Kona Kai, Marriott Hotel, Bethesda, MD (restaurant)

Name:Kona Kai, Marriott Hotel
Type:restaurant
Street:5151 Pooks Hill Road
City:Bethesda
State:MD
Zip:20814
country:USA
Phone:
Status:defunct

Description:
this was part of the kona kai chain for the marriott hotel. this restaurant appeared to exist into the late 1980s. in 2005, TC member Sabina visited Oceanic Arts and was shown the following entrance canopy from this restaurant:

"CARVED REDWOOD TYMPANUM FOR MARRIOTT'S KONA KAI AT THEIR WORLD HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. PROX 16' WIDE X 18' HIGH."

[ Edited by: Johnny Dollar 2011-02-19 04:01 ]

ok how's this for weird... the cousin of the president karzai of afghanistan was a server at the kona kai in bethesda...

Bethesda Marriott Hotel in Montgomery County, Maryland Celebrates 30th Anniversary
BETHESDA, MARYLAND December 16, 2009 Hotel & Resorts News Subscribe via RSS RSS
(PRLEAP.COM) Bethesda, Md. – December 16, 2009 - Long-time Montgomery County locals can’t help but turn nostalgic upon the announcement that the Bethesda Marriott hotel is celebrating its 30 anniversary. As the first hotel in Montgomery County in 1979, this Bethesda, Maryland hotel has seen many changes over its lifetime.

The Bethesda Marriott hotel has done its part to help Montgomery County evolve from an out-of-the-way suburb into a thriving economic, business and residential stronghold. As a sign of the hotel industry’s growth, Montgomery County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) statistics show that room rental tax revenue in FY78 was $947,000, as compared to $18 million in 2008. As the sole hotel in Montgomery County, the Bethesda Marriott’s success bred competition, with the Hyatt and the Crown Plaza both making their way into the county landscape in Bethesda and Rockville, respectively. Today Montgomery County, Maryland is dotted with numerous hotels providing an abundance of options for travelers.

In addition to the expanded meeting and event space that the Bethesda Marriott hotel boasts thanks to a series of renovations, the most recent of which was completed last year, the hotel has secured itself as a prime wedding and meeting destination in the county. "We continue to be a major force in the event planning arena," says Brian Hilger, general manager at the Bethesda Marriott. "We can accommodate events large and small in our multitude of space options from our large ballrooms to our intimate private dining room in our Agio restaurant."

Although the physical hotel has changed and expanded over the years, a core group of hotel staff have remained. Mohammad Karzai has been with the Bethesda hotel for 27 years. He began his Marriott career as a server in the famed Konai Kai restaurant, and now is serving the next generation of patrons in Agio, the hotel’s new Italian restaurant.

"I remember Mr. Marriott and his family coming in to the Kona Kai and we reserved them the same table every Sunday for the brunch," says Mr. Karzai. "He knew us by name and remembered our stories, so whenever he came in, he’d ask about my family." Mr. Karzai, an immigrant from Afghanistan, credits the Marriott Corporation for getting his start in the United States.

Agio was unveiled last year and has already gained a reputation for its Italian-American cuisine. Executive Chef George Nkulenu prides himself on using the freshest ingredients and creative presentations that he developed from his culinary experiences that have taken him around the globe. Restaurant business is up 30 to 40 percent since Agio’s opening.

The Bethesda Marriott is celebrating its 30th anniversary of service to the community this year. The Bethesda hotel completed extensive renovations recently that included the addition of a new ballroom, newly redecorated guest rooms, and fitness center. This hotel in Bethesda boasts 27 meeting rooms and 18,500 square feet of total meeting space. More details about this Montgomery County hotel can be found at http://www.bethesdamarriott.com. The hotel is located at 5151 Pooks Hill Road, Bethesda, MD.

http://www.prleap.com/pr/144840/

and according to the WaPo, the kona kai was still operating in 1987:

The Washington Post, Mar 24, 1987, Page: b.03 Section: METRO

Ten persons were taken to Suburban Hospital last night after becoming sickened by carbon monoxide from a defective water heater in the Bethesda Marriott Hotel's Kona Kai Polynesian Restaurant, Montgomery County fire officials said.

An odor was reported in the restaurant at 2 Pooks Hill Road at 6:10 p.m., fire officials said. The restaurant was evacuated and closed for the night, although the hotel remained open.

Nine of those taken to Suburban were treated and released, and the 10th, a 23-year-old woman, was transferred to George Washington University Hospital for further treatment.

A Suburban Hospital spokesman said symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches and nausea.

[ Edited by: Johnny Dollar 2011-02-19 04:08 ]

I do not remember this place, but ironically, I now live right near it.

you know jacklord, i spent many days in the 70s and 80s playing with my friend around the pook's hill area. if only we had thought to go inside the marriott - we were outside it plenty. i think we were more interested in throwing acorns and burning things with magnifying glasses at the time.

On 2011-03-03 08:30, Johnny Dollar wrote:
you know jacklord, i spent many days in the 70s and 80s playing with my friend around the pook's hill area. if only we had thought to go inside the marriott - we were outside it plenty. i think we were more interested in throwing acorns and burning things with magnifying glasses at the time.

We only appreciate these places now that they are gone.

found in online scan of July 1981 "Washington Dossier" magazine.

Just down the street from where I live now, too, jacklord. Does anyone know if there's anything left of the entrance canopy? Some hotels have a way of just painting over existing structure rather than razing it completely. It would be pretty excellent if there were traces of that still around.

kona kai wapo ad from may 11, 1984. it has a tiki in it! :D

On 2012-05-25 09:55, Iscah wrote:
... Does anyone know if there's anything left of the entrance canopy? Some hotels have a way of just painting over existing structure rather than razing it completely. It would be pretty excellent if there were traces of that still around.

It looks like the entrance is gone.

The image is from Google Maps and is dated March 2012.

agreed - if you compare the massing of the building and the pavement patterns, the original location of the kick-ass cool OA entry has been replaced with a boring beige boxy canopy.

here is a higher-res version of that image for comparison"
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3786/9348110556_190f20ca35_o.jpg

here is a really nice tiki one from april 24, 1986.