Updated Jan. 14, 2026
This blog post features full coverage of the restoration and reopening of the historic Mai-Kai restaurant in South Florida 2024 reopening and throughout 2025. It includes in-depth coverage and photos from journalist Jim “Hurricane” Hayward, along with information gathered from other reliable sources. As the project enters Phase 2 in 2026, look for less detailed but still frequent reports featured on the main Mai-Kai restoration page. We’ll also ramping up a new version of our Mai-Kai Cocktail Guide.
• Jump straight to the news archive below
Answers to frequently asked questions about the Mai-Kai
Check out our handy guide featuring all the basics you need to know to plan your next trip to the South Florida landmark.
UPDATES: Official information, tips and advice for guests
Official sites and social media
• MaiKai.com | Facebook page | Instagram
Facebook group: Friends of the Mai-Kai
• Instagram: Classics of the Mai-Kai
The Atomic Grog: AtomicGrog.com | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky
SPECIAL VIDEO FEATURES
The 16 most iconic photo spots at the Mai-Kai
Learn how to get those classic shots on your next trip to the historic South Florida restaurant. We take you on an adventure via new and historic photos, plus video from Spike’s Breezeway to document the top locations inside and outside the historic Tiki temple.
SEE THE TOP 16: Jump straight to the tour, tips and tricks
More Mai-Kai videos on Spike’s Breezeway
• Saving the Lamps of the Mai Kai (with Scott “Flounder” Scheidly)
• Inside the Mai-Kai’s cocktail secrets (with Cory Starr)
• Deep inside the $20 million restoration (with “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller)
• 16 iconic (and hidden) photo locations at the Mai-Kai (with Hurricane Hayward)
• Full playlist of Spike’s Mai-Kai videos
Mai-Kai past news index
• Mai-Kai legends return for 69th anniversary celebration
• Holiday treats include 12 drinks of Christmas, new Rum Barrel mug, festive decor, non-stop events
• New event center will complete Mai-Kai reimagination in 2026
• Rum release date, holiday cocktails and mug, anniversary events, plus more! (November)
• Photo and video recap: Hulaween party returns from the dead
• Hulaween returns bigger than ever, new food menu debuts (October)
• Mai-Kai at Tiki Oasis, new mug release, upcoming events, video and media blitz (August)
• Video guide to iconic Mai-Kai photo spots, special summer prix fixe menu (July)
• Tikiphiles, Panthers fans flock to the Mai-Kai for special events (June)
• Mai-Kai unveils two large tiki carvings during The Hukilau
• Mai-Kai gears up for return of The Hukilau as enhancements continue
• Dinner menu upgraded with more than 20 new dishes (May)
• Mai-Kai opens new passageway between Tiki gardens
• Mcbiff introduces ‘Mystery at the Mai-Kai’ print, merchandise during special event (April)
• Mai-Kai gives food menus a major facelift with all new bar, dining room dishes
• February-March 2025 update: Artists continue working on Mai-Kai design projects
• Inuhele event recap: Paradise Reimagined: Deep Inside the Mai-Kai Restoration
• Videos: A moment of zen
• Mai-Kai joins Miami Rum Congress festivities
• January 2025 update: Tiki gardens and new dining options open as Mai-Kai menus get a refresh
• Mai-Kai timeline, 1956-2024: Iconic restaurant marks 68 years of Polynesian Pop history (December 2024)
• Is it 1956 or 2024? Forward-thinking Mai-Kai menus sport retro flair
• Answers to frequently asked questions about the Mai-Kai
• Mai-Kai celebrates grand reopening, return of signature dinner shows (November 2024)
• Mai-Kai hosts preview of bars in advance of grand reopening
• Mai-Kai welcomes Cory Starr as new chief mixologist
• Event preview, more details on the anniversary
Mai-Kai legends return for 69th anniversary celebration
Posted Jan. 4
The Mai-Kai welcomed back dozens of alumni from throughout its 69-year history for a first-of-its-kind anniversary celebration and a weekend full of incendiary performances of the Polynesian Islander Revue. The national historic landmark opened its doors Dec. 28, 1956, adding an authentic dinner show in the early 1960s.
The Dec. 27-28 event marked the first time in history that Mai-Kai performers from eight different decades – from the 1950s through today – all shared the stage on the same weekend. The dinner show combines music (by the Mai-Kai Serenaders) and dance (by the Mai-Kai Islanders) into a flamboyant but culturally accurate tribute to the islands of the South Pacific, running up to three shows a night, seven days a week for the past six decades. After a four-year interruption when the Mai-Kai was closed for a $20 million restoration and reimagination, the revue remains the oldest continually-running authentic South Seas stage show in the United States (including Hawaii).
Many of the alumni gathered at the Mai-Kai on Friday, Dec. 26, for what became an emotional reunion for many. “Feeling so welcome and seeing so many familiar faces really fills the heart with joy,” wrote Malia on her Instagram page, where she posted a reel of the happy reunion. You many know the former dancer and Mystery Girl (2000-2003) today as MeduSirena (aka Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid).
The list of returning Polynesian dancers, fire knife dancers and musician spanned the 1950s through the 2000s. [Click here to see the full list] Among the VIPs were Kainoa Lauritzen (1971-2001), considered the most recognized Polynesian dancer in Mai-Kai history; and Nani Maka, a legendary Hawaiian hula dancer who worked at the Mai-Kai in the 1950s and ’60s. Kainoa performed on stage Saturday and Nani Maka on Sunday.
Saturday’s events included alumni shows at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. From 7 to 8 p.m., Malia and Kainoa were joined by fellow Polynesian dancer Glenda Florez (1999-2007) for a meet-and-greet and autograph signing in the old Chinese oven room next to the Mai-Kai’s giant Christmas tree. Florez’ daughter, Nai’a, is a current Polynesian dancer and the first female fire knife dancer ever at the Mai-Kai.
Both the Bora Bora and Molokai bars were crowded with guests on the busy Saturday night as Big Harvest performed outside the main entrance. With the addition of the extensive Christmas lights, decor and cocktails for 2025, the annual anniversary event took on an even more festive air.
We attended the first alumni show at 5:30, and it proved to be spectacular. I counted dozens of alumni on stage throughout the performance. It started with a 30-minute all-alumni set and Kainoa doing a solo dance to the classic Bali Hai to open the show. She was followed by three former Polynesian dancers doing the hula as the band performed Lovely Hula Hands.
In rapid succession were were treated to many short performances featuring both men and women, including the traditional Samoan slap dance. An announcement was made thanking the founding Thornton brothers for bringing the Mai-Kai to life, along with the current management for keeping their spirit alive. The show was also dedicated to all of the past alumni who are no longer with us.
The pre-show wrapped up with a performance by two male-female duos, then another Polynesian dance by four female alumni (see photo above). The opening set reached a thunderous climax when the theatrical drum troupe Samkoma took the stage. The four-piece group included MeduSirena and current Mai-Kai lead musician Conrad Teheiura Itchener (aka Kabuki).
The Mai-Kai’s Polynesian cultural director and longtime emcee, Lono Hanohano, then invited all the performers on stage for a final dance and standing ovation. But more was yet to come as Lono handed off emcee duties for the 45-minutte regular show to Varua, a third-generation Mai-Kai employee and son of longtime manager Kern Mattei.
As someone who grew up at the Mai-Kai, Varua was perfect to lead the current group through their performance that also included more alumni guests featured throughout. After the traditional audience participation dance, two alumni took the stage for Ke Kali Nei Au (The Hawaiian Wedding Song).
Next came an old favorite, the drum dance of Tahiti, featuring the spectacular rhythmic hips of both current and alumni female dancers. Not to be out-done, the male dancers had a secret weapon as they prepared for the show’s fiery finale, the signature Samoan fire knife dance. Originating from ancient warrior traditions, the performers spin a machete-like knife with towels wrapped on the ends, then lit on fire.
Performing on the Mai-Kai stage for the first time since the 1990s, three-time world champion fire knife dancer VJ wowed the audience and fellow performers alike with his incredible dexterity with the knife, spinning it effortlessly at high speed, tossing it high in the air, behind his back and between his legs. [WATCH VIDEO]
VJ left the stage as two of the young Mai-Kai Islanders showed off their footwork and dexterity, concluding their performance with one climbing atop the other, all while keeping their knifes spinning. The imposing VJ then returned for his solo finale with not one but two knives.
Jaws dropped and the audience gasped and applauded as the veteran performer twirled both flaming knives simultaneously in one of the most spectacular fire knife dances at the Mai-Kai in recent memory. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” exclaimed the Mai-Kai’s creative director, “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller, seated to my right in the Moorea Room. Many of us had never seen anything quite like this.
We heard reports that VJ will be returning to coach the young dancers and perhaps perform. If so, that’s just one more reason to look forward to 2026. More alumni events are also being discussed.
Sunday’s festivities continued to honor the restaurant’s history with the current musicians and dancers performing special 69th anniversary shows at 1, 4, and 7 p.m. One of these featured Nani Maka, the ageless princess of Polynesian dance who graced the stage with a traditional hula. She learned the dance in Hawaii and performed in shows there as well as Florida starting more than 60 years ago..
In honor of the anniversary, three special vintage cocktails from the early days of the Mai-kai were available in both bars. Hundreds of guests enjoyed dinner in the showrooms as well as secluded dining areas in the Tahiti Room and Lanai. The historic weekend ended with both staff and guests filled with the spirit of aloha and many happy memories.
Related: Vintage cocktails return for 69th anniversary, more Mai-Kai bar news
MORE LIVE COVERAGE: Photos, video of alumni anniversary weekend
The anniversary festivities were dedicated to the memory of all the Mai-Kai alumni who are no longer with us. Front of mind was Pasefika Iosia, who passed away Dec. 1 in Port St. Lucie, Fla., at age 87. The native of Samoa spent more than three decades as an entertainer at the Mai-Kai. Many whose lives he touched gathered at the Mai-Kai on Dec. 14 to remember “Fika,” who started his career as dancer in 1970 and later performed in the band.
The Mai-Kai paid tribute in an official social media post: “His talent and charisma on stage were unforgettable, and off stage he brought people together through friendship, sports, and laughter. Pasefika wasn’t just a performer – he was family. Thank you, Pasefika, for the joy, spirit, and memories you shared. You will always be in our hearts.”
Among those who came to pay their respects was Mai-Kai matriarch Mireille Thornton, who was one of the original dancers before taking over as choreographer and cultural director for the next six decades. She married owner Bob Thornton, leading the family ownership group after his death in 1989 through the 2020 closing.
On Dec. 19, a new name was added to the list of alumni when Luiz Mileto ended a more than 25-year run as one of the Mai-Kai’s signature fire knife dancers. Mileto (aka Letz) received an on-stage tribute during his final show, garnering a flurry of leis from his fellow performers and a standing ovation from the hundreds of attendees in the audience. He has long been the Mai-Kai’s most recognizable male dancer, the elder statesman known for his good humor, but serious and skilled on-stage talents.
