Post #819010 by Hurricane Hayward on Sat, Oct 17, 2026 8:41 PM

The Mai-Kai's Big Barney: The birth, life, death, and rebirth of a Tiki icon

The restoration of the historic Mai-Kai reached new heights with the unveiling of a reverential replica of a towering tiki that dates back to 1964. The back story is every bit as large, featuring a legendary carver who learned his craft in the South Pacific, the emergence of a mid-20th century art form, its re-appreciation in the 21st century, the carving's demise after 53 years, and its replication by a team of modern artists amid the restaurant's reimagination and revival.

Exclusive report at AtomicGrog.com or https://wp.me/p1xHjT-anX

Mahalo for all of the great research (and images) posted here and elsewhere, I was able to put together perhaps the most complete look at Barney West and his work to date ...

https://www.slammie.com/atomicgrog/blog/2026/10/17/the-mai-kais-big-barney-the-birth-life-death-and-rebirth-of-a-tiki-icon/#barney-history

Barney was also back in the mainstream news with the installation of the new tiki receiving coverage in the South Florida Sun Sentinel ...