Post #371949 by GatorRob on Sun, Apr 6, 2008 9:35 AM

Aloha definitedoll. I'm not sure of the exact dates, but the Mai-Kai did have a gift shop in the 70s (and maybe the late 60s?) in what is now the Bora Bora Room (across the driveway from the main entrance). Check out this post from Tiki Kiliki. And here's a color picture from 1978:

As you can see, they sold much more than just flower leis! Maybe, though, the gift shop hadn't been built yet or you didn't go into the separate gift shop building at the time? What year were your photos taken? At some point in the late 70s or early 80s (I believe), the gift shop moved inside the main building into what once was the Bangkok dining room. But, you are correct in that the Mai-Kai did not start off with a gift shop. I have seen an early photo of the main dining room where you can see a small stand in the background where they were selling Mai-Kai calendars. Later on, they would sell those in the gift shop.

Can you possibly post a larger, close-up of that picture with the tiki in the background that has the large bird on its head with the wings spread? I've seen it in b&w, but it's intruiging to see it in color. Anybody know the origins of that particular tiki (what it's based on, who carved it)? It's a Barney West, I assume.

And I don't think anyone would find your comments about their business (or lack of) insulting. To be honest, I was concerned about it too when I saw the back dining rooms mostly empty last New Years Eve. We all want it to live on...