Later, enjoying a Rum Barrel in the Bora Bora Bar with friends and fellow performers, Letz showed off the burns on his arms that serve as a badge of honor. He ribbed youthful dancer Varua (aka Nicholas Mattei), who is now the senior member of the troupe. Like several of his brethren, Varua has a deep Mai-Kai lineage. [See video]
The young Mattei’s mother (a Molokai Bar server) and grandmother (a Polynesian dancer) are Mai-Kai alumni. His father, Kern Mattei Jr., is entering his 33rd year in Mai-Kai management. His grandfather, Kern Mattei Sr., was also general manager for decades. Kern Jr. has taken on the role of alumni coordinator, welcoming back dozens of former employees over the past year, curating the framed “wall of fame” photos in the back of house, and helping plan the anniversary events.
Florez, who has stayed active in the Polynesian dance community in Colorado, also helped organize the weekend events, including putting together the lineup for the Saturday alumni show. She shared a YouTube playlist of videos that offer rare behind-the-scenes footage from the event.
Mai-Kai holiday treats include 12 drinks of Christmas, new Rum Barrel mug, festive decor, non-stop events
Posted Dec. 15, Updated Dec. 29
The Mai-Kai is embracing the season to be jolly like never before with a Christmas overlay featuring extensive decor, a limited-edition mug, and a new menu of 12 creative cocktails that celebrate spirits and flavors from around the world.
The minute you arrive at the historic South Florida restaurant, you’re swept away to a tropical winter wonderland, surrounded by giant wreaths and swaths of palm trees clad in holiday lights. Santa hats adorn the signature cannibal carvings under the banyan trees, and a large wreath hangs from the signature water feature, the bubbling caldera in the center of the vehicle roundabout.
The Bora Bora Bar and main entrance are awash with lights and festive touches, including the outdoor space’s own Christmas tree looming above the bartenders. Presents surround another tree high above the front doors under the restored porte-cochère.
Inside, the Molokai Bar is ground zero for the holiday cheer, nearly every available space covered in lights, ornaments, and lots of mistletoe. It’s over the top but tastefully done. The “Molokai Mistletoe Lounge” servers have joined the fun with their cheery new outfits. Just don’t try to catch one of the sarong-clad servers under a mistletoe … they move fast.
MORE: Photos, video of the Mai-Kai’s holiday theming
Just as robust as the decorations, the events calendar started Dec. 1 with the launch of the new “Twelve Drinks of Christmas Around the World” menu. The new craft cocktails (plus a Christmas Mystery Bowl), take center stage on the main cocktail menu, available in both bars plus the dining rooms.
The good cheer extends to the late-night hours in both bars, which host special happy hours from 9 to 11 p.m. every Friday and Saturday throughout December. Like the regular happy hour, which runs seven days a week from 4 to 7 p.m., most signature cocktails (including the 12 Christmas drinks) are 50 percent off the regular price. There’s also a special late-night food menu. Check the link below as we taste our way through the cocktails.
Christmas cocktail guide: Analysis, ratings, insights from bar manager Michael DeMahy
Mai-Kai fans and collectors received an early Christmas treat on Wednesday, Dec. 3, when a limited Christmas Rum Barrel mug was released at a special event attended by Florida artist John Mulder. His merry holiday version of the Mai-Kai’s signature mug, limited to 250 numbered pieces, sold out by mid-December.
A line stretched from the front doors to the valet stand as more than 100 people queued up on day one to have their mug (sales were limited to one per person) signed by Mulder in the Mai-Kai Trading Company gift shop. Also selling fast were bottles of Mai-Kai Rum No. 1, which had its own successful launch party on Black Friday (Nov. 28).
• Photos, video, full coverage of the rum release
Mulder said he’s done barrel mugs for other bars, but doing one for the Mai-Kai and being part of the restaurant’s long history is something else entirely. “It’s still one of my favorite mugs,” he said of the simple yet iconic Barrel O’ Rum, which has been on the menu since the 1956 opening.
The 20-ounce mug was produced in two colors: 200 brown and 50 white. The latter sold out quickly, but there were a few of the brown Barrels left as of the second week in December.
The design is classic, whimsical Eekum Bookum with many festive holiday touches: lights, gifts and a big red bow. It notes the anniversary year under the Mai-Kai logo, and “Mele Kalikimaka” on one of the other sides.
The third side of the mug is our favorite, a tribute to the two new Tiki carvings that were installed at the Mai-Kai in June. [See previous coverage] These stylized versions of the large tikis by Will Anders (on the left) and “Tiki Ray” Kieffer are appropriately adorned in Santa hats.
Mulder’s most recognizable style is to mash up multiple iconic images on a single mug, and he accomplishes this perfectly on Mai-Kai’s Christmas Barrel. Among the previous Mai-Kai pieces he did for The Hukilau were the 2025 mug spotlighting the Mystery Girl, the 2024 mug featuring the signature tiki outside the Molokai Bar window, and the 2022 mug sculpted in the shape of the Mai-Kai itself.
Like those mugs for The Hukilau, the Christmas Rum Barrel is designed as a functional piece of art and produced in limited quantities. All feature the mug number etched into the bottom. This is Mulder’s preferred way of producing mugs, as opposed to mass production. He’s also limited by the size of his St. Pete facility and his small staff.
“I don’t like to make more than a couple hundred,” Mulder said, noting that producing more “doesn’t feel like art anymore.” He added: “I don’t want to be a manufacturer. I want to be an art house that makes mugs.”
Christmas Rum Barrel release: Photos, video, interview with artist John Mulder
New event center will complete Mai-Kai reimagination in 2026
Posted Nov. 17
The Mai-Kai’s general manager, Cory Starr, has confirmed that preliminary work has begun on a new event center that will occupy back-of-house space adjacent to the kitchen that was formerly used for storage. When asked if it’s moving forward, he replied: “It definitely is.”
This large multi-purpose space will be available for a wide range of special events, from weddings and reunions, to corporate meetings, to music and social events such as The Hukilau. The plans for this addition were approved along with all of the Phase 1 enhancements back in 2022, but this part of the project was put on hold to expedite the November 2024 reopening.
The public will access the event center via a door in the renovated room that used to house the kitchen’s Chinese ovens. This area was redesigned by creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller with a lavish Chinese theme to match the building and surrounding area. The outside of the building, which appears dilapidated but is actually a clever feat of themed design, features a new Chinese saying across the top after the old lettering was moved inside. [Previous coverage]
• Spike’s Breezeway: Watch a video tour with Typhoon Tommy
This room is accessible both via the dining rooms and the outdoor garden. The plan also calls for the new corridor in the southwest corner of the garden to feature a door into the event center. This large area can also be used for the events.
The back-of-house area that contained the large storage room and massive 1970s-era kitchen remains without a roof after the October 2020 collapse that precipitated the Mai-Kai’s closing, sale and $20 million restoration. A new, smaller kitchen was built in old offices and other spaces that survived the roof collapse. Additional temporary kitchen structures were added to the open space in order for the restaurant to serve its thousands of loyal guests when it reopened last November.
Rum release date, holiday cocktails and mug, anniversary events, plus more!
Posted Nov. 17, updated Dec. 26
One year after a spectacular reopening, South Florida’s historic Mai-Kai restaurant is planning a series of holiday treats that should make even the most hardcore Grinch jump for joy. The first will come the day after a special Thanksgiving feast, when the ground-breaking Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 will go on sale during a Black Friday release party.
The rum wowed guests on Thursday, Nov. 6, during a sneak preview party in the restaurant’s Molokai Bar, when a select few were able to snag one of the colorfully packaged one-liter bottles. Then, on Saturday, Nov. 8, general manager and beverage director Cory Starr announced the Black Friday event during a seminar at the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival.
Look for full coverage of the presentation hosted by ambassador Adrienne Stoner of Maison Ferrand in an upcoming deep dive into the 100-proof blend, which is being produced exclusively for the Mai-Kai. The quick answer to the burning question: Sorry, there is currently no plan for distribution outside of the Mai-Kai Trading Company gift shop.
It’s a unique rum that bypasses normal distribution, sent directly to the restaurant from the Caribbean via a bottling plant in southwest Florida. The blend of rums from historic stills in Barbados and Jamaica was a unanimous hit at the Coral Gables festival, including the main grand tasting event on Sunday, Nov. 9.
Photos, video: Hulaween party returns from the dead
Posted Nov. 28
The grand reopening year at the Mai-Kai reached a fitting, frightfully fun climax on Halloween night with the Polynesian palace’s signature Hulaween party. Hundreds of revelers, many in creative costumes, enjoyed the event’s 13th edition, the first held inside the restaurant since 2019.
South Florida rockabilly favorites Slip and the Spinouts made their 10th Hulaween appearance, jamming all night in the Molokai Bar. Meanwhile, DJ Banzai Bill played an eclectic mix of tunes outside in the Bora Bora Bar, where the highlight was a costume contest with dozens competing for the $1,000 grand prize.
Oct. 31 was the highlight of a month filled with Hulaween-themed events, including Wicked Bingo, the Blue Hawaii Elvis Show with Dan Cunningham, a ’70s disco night, and a party for kids. This monthlong celebration was a first for the Mai-Kai, featuring elaborate decor throughout the grounds continually updated in the lead-up to Halloween night.
The two artists responsible for the highly themed artwork – Tom Fowner and LuRu – got into the spirit of the event, both earning a spot in the costume contest finals with their significant others.
The six finalists lined up under the porte-cochère in the new Bora Bora Bar, competing not only with their inventive creations but also joining an impromptu dance-off when Michael Jackson’s classic Thriller blasted out of the speakers before the winners were announced. If was definitely a scene to behold, one of the few times of the year when the Mai-Kai sets aside decorum and lets loose with abandon.
No doubt, the shenanigans were well-deserved and long-anticipated. It was the first Hulaween bash in five years, when a drive-in movie party was held in the parking lot on Oct. 30, 2020, amid the COVID pandemic and just days after the restaurant’s closing. Caused by a catastrophic roof collapse over the kitchen, this disaster was as scary as any horror movie. But, luckily, it has a happy ending.
A sale to new ownership in 2021 led to a $20 million restoration and reimagination that consumed 2022, 2023 and much of 2024. But, like a classic creature that can’t be stopped, the Mai-Kai emerged bigger and better than ever last November. Hulaween 2025 fittingly served as a celebration of the Mai-Kai’s first year back from the brink of disaster.
