Have We Just Experienced the Latest Wave of a Tiki Resurgence, and resulting Devolution? - General Tiki

C christiki295 Member LA-2547 mls east Hawaii &5500 Easter Is Joined: Apr 09, 2003 Posts: 3837	C christiki295 Posted posted on Sat, Apr 23, 2011 12:51 PM On 2011-04-23 11:21, JOHN-O wrote: Tiki peaked in 2004 ?? !! I disagree, since then we've had... Forbidden Island Don the Beachcomber in Sunset Beach The revitalized Tonga Hut playing in the Tiki big leagues Trader Vic's Downtown LA Smuggler's Cove Frankie's Tiki Room Tiki-No Tiki Caliente Mojave Oasis !! Upcoming Tiki bars at Clifton's Cafeteria and a Bamboo Ben project in Hollywood Good points, but I don't think they carry the day. True, I love that we now have had Forbidden Island and Trader Vic's Emeryville, Smmugler's Cove, the Conga Room, and the Kona Club - and wish they were around when I went to Cal! (although I did hit the Tonga Room on occasion) However, the collective mana of all of these was not strong enough to save Trader Vics SF which returned from the ashes, only to be shuttered, once again. Similarly, the Grand Dame Tonga Room has barely escaped the chopping block with the assistance of union support, thank god, but one has to wonder about its long term viability. And, if the Tonga Room even would be considered for demolition, nothing is sacred. Certainly, TCers have done there best to keep the Tiki torch burning bright, with Caliente, etc., but, again, the very hotel where it was initially held, the Hanalei Red Lion in Airport Circle became de-Tikified in 2004, despite TC's best efforts. Again, the mana was not strong enough. Red Lion before 2004: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFXHwMEBxFM The renovated, i.e, de-Tikified Red Lion (now Crowne) after 2004:

On 2011-04-23 11:21, JOHN-O wrote:
Tiki peaked in 2004 ?? !! I disagree, since then we've had...

Forbidden Island

Don the Beachcomber in Sunset Beach

The revitalized Tonga Hut playing in the Tiki big leagues

Trader Vic's Downtown LA

Smuggler's Cove

Frankie's Tiki Room

Tiki-No

Tiki Caliente

Mojave Oasis !!

Upcoming Tiki bars at Clifton's Cafeteria and a Bamboo Ben project in Hollywood

Good points, but I don't think they carry the day.

True, I love that we now have had Forbidden Island and Trader Vic's Emeryville, Smmugler's Cove, the Conga Room, and the Kona Club - and wish they were around when I went to Cal! (although I did hit the Tonga Room on occasion) However, the collective mana of all of these was not strong enough to save Trader Vics SF which returned from the ashes, only to be shuttered, once again. Similarly, the Grand Dame Tonga Room has barely escaped the chopping block with the assistance of union support, thank god, but one has to wonder about its long term viability. And, if the Tonga Room even would be considered for demolition, nothing is sacred.

Certainly, TCers have done there best to keep the Tiki torch burning bright, with Caliente, etc., but, again, the very hotel where it was initially held, the Hanalei Red Lion in Airport Circle became de-Tikified in 2004, despite TC's best efforts. Again, the mana was not strong enough.

Red Lion before 2004:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFXHwMEBxFM

The renovated, i.e, de-Tikified Red Lion (now Crowne) after 2004:

Post #586214 by christiki295 on Sat, Apr 23, 2011 12:51 PM