Post #670517 by Tangaroa-Ru on Sun, Mar 10, 2013 12:53 PM

Mahalo, Tiki ohana. I talked to my mom this morning, and she said she and my dad felt the exact same way when The Luau and Kelbo's closed. Those were "their" places. My dad had even proposed to my mom (twice!) at The Luau. (She accepted when he did it without the aid of a Mai Tai.)

You know, I will actually go to this new incarnation of the restaurant, if they keep the tanks and booths intact. I wouldn't be surprised if they painted it all white and hung modern lights from the ceiling though.

And I'll still enjoy seeing the Tiki apartments (what's left of them) on the drive down Rosemead Blvd. on the way to Bahooka corner. You know, there's still much to celebrate and enjoy. And we know clever people who are making new Tiki places for us to go to, in Los Angeles and elsewhere. I'm not trying to be all "Miss Disneyland" about this, because losing the Bahooka IS sad, but as my dad used to say, "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem." The solution is to try and preserve what we can of what we love. And, if we can't, then document it thoroughly, and allow that to inspire others, including yourself.

And now, I really have to finish my next article for Tiki Magazine! Aloha to you all.