The immersive decor and elaborate story only added to the anticipation of the Halloween night finale. In an alternate tale of the Mutiny on the Bounty, the Mai-Kai became ground zero of a battle between skeleton pirates and a giant sea monster. The scenes played out all along the entry driveway, the bubbling caldera, the walkway and Bora Bora Bar, the Molokai Bar and its new front deck, plus the sprawling rear tiki gardens.
Fowner estimated that the artistic team installed 60 pirate and 10 mermaid skeletons, plus 40 kraken tentacles containing 2,100 suckers. As he explains in a video walk-though we filmed three days before Halloween, you never see the actual monster, just the tentacles. Which is even scarier because it means its so enormous, you can’t see it all. “He’s everywhere,” Fowner warned.
FULL EVENT COVERAGE: Relive Hulaween with more than 60 images and video
Hulaween photo galleries: Design & decor | Oct. 31 Hulaween party
Bonus cocktail recipe: Tribute to the Mai-Kai’s Pineapple of Perdition
October update: Hulaween returns bigger than ever, new food menu debuts
Posted Oct. 22, updated Oct. 29
The Halloween season has always been one of the most fun times of year at Mai-Kai, but the hijinks were typically concentrated on one night. Sure, the Molokai Bar was decorated in spooky fashion, but the annual Hulaween party that ran for 12 years (2009-2020) was the decor’s raison d’être. Featuring live music, drink specials and a signature costume contest, the event was near the top of every Mai-Kai fan’s social calendar.
For 2025, that calendar has expanded to include the entire month, and the decor has exploded exponentially. The Mai-Kai’s 13th Hulaween revelry has engulfed all of October with multiple live bands and special events in the Molokai Bar such as Wicked Bingo on Wednesday (Oct. 22). While not totally in theme with Hulaween, the performance of Dan Cunningham’s Blue Hawaii Elvis Show on Thursday (Oct. 23) will bring the Mai-Kai’s main stage and showroom into the celebration as the South Florida singer is joined by Mai-Kai performers for an authentic tribute to the King’s best days in paradise.
The weekend will bring two new events geared toward all age groups. Saturday (Oct. 25) is Disco Night, with 1970s-themed costumes encouraged. On Sunday (Oct. 26), youngsters get a chance to join the party with Hulaween for kids. The fun starts at noon with a costume contest, face painting, live music, activities with the Mai-Kai performers, plus more.
This all leads up to the big kahuna on Friday, Oct. 31. The 13th Hulaween party is shaping up to be the biggest ever, enveloping not just the Molokai but the Bora Bora Bar and featuring the return of both the epic costume contest and live music from Slip and the Spinouts, who performed at nine of the previous 12 parties. Get more info below on all of the events.
Even if you can’t make it to any of these events, you can enjoy Hulaween at the Mai-Kai any day this month with special cocktails and unique decor, all created to fit this year’s theme. These are not mere “decorations.” Encouraged by managing partner Bill Fuller, the Mai-Kai’s management and staff have gone above and beyond to create a unique Halloween experience from the minute you enter the property.
Dozens of pirate skeletons lurk throughout the grounds in various scenes that fit into a story conceived by general manager Cory Starr. When you drop off your vehicle, beware the sea monster that has taken over the caldera, awakening a giant skeletal Tiki goddess.
The story continues as you enter the Bora Bora Bar, then the Molokai, which both form the nucleus of the story that involves a fantastical alternate version of the Mutiny on the Bounty’s tragic adventure. Each bar has its own special Hulaween menu, which we cover in the related story on all the latest bar and cocktail news. The theming even spills over into the outdoor Tiki garden, which has became a haunted jungle with danger lurking around every corner.
Our coverage below will dive deep into the story, including the kraken that seems to have its tentacles wrapped around everything. We’ll try to make heads or tails of the odd goings on and explore all of the decor to date, paying tribute to the two local artists (Tom Fowner and LuRu) who came in on short notice to bring the story to life.
Just before the Hulaween hoopla, the Mai-Kai released a new food menu that replaces the separate dining room and bar menus. We’ll take a detailed look at all the dishes and break down what’s new, what was removed, and what’s still to come. The update is part of an ongoing effort by executive chef Justin Sherrer to both enhance and streamline the Mai-Kai’s food offerings. By most accounts, it’s been well received.
We’ll also recap all the news from September, including the 35th anniversary of the Mai-Kai’s popular public relations director, Pia Dahlquist. There was also an invasion of Tiki enthusiasts from around the country when hundreds of members of the Fraternal Order of Moai gathered for their national convention, packing the bars and dining rooms.
There were also several new YouTube videos released that spotlight the Mai-Kai, most notably another Spike’s Breezeway adventure with one of the artists who spent years restoring the hundreds of vintage hanging lamps and other key features. Scott “Flounder” Scheidly also shows host Matt “Spike” Marble his tips and tricks for building a Mai-Kai style lamp from scratch.
Hulaween resurrected as monthlong event featuring unique decor, cocktails
After spending five years in hibernation, the Mai-Kai’s annual Hulaween festivities have awaken as a sleeping giant. Over-the-top decor has crept into every corner of the 26,000-square-foot restaurant, bartenders are scaring up nine new cocktail experiences, and weekly events have set the stage for a fun-filled end of the month, culminating with the return of the signature Hulaween party on Halloween night.
The Oct. 31 event will be your last chance to enjoy the limited-edition Hulaween cocktails while rocking out with the Slip and the Spinouts, returning to play Hulaween for the 11th time in 13 years. Feeling creative? The winning costume will snag the $1,000 top prize. Check out the full history of the event here.
Creatively themed decor started popping up on Oct. 1, the new cocktail menus appeared shortly thereafter and events have been held weekly in the Molokai Bar. These included Release the Kraken Karaoke (Oct .4) and musical performances by Tall Walker (Oct. 10) and Jackie Colada (Oct. 17).
Related coverage: Mai-Kai scares up nine new Hulaween drinks
Following are details on the events that round out the month’s calendar. All but one are free and don’t require a dinner reservation, though you can always add one of the daily performances of the Mai-Kai’s Polynesian Islander Revue, the oldest continually-running authentic South Seas stage show in the United States (including Hawaii).
• Wednesday, Oct 22: Wicked Bingo in the Molokai Bar featuring an opportunity to play for charity with the Gumbo Limbo chapter of the Fraternal Order of Moai. Activities start at 6 p.m. and happy hour will extend an extra hour to 8. Enjoy drink specials all night, no reservations necessary.
• Thursday, Oct. 23: Blue Hawaii Elvis Show with Dan Cunningham in the showroom, seating at 8 p.m. This replaces the night’s second Polynesian stage show. A South Florida staple, Cunningham has previously performed at the Mai-Kai and The Hukilau. On these occasions, he transforms his set into a show that pays tribute to the King in Hawaii, including Mai-Kai performers. Reservations required, and show charges will be applied. To book a table, email Pia Dahlquist or call (954) 646-8975.
• Friday, Oct. 24: Joel Da Silva performing live in the Molokai Bar. Join the South Florida retro rocker and his band starting at 5:30.
• Saturday, Oct. 25: Hulaween Disco Party in the Bora Bora and Molokai bars, 7 p.m. to midnight, with costumes encouraged and DJ Banzai Bill spinning ’70s dance hits all night. Don’t miss the live cocktail session with beverage director Cory Starr from 8:30 to 10:30. No cover, no reservations needed.
• Sunday, Oct. 26: Kids’ Hulaween starts at noon with lots of activities for the whole family. These include a costume contest, face painting, live music, activities with the Mai-Kai Islanders, and more. RSVP NOW (dinner and show booked separately).
• Friday, Oct. 31: The 13th Hulaween Party in the Molokai and Bora Bora bars featuring live music by Slip and the Spinouts and the signature Mai-Kai costume contest with $1,000 top prize (plus runner-up prizes). [See past events, costumes] The event is free, but bar seating is first-come, first-served, so get there early. RSVP NOW (dinner and show booked separately).
Note that nightly dinner show times remain as normal with three seatings on Saturday and Sunday, two on weeknights. To see the times and reserve a table, go to the Mai-Kai.com bookings page.
Hulaween guided tour of the Mai-Kai with artist Tom Fowner
Watch an exclusive tour of all the Hulaween installations at the Mai-Kai with Tom Fowner! Get inside info and details from one of the artists (along with LuRu) who created the elaborate scenes. See the fantastic decor up close during the day, then see what Hulaween at the Mai-Kai looks like after dark.
• Watch now on YouTube
But the events are only half the story. We’ve been amazed at the effort the Mai-Kai has put into the Halloween theming this year. To simply call it “decor” is not sufficient. Two veteran South Florida artists have been employed all month to bring the immersive story to life.
Hats off to LuRu (aka LuRu Studios), a longtime Mai-Kai supporter (and Hulaween costume contest veteran) who brought her flair for the whimsically macabre to the countless pirate and mermaid skeletons across the property, among many other talents. She is joined by Tiki carver and woodworker Tom Fowner, also no stranger to the Mai-Kai and one of the key members of the team during the final year of the restoration. You can see Fowner’s handwork throughout the property, from the new cannibal carvings that bid you farewell next to the exit driveway, to the new signature bench in the lobby, to one of the three carvings that overlook the Bora Bora Bar (installed in 2016).
LuRu has many Day of the Dead parades and events on her resume, so she already had a lot of experience with (and a collection of) skeletons. Fowner said they may end up with around 60 skeletons across the property, some from LuRu’s collection but also many that they purchased, then customized.
“Once we’re done installing everything, there will be a story,” Fowner told us early in the month. “And each scene will have its own story. It’s fun, because we’re kind of making it up as we go. They’ve never done anything like this.”
The pair got a late start, but they plan to continue to work through the end of the month, adding as many new features as they can. Beginning work in a nearby workshop in late September, they established the theme with secenes of skeleton pirates and mermaids installed during the first week of October throughout the entry driveway.
It feels as if you’ve stumbled into a Pirates of the Caribbean film or Disney attraction, but look closely and you’ll see that the Mai-Kai has created its own tale of South Pacific terror on the high seas. We’ll reveal the story later, but first, here’s a tour (as of Oct. 28).
After crossing the entry “bridge,” look to your left and you’ll see one unlucky soul caught in the jaws of a shark. Look to your right and gaze upon a scene of two mutineers who are definitely up to no good on the Mai-Kai’s “beach.” Skulls on poles signal that something sinister is going on.
By the time you drop off your vehicle with the valet crew, the story roars to life out of the bubbling caldera, where a sea monster’s tentacles surround a giant skeleton wearing ceremonial garb. This is actually the an ancient South Pacific deity, but more on that later.
It’s a fantastic scene added during the second week of October that tested the skills of the artists, who have spent endless hours painting and customizing many off-the-shelf figures to give them a uniqe look.
The tentacles are also all painted by hand. Fowner said they’re basing a lot of the finishing work on acutal Polynesian art. “It’s a lot of painting,” he said. “Everything has to be painted, maybe twice.”
