On this the eve of International Tiki Day, I thought I might put us in an anticipatory mood of reverence and respect by posting some eye-candy from my postcard collection.
These are images that hopefully haven't already appeared in the BOT and that you might not have seen before. I don't think any of these buildings still exist. Their doorways were magical portals that suggested wonderful exotic pleasures within.
Here's my list in no particular order:
#1. Where it all started. Don the Beachcomber's in Hollywood.
#2. Two views of The Orchid Island Hotel in Hilo, Hawaii.
#3. The Luau in Beverly Hills. The two large tikis by the door now reside at Oceanic Arts. You can view them up by the cash register.
#4. Trader Vic's - Caribe Hilton, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
#5. The Waikiki Shopping District, on Kalakaua Ave.
#6. The Aloha Lounge. Location still a mystery.
#7. Papua New Guinea hut from an old Traveler's Insurance magazine ad.
#8. The Trader Vic's at the Bel Air Hotel in St. Louis, MO. Including a front-view of the entrance from an appetizer menu.
#9. The Hotel Tahara'a in Tahiti. Designed by architect Peter Wimberly, who was also responsible for most of the great tiki architecture in Hawaii during the 1950s, including the Waikikian, The International Market Place, Duke Kahanamoku’s nightclub, and Don the Beachcomber's to name but a few. He also designed the Kalakaua Ave. shopping district buildings on my previous postcard.
#10. And of course the Kahiki in Columbus, OH.
Hope you enjoyed 'em.
Sabu
