restaurant"):

1966 -- The first high rise tower is added to the back of the Hotel:

1980 -- The second high rise tower is added, forming the courtyard, which is completely furnished with artifacts from the Luau in Beverly Hills:

The Islands Restaurant and bar are expanded and embellished with more Luau decor and blossoms in the full Tiki splendor of the lost Beverly Hills Tiki temple:

Until the late 1990s, the Islands restaurant remains a shining example of the style, and the only interior left with lava rock waterfalls feeding rivers crossed by Tiki bridges:

1997 -- The first major ownership change causes the whole restaurant front (A-Frame etc.) and part of the interior to be replaced by corporate blandness, while the main part of the restaurant remains intact

2007 -- This last "island" of classic Tiki (as in surrounded by waterways) is torn out and turned generic, as discussed here (while the courtyard remains largely untouched)

While there were many good thoughts and possibilities posted here in answer to the general question heading this thread "Why destroy Tiki palaces?" we are all now eagerly awaiting the one true answer as to what mysterious corporate modus operandi dealt the final blow to this much loved and much mourned Tiki Temple. :)