After admiring the caldera, take your time and check out all the details as you enter the walkway that leads up to the Bora Bora Bar. There are pirate skeletons everywhere. Some are climbing trees, some are hanging upside down from light posts, several are trapped in a cage.
A few made it to the rooftop, but they have their hands full with the sea monster. A lucky few found a safe haven and toast your arrival from the balcony above the main entrance doors.
Just added to the left of the front door, two skeletons in uniform hold the official Hulaween banner, welcoming you and your friends to pose in this new photo spot. They stand next to the Mai-Kai’s greeter tiki, Hotu Matua. Have no fear, they’re on official duty and will cause you no harm.
Someone appears to have left sacrificial bones at the base of the Mai-Kai’s signature tikis in the area, from the new Will Anders carving near the building to the trio created by Fowner, Anders, and Jeff Chouinard. The Bora Bora Bar has its own unique Hulaween cocktail menu, so it’s worth a stop for a hearty drink and a further look around.
Dead pirates and mermaids frollic near the water features on both sides of the bar. Look up at the outrigger canoe under the porte-cochère and you’ll spot a few men who apparently tried to make a getaway but failed. Several pirates have found refuge behind the bar, not far from the large rum barrels that most likely caught their attention. Could this have something to do with the ill-fated Mutiny on the Bounty? We’ll get to that shortly.
One pirate hanging from the rafters appears to be intently gazing upon guests, hoping to fill his stein with a grog. A skeleton in tattered clothes has one of the best views in the house, stuck to the ship’s wheel directly above the Bora Bora bartenders. One pirate appears to be soliciting a mermaid in the rocks on the east side of the bar. At night, when the more than 80 torches are lit across the property and the eyes of many skeletons glow red, the vibe becomes even more sinister.
Wander over to the deck in front of the Molokai Bar and you’ll find the scene finished by the artists on Oct. 12. Enhanced with lots of fluorescent colors, the pirates and mermaids are joined by an array of fish, the flowing water enhancing the illusion of being under the sea.
By Oct. 17, the invading hordes had infiltrated the outdoor garden behind the dining rooms. Pirate skeletons are abundant, some in the grasp of the ever expanding sea monster, some seemingly having a jolly old time fishing in the Mai-Kai’s vast water features.
A large group of pirates is ensconced in the middle of the garden, engaged with a group of mermaids. A treasure chest full of gold appears to be the main attraction with the looters engaged in some intense negotiations.
But the skeletons in the centerpiece fountain are not enjoying the view, to put it mildly. The kracken has grabed ahold of several unlucky mates. Their brethren prepare to attack, swords raised and nets at the ready.
Further into the garden, two new scenes show off the creativity and ambition of the artists. As you approach King Kai, one of the Mai-Kai’s signature photo spots, look to the right in the area where weddings and other ceremonies are typically performed. It appears that a ship is ready to set sail, emerging from the rocks with an ominous looking captain at the helm.
It’s another great photo op, to be sure, complete with a mermaid in the grasp of a skeleton seaman and a tattered sail high above the vintage ship. Look closely and you may notice the skeleton actually turning the wheel in a futile attempt to escape his fate.
One last area you don’t want to miss is a little nook under the Mai-Kai’s signature sign, just behind the looming Hiroa Nui carving (also by Will Anders) in the middle of the garden. A pair of ne’er-do-wells are in the midst of a friendly game of dominoes, oblivious to the chaos around them. Pull up a chair and join them, just don’t touch the game board or you may regret it.
There appears to be no escape from the kraken, even in the very back corridor on the southwest side of the property. There, the sea monster has grown to epic proportions, glowing eerily in the night sky. With the Mai-Kai fully encircled, it appears that the Molokai Bar may be the last safe haven.
Scenes featuring skeletons were installed behind the water windows around mid-month. Fish are visible behind the windows, adding to the illusion that you’re under water. On the way to the restroom via the front corridor, look for the shawdowbox that shows you the big picture of what’s going on around you, plus some memories of Hulaweens past.
The story inside the bar will connect to the day-glo scene on the deck. Look for black lights to be installed, tying in to the glow-in-the-dark motif of all the promotional artwork. The sarong-clad servers will get in on the fun, as usual, dressed to match the theme.
A local artist, Todd Ashbaugh (aka Captain Cowfish), has also created special Hulaween necklaces, which you can find on the display of his work in the Mai-Kai Trading Company gift shop.
We pressed general manager Cory Starr for more on the over-arching storyline, which he pulled together in collaboration with the artists and others. “I just had ideas and thought they would work,” he said. “And they did. It’s being executed very well.”
If you know anything about Mai-Kai history, you know that the Mutiny on the Bounty, specifically the 1962 film starring Marlon Brando, is a key design element in the Molokai Bar and other areas in the front portion of the building, including the men’s restrooms. Props and set pieces from the film were acquired from MGM by the Mai-Kai and used as part of a massive expansion in 1970. [More on the Molokai Bar design]
When creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller designed the new Bora Bora Bar as part of the 2022-2024 reimagination, he included elements that tie that area back to the Bounty. [Past coverage | Typhoon Tommy video]
The film is based on the historical story of the mutiny that occurred in 1789 aboard the HMS Bounty. But what if events went in a different direction? This is what happens in the Hulaween version of the story, according to Starr:
“The Bounty shows up on an island in Polynesia, but it’s more of an enchanted island with mermaids,” Starr told us. The crew follows through with the mutiny, he said, “but while that’s happening, the island has its own awakening and it ends up being a haunted island with skeleton pirates.” There’s also a giant kraken and an all-powerful deity that rises from the caldera, like Te Fiti in Moana.
During this upheaval, the mermaids in the surrounding waters turn into skeleton sirens, “then the ship gets taken underneath the ocean,” Starr said. The Molokai represents the inside of the ship, he said.
As grand as this all seems compared to past Hulaweens, it’s just the beginning. “We’ll see how much we can accomplish this year,” Starr said, then expand on it next year. That will give LuRu and Fowner plenty of time to paint enough skeletons and tentacles to engulf the entire property.
PAST COVERAGE: Hulaween history: Relive 12 years of madness at the Mai-Kai
New food menu rolls out in dining rooms, bars
With little fanfare, the Mai-Kai launched a new food menu Sept. 24, introducing 16 new items and replacing both the previous dining room menu and the smaller menu used in the Molokai and Bora Bora bars. This leaves the restaurant with just one master food menu for the first time in many decades, perhaps since the installation of the Molokai Bar kitchen.
Kern Mattei, a longtime Mai-Kai manager who started as a bar back in the 1980s, says the restaurant always had a bar menu as far back as he can remember. But he noted that “having distinct menu items coming from the Molokai kitchen is something new and exciting for the Mai-Kai.”
Before the 2020 closing, the bar menu was always just the appetizers from the regular menu, Mattei said. The small kitchen behind the bar “let us have the option of serving apps prior to the main kitchen opening, and also for late-night apps after the kitchen closed,” he added. It filled a similar role when it reopened earlier this year.
But now, under the leadership of executive chef Justin Sherrer, the bar kitchen has been revamped to be an adjunct to the main kitchen and not simply a duplicative effort. This is part of an over-arching redesign of back-of-house logistics that will continue into 2026 and phase 2 of the Mai-Kai’s reopening and reimagination.
We’re sad to see the iconic artwork by Al Kocab that adorned the bar menu go away, but we’re happy to have Sherrer’s full menu available everywhere in the restaurant. Trimming down the menus also makes it easier for Sherrer to present daily specials as a way to keep the offerings fresh.
That’s exactly the plan, according to general manager Cory Starr. He said they’re working their way toward a “forever menu” that they can stick with, then augment it with specials. He said the latest update has created a solid menu, both in its execution and quality of dishes. Guest satisfaction with the food is at the highest level since the reopening, he said.
This is the second major update to the dinner menu since Sherrer took the helm in March. He introduced a totally revamped menu April 1 after moving from Miami, where owned and operated Doce Provisions in Little Havana with his wife, chef Lisetty Llampalla. [See previous coverage] The couple closed the Cuban comfort food staple in late summer.
The Mai-Kai dinner menu was updated again in late April, when 20 new items were added. [See previous coverage] The bar menu was updated in May. Sherrer previewed the September updates when we talked to him in July.
Part of his stated goal was to simpify and streamline the kitchen and its workflow. When we spoke to him briefly Sept. 24, he said the new menu is “simple and clean, easy to pull off.” This leads to fewer complications in a massive restaurant that serves more than 1,000 guests on busy nights.
The end result is better quality dishes, but they’re in no way simple when viewed from a guest perspective. We continue to be impressed by the variety and boldness of flavors in Sherrer’s dishes. The plating is also generally spectacular. With the most recent update, we’re happy to see the return of Mai-Kai classics such as lobster bisque. Starr said the new recipe is a little bit different, but similar.
Fans of duck will be happy to see that Polynesian restaurant staple back on the menu, along with the signature Lobster Bora Bora. The latter is not quite like the old version, Starr said, adding that it’s more like a cross between Lobster Bora Bora and Lobster Tahitian.
The old Bora Bora dish was a shelled 1.25-pound Maine lobster sauteed with mushrooms and flamed with bourbon, finished with cream and a red wine Bordelaise sauce. A common and authentic way to prepare Tahitian lobster is to grill it, split it in half, brush it with garlic-herb butter, then cook over direct heat. The Mai-Kai menu describes the new dish as a 2-pound Maine lobster with maitake mushroom, Bourton butter, citrus herb salad and jasmine rice.
Note that the desserts were moved to a separate menu that will also include the after-dinner cocktails. It’s still being designed, but it’s expected to be put into service in the coming weeks. In the meantime, servers give guests a complete rundown on all of the available options, including the signature Lava Volcano. A new kids menu is also in the works, Starr said.
Following is an analysis and breakdown of the updated dinner menu. We’re still working our way through the dishes, but we’ll note a few favorites as well as off-menu specials at the end of this section.
• Click here to see the current menus online | View previous menu
MOLOKAI BAR MENU, RIP
[See menu] Of the 14 items, seven are still on the dinner menu and seven were removed. Of those latter seven, four are similar to dishes still available (ribs, dumplings, etc.). The only distinct apps completely lost were the wings and beef sate, but the former has already appeared as a special. A burger remains on the kids menu, but we’ll mourn the loss of the hefty Typhoon Burger, which came in handy to soak up those strong cocktails. Overall, this appears to be a smart update, removing redundant items and broadening the offerings. I’m sure management also figured logistics and sales into the decision to drop this menu.
