Post #309799 by Humuhumu on Wed, May 30, 2007 11:19 AM

I love this question! Thanks for posting it, it's been fun reading everyone's responses so far, and to ponder my own.

My first thought was the Mauna Loa in Detroit. They spent anywhere from $1.6 million to $21 million to build it in 1967 (I've seen both numbers) -- that would be anywhere from $1 billion to $126 billion in today's dollars... whatever the real figure is, they apparently went all out on it. And just a year later, it was closed, and not very much is known about it today. But when I really think about it -- maybe there's a good reason not much is known about it. Maybe it was actually kind of lame. So no, I think I'd want to keep that one in the world of fantasy, a sort of tiki valhalla.

Then my mind turns to the early years of Don the Beachcomber in Hollywood... that surely would be something to see (and taste!). But then, tiki really started to turn into something cool when all these places were trying to top each other. It would be fascinating to see that very early incarnation, but I'm more enchanted with how it eventurally developed into something bigger.

And then, as often happens, my mind turns to the Mai Kai... ah... the Mai Kai. Yes, I think I'd like to go back to the Mai Kai, when it was really hoppin'. When it was full of people out for a fine night on the town, dressed to he nines, with Johnny Carson at his regular table, and nary a t-shirted tourist in sight.

Of course the cool part is that the next best thing -- going to the Mai Kai today -- is still within anyone's reach, sans time machine.

I'm sure in a few hours I'll think of some other place in the past that I simply must go visit.