UPDATED MAIN MENU
APPETIZERS (12): The number of options remains the same after six were removed or moved, six were added, and six stayed the same. Two of the new additions come from the old bar menu, one is the formerly off-menu egg rolls, and three are brand new. Prices range from $16 (Crab Rangoons, Sticky Pork Gyoza, Island Guac) to $28 (Pupu Platter for two). Tuna Poisson Cru ($24) and Lobster & Shrimp Dumplings ($19) are among the new dishes. Lost were shrimp scampi, tuna wontons, brisket buns, pork belly, and Javanese Beef Sate, the last being the only one that we’ll miss.
SOUPS & SALADS (4): This is a new section featuring three new items (including the Roasted Lobster Bisque) and one moved from apps. Prices range from $12 (Tom Kha Gai) to $28 (the new Crispy Duck & Watermelon Salad). Heirloom Tomato Salad ($17) is a new vegetarian option.
SIDES (7): Three were removed, three were added, and three stayed the same. Prices range from $5 (Jasmine Rice) to $14 (the new Charred Bacon Brussels). Also new: Polynesian Spiced Butter Corn ($9) and Butterscotch Carrot Puree ($6). Gone are the two salads and broccolini.
ENTREES (10): There are four fewer signature dishes after seven were removed or moved, and three were added. Seven stayed the same. Prices range from $28 (Panang Chicken Curry) to $95 (the new Maine Lobster Bora Bora). Other new items: Roasted Butterfly Branzino ($42) and Short Rib Drunken Noodle ($32). Mai-Kai Mahi-Mahi, Kimchi Fried Rice and Drunken Lobster Pad Thai were among those removed.
In addition to the main dishes, the mix-and-match section was expanded to include three different columns and 14 total options (up from seven). The same four teriyaki dishes (chicken, shrimp, beef, tofu) remain. Alongside are five pad Thai dishes (up from three) and five new fried rice dishes. These categories add additional proteins (pork belly, lobster) and vegetables. Prices range from $24 (Tofu Teriyaki, Chicken Fried Rice) to $48 (Main Lobster Fried Rice or Pad Thai).
FAMILY LUAU (3): This section remains unchanged with the same offerings for larger parties: Suckling Pig (a $400 feast for four to six), Island Seafood Mix ($175) and BBQ Mix ($145).
In total, there are 16 fresh menu items, including two from the old bar menu and one that was part of the Pupu Platter. Four dishes were changed slightly and/or moved around, and 12 were removed completely. Vegetarians received six new options, but they also lost three.
DESSERTS: This could change on the final menu, but during our visit Oct. 17 were were offered four items from the old menu (Lava Volcano, Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Key Lime Tart, ice cream or sorbet) and two new dishes (Crème Brûlée, Chocolate S’more Cake). That last dessert was outstanding, a very rich cake with a thick chocolate shell and fantastic presentation featuring torched marshmallow and a dusting of graham cracker crumbs, plus lots of fresh fruit garnishing the plate. It’s also huge, and at $14 makes for an economical shared dessert.
Other tips and favorites: Panang Chicken Curry (steamed chicken, baby vegetables, fresh herbs, scallion, jasmine rice) remains a favorite and can be adjusted to feature tofu, vegetables or shrimp. It’s a huge portion, loaded with both vegetables and proteins, priced very reasonably. The fluffy and fresh jasmine rice pairs well with any dish (or even added as a cheap side). Tom Kha Gai is another great low-cost option, a slightly spicy and well-balanced version of the classic soup.
The Teriyaki Shrimp (sweet peppers, sugar snap peas, scallion, pineapple teriyaki) was a suprise, and an excellent deal at $28. We found it sweet and slightly spicy, loaded with large shrimp and fresh vegetables. It was fresh and bright, not too sweet or saucy like some teriyaki stir fry dishes can be. It also looked great, garnished with a pinapple wedge and an orchid. The jasmine rice on the side completed the package. If the other teriyaki offerings are this good, these may be the best value dishes on the menu.
Our current favorite appetizers are the Ahi Tuna Crispy Rice, Coconut Shrimp, Cheese Tangs and Egg Rolls. The latter (as well as the Pupu Platter) has been elevated by a new version of the old standard Chinese mustard. Make sure you also take advantage of the tasty sweet chili sauce for dipping all the Pupu items. Other solid apps include the Luau Pork Belly Buns, Sticky Pork Gyoza, and Island Guac.
Keep an eye out for the daily specials. We enjoyed Wagyu Beef Dumplings and Korean Chicken Wings during our recent dinner. Sherrer said the wings will be included in a large pupu platter concept he’s working on. Battered and deep fried until crispy, flavored with a mild but flavorful sriracha sauce, the wings are a worthy addition that should make folks forget the loss of the previous app.
If you’re a fan of dumplings, you should enjoy any of the Mai-Kai’s offerings. They’re all made by hand by a chef who specializes in this culinary art. The Wagyu dumplings packed a nice spicy kick, featuring decent sized chunks of tender beef. During a previous dinner, we were happy to try a chicken and bok choy gyoza (dumpling) dish.
We hope to chat with Sherrer soon and find out more about the menu and his future plans.
Recap: Longtime PR director honored, FOM invades Mai-Kai in September
If you’ve been a loyal guest or involved in any way with the Mai-Kai over the past 35 years, you likely know Pia Dahlquist. With her blonde locks and Scandinavian accent, the effervescent native of Sweden is as different as you could imagine from a South Pacific islander. But Dahlquist is undeniably the face (and voice) of the Mai-Kai as director of public relations for more than three decades.
Dahlquist was feted by the Mai-Kai on Sept. 28 with a ceremony and champagne toast in the Bora Bora Bar. “Her radiant spirit, unforgettable service, and endless aloha have touched countless hearts,” the Mai-Kai said on its official social media pages. “Let’s raise a glass to Pia and celebrate the love, laughter, and memories she’s brought to our Mai-Kai ohana!”
As she explained in a video posted on Instagram (see below), she joined the Mai-Kai after working in the travel industry and booking many tour groups there from Scandanavia in the late 1980s. “The Mai-Kai needed a hand to put together a tour and travel program, and I said: ‘I’ll give you three months.’ And viola, 35 years later here I am.”
Dahlquist discussed her career in more detail during a Mai-Kai panel discussion at Tiki-A-Go-Go in 2023. She described one of the biggest perks of the job when she was hired: An all-expenses-paid trip to Hawaii.
“All I had to do was watch dinner shows and go to gift shops,” Dahlquist said. But her biggest memory of that trip was meeting Don Ho. “He thought I was an ex-girlfriend of his,” she laughed.
The Hawaiian crooner didn’t make it to the Sept. 28 celebration, but the outdoor bar was filled with dozens of friends and associates, Mai-Kai employees past and present, loyal customers, and fellow longtime industry veterans who all raised a glass of bubbly in Dahlquist’s honor. The event ran past its scheduled two-hour time slot as drinks flowed and a mix of music rarely heard at the Mai-Kai could be heard in the background.
Seeking the appropriate playlist, the Mai-Kai turned to Spotify and streamed an “ABBA Radio” mix in honor of Dahlquist’s roots. She regularly returns to her homeland for visits and keeps her old friends and family close, an endearing quality that explains her longevity at the Mai-Kai.
Ever modest, Dahlquist didn’t pontificate when handed the mic by longtime manager Kern Mattei, who spoke briefly about their time working together since 1990. Explaining that she was at a rare loss for words, Dahlquist concluded her brief speech with something fitting: “I love all you guys!”
Earlier in September, a group that Dahlquist has assisted with events for many years held its national convention at the Mai-Kai, packing both bars and most of the dining rooms. Held on Sept. 13 (but spilling over to adjacent days), FOMCon was organized by the Fraternal Order of Moai, the Tiki social group known for both its fun-loving (and stylish) members as well as its ongoing charity efforts.
The bars were packed all night, which justified the Mai-Kai creating a special menu of three cocktails for the thirsty, fez-wearing attendees from around the country. (See our related story for a review of the drinks.) Then, during the 7 p.m. dinner show, nearly 200 members filled the Tonga, New Guinea and Garden dining areas.
The crowd went crazy and gave the Mai-Kai a standing ovation when the emcee of the Polynesian Islander Revue called out their respective rooms. He made a special announcement at the top of the show, citing the group’s charitable efforts on behalf of Rapa Nui.
The party continued until late with South Florida surf guitarist Skinny Jimmy Stingray and his band performing two sets in the Molokai beginning around 9:30. In appreciation, Starr even treated some of the assembled crowd in the bar to a taste of the yet-to-be-released Mai-Kai Rum No. 1.
The FOM is a not-so-secret society (founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 2005) that can be found in chapters across the United States and Canada. Its signature annual event is Ohana: Luau at the Lake at The Tiki Resort in Lake George, N.Y.
South Florida’s Gumbo Limbo chapter is known for its regular Tiki Bingo charity events. Wicked Bingo at the Mai-Kai on Wednesday (Oct. 22) will raise money for the Redland Dog Sanctuary, while the event at The Honu in Dunedin on Nov. 2 will support the Suncoast Animal League.
A reminder that if you have your own group that’s looking to celebrate a special event at the Mai-Kai, you can start the ball rolling by going to the “private events” section of the official website. This is required for all parties of nine or more to book the dinner show. The link above also allows you to inquire about other types of events, including catering.
If you’re looking for a place to hold a company party during the Christmas season, the Mai-Kai has just announced a new holiday luncheon program for the month of December. Small and mid-sized companies can gather for a “festive feast paired with our unforgettable special Holiday Polynesian Show featuring music, dance, and culture,” according to an announcement. These events will take place every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 2 p.m.
The cost is $75 per person, and includes the show plus an exclusive pre-set menu (appetizer, entree, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage), plus a “memorable keepsake.” For an additional $25, any guest can upgrade to a premium menu with more offerings. The price includes tax and gratuity.
Companies can also reserve space at the Mai-Kai to hold a presentation along with lunch. Space is limited, so interested parties are encouraged book now by contacting event director Kim Mish via email or phone at (954) 444-6366.
Video: Flounder shows off restoration of Mai-Kai lamps
Matt “Spike” Marble continued his video series on the Mai-Kai with a one-of-a-kind look behind the scenes with artist Scott “Flounder” Scheidly, who detailed the restoration, replication and creation of hundreds of lamps across the property. Filmed during Marble’s visit in July, the episode of Spike’s Breezeway Cocktail Hour premiered on Oct. 3, attracting more than 5,600 views in two weeks.
Titled “The Impossible Task Rebuilding The Mai Kai Lamps,” the 45-minute video details “the incredible and often daunting process of refurbishing or rebuilding each lamp by hand, preserving their original mid-century craftsmanship while bringing them back to life for the Mai-Kai’s grand return.” You can watch on YouTube or stream the show below.
After the tour, Scheidly demontrated how to make a genuine Mai-Kai style lamp, step by step. The lamp was later sold on eBay for $521 after 10 days of bidding.
Scheidly is an Orlando-based fine artist who worked on the Mai-Kai restoration project from March 2023 through the end of 2024, joining creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller in the monumental task of not only restoring the 300 lamps in and outside the historic building, but tackling dozens of other daunting design and replication jobs. When you visit the restaurant, their work speaks for itself.
We covered Marble’s visit and subsequent videos in detail below as part of our July and August news updates. An episode posted in September, featuring beverage director Cory Starr, is covered in our latest cocktail news update.
Here are direct links to the YouTube videos, plus our recent special feature that explores the 16 iconic photo spots:
• Inside the Mai-Kai’s cocktail secrets (with Cory Starr)
• Deep inside the $20 million restoration (with “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller)
• 16 iconic (and hidden) photo locations at the Mai-Kai (with Hurricane Hayward)
Photo and video tour: The 16 most iconic photo spots at the Mai-Kai
Learn how to get those classic shots on your next visit. We take you on an adventure via new and historic photos, plus video from Spike’s Breezeway to document the top locations inside and outside the historic Tiki temple.
One more video (and accompanying audio podcast) worth mentioning is the recent episode of The Tiki Talk Show recorded at the Mai-Kai. It was a pleasure joining Ellie and Ryley for a fun discussion of my Tiki journey and the return of the Polynesian Palace.
Stream the video below or find it on their YouTube channel. The audio version is also available on Spotify, Apple Music and other services. Check out the links via the official Instagram page.
The couple does a great job of channeling their keen interest in the Tiki revival into a series of interviews that serve as a window into the past, documenting the past 30 years via remembrances of the guests. We’re honored to have joined the lineup that includes such luminaries as Adrian Eustaquio, King Kukulele, Mark Riddle, Sven Kirsten, and many more.
The early episodes also included interviews with current artists in the scene, and the couple has since expanded their offerings to include a second YouTube channel, Tiki Today, that will document more contemporary topics.
August recap: Mai-Kai at Tiki Oasis, new mug release, upcoming events, more
Posted Sept. 14, 2025
This summer marked the 25th anniversary of the original and largest weekend event dedicated to both the history and revival of Polynesian Pop culture. Tiki Oasis was held Aug. 6-10 at the Town and Country Resort in San Diego, taking over the entire property with live bands, seminars, cocktail tastings, a massive Tiki marketplace, plus lots more.
Social media recap: See firsthand reports, experiences from Tiki Oasis 2025
Among the 50 seminars was Sneak Peek into the Historic Mai-Kai’s Secret Bar, featuring creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller and beverage director Cory Starr, moderated by Hurricane Hayward of The Atomic Grog. This story will briefly recap the seminar with photos and details on the unveiling of a new mug designed by author Sven Kirsten, plus the introduction of Mai-Kai Rum No. 1. [See more below]
Next, we’ll preview the upcoming lineup of bands performing in the Molokai Bar in the coming weeks, along with plans to expand the entertainment offerings throughout the restaurant. The Mai-Kai made a splash in August on YouTube, plus local and national television. You can watch these videos and get detailed info below on all the recent media coverage, from Spike’s Breezeway Cocktail Hour to Good Morning America.
Other coverage below includes photos of a new Polynesian artifact in the showroom, a peek into the recently reopened Tahiti dining room, plus the Mai-Kai’s team-building retreat to the Universal Orlando Resort. For more news specific to the cocktail program, be sure to check out our related story:
NEW: New cocktails and Cannibal mug revealed, Rum No. 1 on the way
Relive Tiki Oasis 2025 with photos, video and a room party cocktail
The world’s first (and largest) multi-day event celebrating the Polynesian Pop revival celebrated its 25th anniversary with a bang Aug. 6-10, when it literally took over the sprawling Town and Country Resort in San Diego.
SOCIAL MEDIA RECAP: See firsthand reports, experiences from the event
Bonus cocktail recipe: Jungle Bum from the Mcbiff Cocktail Hour at Tiki Oasis 2025
Mai-Kai reveals new rum, Sven Kirsten mug at Tiki Oasis
A crew from the Mai-Kai (including yours truly) returned to Tiki Oasis for the first time since 2023, offering an exclusive taste of the new Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 (and a cocktail) from general manager and beverage director Cory Starr. Creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller shared his design insights on building the immersive space in the symposium Sneak Peek into the Historic Mai-Kai’s Secret Bar on Saturday, Aug. 9. See the related story for more on the seminar, plus details on the mug and rum.
The release of The Cannibal mug from Tiki Farm was a pleasant surprise, perfectly timed for the event that always includes both the pioneering manufacturer was well as the designer, Sven Kirsten. Known as one of the pioneers of the Polynesian Pop revival, the California author has written such influential books as The Book of Tiki (2000) and Tiki Pop (2014).
Kirsten attended the seminar, along with 150 or so guests that included many Mai-Kai fans and an array of other movers and shakers. We were introduced by Tiki Oasis co-founder Otto Von Stroheim, who said he was amazed at the work done to restore the Mai-Kai after his visit early this year. “It’s unbelievable,” he said.
The presentation went into great detail on the history and reimagination of the back bar, from its early years under the guidance of master mixologist Mariano Licudine to the resurrection under Starr and his team. Allsmiller described the design process and collaborating with fellow artists Scott “Flounder” Scheidly and Tom Fowner on the project.
Allsmiller revealed the inspiration for different design elements of what’s now known as the Okole Maluna Bar, from the crisscross pattern of carved wood across the face of the bar (the late Bahooka restaurant in Rosemead, Calif.) to the name and centerpiece you see through the window. The Okole Maluna Society sign is a reference to the old rewards program that existed in the early days of the restaurant.
He took great care to clean up and colorize the photo of co-founders Bob and Jack Thornton flanking Licudine. The color of his shirt even matches the yellow tiles that were installed on either side. Look for future presentations and stories on the rich history and restoration efforts.
Starr brought eight mugs to Tiki Oasis, most of which were sold to attendees. One was given to the winner of a trivia contest, correctly answering the question: What was the name of the first bar at the Mai-Kai? No, it’s not the Molokai. It was the Surfboard Bar, located in part of the space where the Tonga dining room now sits.
The Cannibal mug is an homage to the restaurant’s iconic logo of the three cannibals, which can be found on the front of the current food and drink menus. You can also find real-life figures both inside and outside the Mai-Kai. Click here for our previous deep dive on the cannibal imagery.
Kirsten says the mug design is actually based on Don the Beachcomber menu illustrations, “which are among my favorite renderings of the cannibal trio.” The Thornton brothers, natives of Chicago, took inspiration from the Don the Beachcomber restaurant in their hometown when building the Mai-Kai in the 1950s.
The mug, priced at $55, made its debut in the Mai-Kai Trading Company gift shop in late August. It joins three other new mugs designed by artists in the Tiki community (Donella Vitale, Joe Vitale, Bill Collins) that have been available since the reopening in November. Each has its own new cocktail, including The Cannibal, which is detailed in our related story on the bar program.
If you’re looking to complete your “three cannibals collection,” look for a new pin ($10) plus hooded sweatshirts ($84) in the gift shop. And don’t forget the signature prints and glassware by Mcbiff, released in April. Newly arrived is the orange version of the California artist’s signature Mai-Kai aloha shirt ($110).
Other merchandise worth checking out includes jewelry by Tiki artists such as Kymm Bang and Captain Cowfish. And don’t forget the handiwork of another artist, Arizona’s “Tiki Ray” Kieffer, whose Mai-Kai necklaces ($40) are fully stocked.
While new merchandise is always welcome in the gift shop, did you know you can also browse (and buy) classic Hawaiian/Polynesian and Tiki/exotica albums? The carefully curated collection includes a range of records and prices, from $12 to $32.
In a possible sign of new merchandise to come, we spotted noted Tiki and Disney artist Jeff Granito hanging out at the Mai-Kai in early September. After guided tours from manager Kern Mattei and creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller, we found the trio sampling rums in the back service bar.
The California designer is a prolific creator of a wide range of merchandise, which you can find on JeffGranitoDesigns.com and TikilandTrading.com. To find out what rums they were sipping, read the latest update on the rums and cocktails of the Mai-Kai.
Events: Molokai Bar band schedule released, more to come
Since the return of live music in May, the Molokai Bar has slowly stepped up its schedule of bands and performers in the iconic space. The Hukilau brought a weekend filled with local and national acts to both the nautical-themed lounge and it’s outdoor cousin, the Bora Bora Bar.
Over the summer, the Mai-Kai has been expanding the scope of its live entertainment, adding more acts – large and small – to both spaces. The Molokai has seen performances by longtime rock and retro favorites Slip and the Spinouts, Skinny Jimmy Stingray, and Joel DaSilva, plus the addition of Jackie Colada, The Swizzles, Makani Ryel, Marquis, and others. In Bora Bora, the reggae of Big Harvest is a constant, along with steel drummer Carlton Lambert.
Look for this trend to continue, with live music expanding to more nights in both bars as the fall season kicks into gear. Some new artists have been added, starting with nationally touring rockabilly band Mighty Flea Circus on Friday, Sept. 12. The Florida-based band plays what they call “soul shakin’ swingabilly,” blending vintage sounds witn modern swagger.
Here’s a partial official schedule, shared by the Mai-Kai. Dates subject to change. Check the Mai-Kai’s Facebook and Instagram pages for the latest events.
• Sept. 19 – Mala Onda and DJ Bad Wave Dave
• Sept. 26 – Joel DaSilva
• Oct. 3 – Slip and the Spinouts
• Oct. 10 – Tall Walker
• Oct. 17 – Jackie Colada
In addition, South Florida’s Dan Cunningham will bring his Elvis in Hawaii show to the Mai-Kai on Thursday, Oct. 23. He’ll take over the main showroom stage for a special performance that will replace the Polynesian show’s 8 p.m. dinner seating that night. There will be a charge for the show, and you must call to make your reservation for this special event at (954) 646-8975.
More to come, including special Halloween events. Will we see the return of the festive Hulaween party, which rocked the Molokai for 12 years, from 2009 through 2020? Stay tuned.
It’s still a work in progress, but a new thatched roof is going up in the rear nook of the Bora Bora Bar, which should provide some shade and shelter from light rain. More theming will be added before the roof is complete.
It also may soon become a new spot for musical acts. The addition of a new performance space should open up more options for larger groups and a variety of island-themed music to fit the tropical vibe of the area.
The retro-themed music is not the only way the Mai-Kai is catering to its older clientele. For the month of September, a new promotion offers guests 65 and older seating for the dinner show for just $5. That’s a significant savings off the regular prices of $23 (standard seating) to $33 (premium).
This special September Savings for Seniors offer applies only to the 5 p.m. show on Mondays through Thursdays. The Polynesian Islander Revue is the oldest continually-running authentic South Seas stage show in the United States (including Hawaii).
To get the special rate, you must mention the promotion when making a reservation by calling (954) 563-3272 or emailing [email protected]. A minimum of one entrée per person is required.
Media coverage: Mai-Kai makes splash on Spike’s Breezeway, local and national TV shows
A new video on the restoration of the Mai-Kai made a splash on YouTube when Spike’s Breezeway Cocktail Hour, hosted by Matt “Spike” Marble, featured creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller in an in-depth walk-through both inside and outside the restaurant. Premiering on Aug. 15, the video has more than 54,000 views and 1,300 likes in just under a month.
Also featured in the video is artist Scott “Flounder” Scheidly, who joined Allsmiller on the project for nearly two years. It was filmed in July during Marble’s week-long visit during which he collected footage for multiple episodes. The Atomic Grog joined Marble for a “Mai Kai Photo Safari” during which we explored 16 classic and new photo spots around the restaurant with model Brittany. Click here to watch that video or check out our full story on Marble’s visit below.
Filmed July 19, what ended up being titled “The Polynesian Casa Bonita: Rescuing the Mai-Kai” is an epic exploration of the attention to detail, along with the sheer size and scope of the $20 million project, which Allsmiller started in the summer of 2022 and is still ongoing. Click here to watch the video on YouTube, or stream it below.
Comparing it to the high-profile $40 million restoration of the landmark Casa Bonita restaurant in Denver (funded by South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker), Marble said in his introduction that the Mai-Kai deserves equal attention. “The similarities are shocking,” Marble said at the top of the video. The “immense and equally beloved” Mai-Kai faced its own disaster, he said, following the October 2020 roof collapse.
He then met up with Allsmiller for an extensive tour of just about everything that was restored or changed under the creative director’s watch. The result is the most comprehensive look yet at the work done over the past four years to not only bring the restaurant back, but reimagine it as a modern Tiki icon. Viewers were certainly impressed.
Among the comments is this from David Lucas: “As a 40-year veteran of themed entertainment, working both for WDI and Universal Creative: Typhoon Tommy and crew knocked it out of the park! Amazing job, and congratulations. Great episode too.” Said another comment: “An architectural work of art, a museum, and a BAR! ?? This needs to be on everyone’s bucket list. Its certainly on mine!”
Many viewers had a similar reaction: “The love that went into this project is inspirational. Great to see that craftsmanship isn’t dead!” Said another: “This was, hands down, my favorite YouTube episode I’ve ever watched on any channel. So freaking cool! The Mai-Kai just moved to the top of my travel destination list.” The praise was endless.
What’s amazing is that the epic length (1 hour and 45 minutes) was not a hindrance to viewership. Be sure to set aside time to watch in its entirety. Marble said he struggled to cut it down to that length and that there was much more footage that he didn’t use. Perhaps we’ll get a director’s cut some day.
The Mai-Kai played a starring role in another YouTube video posted Aug. 11. The 34-minute walk-through and review from But MOSTLY Disney includes views of just about every section of the restaurant, from the Bora Bora Bar, to the showrooms, to the indoor and outdoor gardens. [WATCH VIDEO]
Another YouTube channel, LaPorte Adventures, documented their family dining experience in a 9-minute episode posted Aug. 2. [WATCH VIDEO] And we would be remiss to not mention our friends from Tiki Hunting, who shared a 10-minute video of co-host Cacalito’s birthday celebration on Aug. 3. [WATCH VIDEO]
The Mai-Kai reached a much wider audience than YouTube on Aug. 8, when it was featured in a segment on South Florida’s food scene during ABC’s Good Morning America. Featuring on-location guidance by Alex Miranda – one of the hosts of Deco Drive, the entertainment show on WSVN (Channel 7) in Miami – the segment included a variety of locations across the area. [WATCH VIDEO]
The appearance was brief, but with a national audience of up to 2.8 million, Good Morning America is the No. 1 morning newscast and certainly provided the most expansive exposure for the restaurant since the reopening.
• More Deco Drive and WSVN coverage of the Mai-Kai
The Mai-Kai made another TV appearance when executive chef Justin Sherrer was featured on South Florida Live from NBC 6 in a feature on the Dine Out Lauderdale culinary celebration, which runs through Sept. 30. In addition to the chef, the spot hosted by Kristin Sanchez included tons of images and video of the refurbished restaurant. [WATCH VIDEO]
The “Unique Cuisine” segment was part of South Florida Live, which airs weekdays at 12:45 p.m. Titled “Tiki Vibes at the Mai-Kai,” the 2 1/2-minute clip shows Sherrer being interviewed in the NBC 6 studio while showing off some of the restaurant’s signature dishes featured on the Dine Out menu, such as Mai-Kai Beef (wok-seared tenderloin with peppers, onion and signature sauce). “It’s the original recipe,” Sherrer noted.
The Dine Out Lauderdale promotion at the Mai-Kai includes a three-course meal (beverage, appetizer, entree and dessert) for $60 (plus taxes and tip) every Monday through Thursday. Mention Dine Out when making your reservation, which can include the nightly Polynesian Islander Revue (plus an added show charge). See our previous coverage below or check out the online menu.
While not as exciting as a TV interview, a story in the daily South Florida Sun Sentinel newspaper highlighted the under-appreciated work that Sherrer and his staff have done since he took over the kitchen in March. In the newspaper’s regular feature that spotlights restaurant health inspections, the Mai-Kai was cited as one of 109 locations with a perfect score in August. Considering the Mai-Kai’s massive capacity and high volume, along with the challenges of the rebuilt back-of-house, this is a major accomplishment and tribute to the chef’s commitment to running a tight and efficient ship.
Meanwhile, the Mai-Kai was recognized for its longevity and history in an article in Miami New Times listing the “14 best old-school restaurants in Fort Lauderdale.” As the article notes, the Mai-Kai “has been one of Fort Lauderdale’s most legendary old-school restaurants since opening in 1956, dazzling guests with its immersive Polynesian theme.”
“Founded by brothers Bob and Jack Thornton, the restaurant became famous for its authentic South Pacific décor, nightly Polynesian dance shows, and tropical cocktails crafted by Tiki legend Mariano Licudine,” the story says. “Its collection of artifacts, some more than a century old, adds to the magic, transporting diners straight into the golden age of Tiki culture.”
The Mai-Kai’s history was also recognized by the Authentic Florida website in a feature story titled “The Legendary Mai-Kai Restaurant & Polynesian Show is Back!” After a quick but comprehensive overview, the article sums up an evening at the Mai-Kai: “While not inexpensive, the experience is immersive and one-of-a-kind. It’s a true bucket-list night out in South Florida.”
More Mai-Kai news and photos
The entire staff of the Mai-Kai was treated by managing partner Bill Fuller to a team-building retreat to the Universal Orlando Resort on Monday, Aug. 18. A clever video posted on Instagram announced the one-day closing, featuring Fuller sending word to general manager Cory Starr via a magical note.
The event had actually been planned for a few months to coincide with a scheduled sealing of the driveway around the caldera water feature that stands near in the center of the roundabout in the main entry driveway. This required that no vehicles be allowed through the area while the work was completed on the themed pavement.
With no parking lot for a day, Fuller and managment took advantage of the opportunity to rally the staff and also take a much needed rest from the grind. The Mai-Kai had been open for business every day since taking a one-day break following the grand reopening in November. That’s 265 straight days between Nov. 26 and Aug. 17.
The hard-working Starr, who likely took a mininal number of days off during that time, said they did team-building activites when they arrived, then had four or five hours to just hang out at the theme parks and resort. “It was a lot of fun,” he said.
The Mai-Kai is always adding historic artifacts to its collection in the restaurant. An authentic mask was recently donated by a collector, who picked it up while traveling in New Guinea in the 1970s. Look for it along the main walkway through the showroom, hanging on the right along the thatched wall just past the elevated Tonga dining room.
Manager Kern Mattei said the benefactor is a retired gentleman who is a fan of the Mai-Kai and wanted the piece to go somewhere it can be appreciated. He was a missionary in the 1970s and traveled through the South Pacific, collecting artifacts along the way, Mattei said.
He picked up the mask in New Guinea while traveling through Melanesia, said Mattei, adding that the donor has other items that he might pass along in the future.
We enjoyed a blast from the past in late August when we dined in the Mai-Kai’s Tahiti Room for the first time since before the 2020 closing. It’s just as beautiful as ever, featuring spectacular decor and scenic views of the gardens.
The secluded dining room, which seats around 50, is used only sporadically on crowded nights as an adjunct to the outdoor Lanai as non-showroom seating for dinner. The night we were there, capacity was limited by staffing restraints. Your best bet to sit here is just inquire at the front desk.
Tahiti is an immersive escape with its own A-frame, themed decor, and seating for groups of any size. The tables were recently refurbished in the same style as those in the showrooms with the tops handmade of Hawaiian acacia wood. [See previous coverage below]
It’s also available for groups and special events. [How to reserve large parties] Check out the photos above of the newest (cira 1970) of the Mai-Kai dining rooms. We hope to see it return to full service during the upcoming winter season.
Video guide to iconic Mai-Kai photo spots, special summer prix fixe menu
Posted Aug. 6, 2025
Florida’s intensely humid weather engulfed the state as usual this summer, but that hasn’t slowed down the festivities at the Mai-Kai, the South Florida Polynesian restaurant that reopened in November following a $20 million restoration of the entire historic property. Business is still bustling, even in the new outdoor Bora Bar Bar that’s actually quite pleasant in the evenings when a breeze blows through the reimagined porte-cochère.
RELATED: Special cocktails, secret menu introduced in Bora Bora Bar
Meanwhile, in the cool and dark confines of the Molokai Bar, live local bands continue to entertain the crowds who flock to the popular happy hour, which runs in both bars from opening until 7 p.m. This month’s schedule includes Skinny Jimmy Stingray on Friday, Aug. 8, and Slip and the Spinouts on Friday, Aug. 22. The music typically starts shortly after happy hour ends. Check the Mai-Kai’s Facebook and Instagram pages for updated info and more entertainment announcements.
Guests looking for a deal on dining are also in for a treat this summer. The Mai-Kai is participating in the “Dine Out Lauderdale” event, an annual “culinary celebration” during August and September. A prix fixe menu features a choice of a beverage, appetizer, entree and dessert for $60. We also talked to chef Justin Sherrer about upcoming changes to the kitchen and dinner menu. [Full details below]
During mid-July, the Mai-Kai welcomed back Matt “Spike” Marble, host of Spike’s Breezeway Cocktail Hour on YouTube, for a series of photo and video shoots that have begun appearing online. A video documenting his visit to the restored restaurant in early June, his first in more than 5 years, is one of the most popular on his channel. It has 39,000 views, 1,400 likes and 229 comments since it was posted June 27. [See our June coverage below]
The Mai-Kai brought Marble back to film more episodes and also employ his skills as a professional photographer to document the current state of the restaurant. He spent nearly a week immersed in this task, emerging with a treasure trove of content. Look for interviews with general manager and beverage director Cory Starr, creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller, artist Scott “Flounder” Scheidly, plus several others.
It was an honor to be involved in the first video posted from this project, which we recorded on Sunday, July 20. I took Spike and model Brittany on a magical mystery tour though 16 iconic Mai-Kai photo spots all around the property, from the bars and dining rooms, to the indoor and outdoor gardens, to the entryway and sidewalk along Federal Highway.
While it may look like we accomplished this feat in just 34 minutes, we actually spent the whole evening documenting our journey, interspersed with a few cocktails in the Molokai Bar, of course. But it’s definitely something you too can accomplish, or at least try, on your next visit.
The list includes 10 classic locations and six new features added in 2024 and 2025. Watch the full 34-minute episode below, or click here to view on YouTube. Be sure to like the video and subscribe to Spike’s channel.
At the end of the video, Spike announced a “Mai-Kai photo challenge” for followers on Instagram. Take shots at all 16 of the locations with yourself in the photo and share them in one Instagram post. Tag Spike’s page (@thehulagirls) and @the_maikai_restaurant and enter to win a gift from the Mai-Kai.
Thanks again to Spike for including us and featuring this topic, which we have been working on for the past several months. If you attended our symposium, Paradise Reimagined: Deep Inside the Mai-Kai Restoration, at the Inuhele event in Atlanta in January, you may remember many of these locations from the slideshow. [See slideshow highlights, walk-through videos]
Since then, the list has grown by four with the reopening of a secluded pathway and two new additions to the entryway, bringing it to 16. UPDATE: In October, we posted a new story on the blog, featuring a deep dive on the history and details of every location, along with more tips and advice on how to get the perfect shot:
Photo and video tour: The 16 most iconic photo spots at the Mai-Kai
Learn how to get those classic shots on your next trip to the historic South Florida restaurant. We take you on an adventure via new and historic photos, plus video from Spike’s Breezeway to document the top locations inside and outside the historic Tiki temple.
Mai-Kai offers three-course, $60 menu special through September
Longtime guests clamoring for the return of a summer prix fixe menu got their wish when the Mai-Kai announced a Dine Out Lauderdale special for $60 that includes a beverage, appetizer, entree and dessert. The promotion runs throughout August and September.
• Click here to see the online menu
The special menu is available Monday through Thursday and stipulates a maximum party of 10. It can be combined with a reservation for the nightly Polynesian Islander Revue, the oldest continually-running authentic South Seas stage show in the United States (including Hawaii). Mention Dine Out Lauderdale when making the reservation. The event promotes the area dining scene with more than 100 locations across Broward County. [See story]
In addition to soft drinks, beer and wine, beverages can include the restaurant’s signature Mai Tai ($23). Including an appetizer (typically around $15), entree (ranging from $18 to $34) and desert ($15), you could save up to $27. Taxes and tips not included.
The prix fixe menu includes vegetarian options in each category, along with seafood, pork, beef and chicken dishes. During a recent visit to the Mai-Kai kitchen, chef Justin Sherrer told us that he plans to add more dishes for vegetarian diners as part of an upcoming menu update, responding to strong guest demand.
Sherrer completely overhauled the Mai-Kai menus when he became executive chef in March. There were more updates to the dinner menu and bar menu in May. Expect additional changes this month.
The dinner menu will include about five or six new items, including multiple new veggie entrees. Explaining the changes on July 19, Sherrer said he was also working on a large pupu platter concept with six items, as well as a yellowtail snapper dish.
In addition, Sherrer said, he wants to take advantage of the slower summer months to reconfigure the back of house to make the kitchen operations more productive. A massive overhaul he led while taking over the kitchen has already improved efficiency dramatically, general manager Cory Starr told us earlier. Online reviews of the food have also improved markedly.
Sherrer said he has plans to remodel various parts of the kitchen, which was built from the ground up in existing back-of-house space during the renovation. This will enable it to handle the restaurant’s large volume without relying on the grills and fryers that were installed for the November opening in adjacent, temporary kitchen space in the open area where the old kitchen was located. He also guided the reopening of the small galley in the Molokai Bar, which takes the load off the main kitchen by producing many of the appetizers for both bars. “It helps a lot,” he said.
Since 2016, Sherrer has owned and operated Doce Provisions in Little Havana with his wife, chef Lisetty Llampalla. Acclaimed as having some of the best sandwiches in Miami, Doce features modern Cuban cuisine and an artsy vibe that earned it a feature spot on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in 2018.
June recap: Tikiphiles, Panthers fans flock to the Mai-Kai for special events
Posted July 10, 2025
The Mai-Kai quietly passed the six-month anniversary of its November reopening during May, but June brought a cavalcade of unique special events and happenings. From the return of The Hukilau weekender to a celebration of the Florida Panthers’ championship, there was never a dull moment.
The east coast’s longest-running Tiki event, which first came to the Mai-Kai for its second year in 2003, was back in full force for the 18th time. Hundreds of “villagers” made the pilgramage to the Mai-Kai throughout the five-day Tiki fest, especially during the Friday main event and Sunday finale. A celebratory vibe marked the occasion as appreciative fans came together to admire and experience the Mai-Kai in its entirety for the first time since The Hukilau 2019.
A little over a week later, an even more passionate celebration engulfed the Mai-Kai (and South Florida) as the region’s NHL team reigned supreme for the second straight season, sparking a wave of parties. Four the team’s stars gathered in the Mai-Kai’s historic showroom to greet fans and sign autographs on the eve of their victory parade.
The month also included coverage by multiple media outlets and a notable vlog, plus the sale of a one-of-a-kind art piece. Following is a rundown on all of activities at the Mai-Kai in June, including photos and video.
The Hukilau returns to the Mai-Kai for five days of Tiki paradise
Related coverage: The Hukilau brings special events, guest bartenders, unique cocktails
• The Hukilau 2025 photos, video: Live coverage from the Mai-Kai
It’s been six years since the last full-blown Hukilau weekender took full advantage of all the Mai-Kai has to offer. A lot has changed since 2019, and while the 23rd gathering of the east coast’s original Tiki event felt very much like it always has, there was a lot more to take advantage of at the Mai-Kai. From the new Bora Bora Bar, to new and revitalized cocktails from beverage director Cory Starr and his team, to longer operating hours, there were plenty of reasons for Hukilau villagers to make multiple pilgrimages to “the mothership.”
What most impressed many of the guests returning for the first time since the November reopening, however, was the sheer grandeur of the restored and reimagined restaurant. The results of the 4-year, $20 million project simple has to be seen to be believed. Even veterans who have seen it all, such as Spike’s Breezeway Cocktail Hour host Matt “Spike” Marble, were astonished at what they saw. [Watch Mai-Kai episode]
Against this backdrop, the Mai-Kai and its staff were perfect hosts for the invading hordes of Aloha-shirt wearing Polynesian Pop devotees. Many arrived early, eager to see the Mai-Kai before official events kicked off at the oceanfront Beachcomber Resort on Pompano Beach.
The Hukilau kicked off Wednesday and Thursday at the Beachcomber with the first Build Your Own Tiki Bar Conference featuring top Tiki artists and builders from around the country. Among those instructing the dozens of students were the Mai-Kai’s creative director, “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller, and artist Scott “Flounder” Scheidly, both key members of the team that restored the Mai-Kai to its vintage glory.
Activity shifted to the Mai-Kai on Wednesday for happy hour as some of the artists mingled with Hukilau and Mai-Kai guests in the Bora Bora and Molokai bars. Meanwhile, many of the bar teams that traveled to The Hukilau from across the country to serve cocktails during the event were treated to an exclusive private dinner in the Tahiti Room hosted by Starr and head bartender Michael DeMahy.
We were privileged to attend and sample the unique cocktails prepared for the event, as well as the five-course meal from chef Justin Sherrer. If you ever wondered what it would be like to see 40 versions of the Mystery Drink and Kona Coffee Grog served simultaneously, check out the photos and video in our Mai-Kai cocktail news story.
Events on Thursday and Friday afternoon were centered at the resort. Author Tim “Swanky” Glazner (Mai-Kai: History and Mystery of the Iconic Tiki Restaurant) explored the early decades and key historical developments in his seminar The Evolution of the Mai-Kai on Friday afternoon, before buses began transporting villagers to paradise, roughly 5 miles southwest of the Beachcomber.
Friday’s main event at the Mai-Kai was a rousing success and an epic return to the Polynesian Pop lovefest we remember from years past. After the 4 p.m. opening, bands performed in both bars all night, and happy hour was extended until 8:30 p.m. Waves of villagers arrived by bus and packed the showrooms for two performances of the Polynesian Islander Revue, the oldest continually-running authentic South Seas stage show in the United States (including Hawaii).
While hundreds of villagers gathered and Eva & Kully set the mood in the Bora Bora Bar, new carvings by artists “Tiki Ray” Kieffer and Will Anders were unveiled by Starr and manager Kern Mattei. The towering tikis now welcome guests as they arrive at the immersive new outdoor gathering space under the historic porte-cochère.
FULL COVERAGE: Mai-Kai unveils two large tiki carvings during The Hukilau
Slowey and the Boats and The Swingin’ Palms played to a packed Molokai Bar, the latter joined by Deke Dickerson of The Untamed Youth for some rousing retro rock ‘n’ roll. Later, the island sounds of Slowey After Dark brought the night to a close outside in Bora Bora, while The Intoxicators rocked the house in their return to their old stomping grounds in the Molokai.
The Hukilau organizer Richard Oneslager brought villager “Tiki John” Atkins on stage to show off two historic design drawings by original architect Charles McKirahan that he donated to the Mai-Kai. Thought to be from the late 1950s, the concept drawing shows the plans for the “double thunder bridge” that became the iconic entryway to the Mai-Kai during an early 1960s expansion of the grounds. A note on the plans refers the “loose half timbers” that create the sounds of rumbling thunder when vehicles cross.
Speaking to the full house before the Mai-Kai Islanders took the stage, Oneslager said: “We had a lot of fun over the years waiting for the Mai-Kai reopen. We even had a party in the parking lot. Now we’re back.” The authentic Polynesian show was even more spectacular than usual, featuring guest performers from the past and a fiery finale that earned a standing ovation. Afterward, the dancers gathered in the restored outdoor gardens for impromptu photo opportunities.
From beginning to end, it was a memorable evening that ranks right up there with some of the top Hukilau main events of all time. But there was no rest for the weary as we headed back to the Beachcomber for late-night bungalow parties featuring guest bars, including Florida’s Aku Aku (Orlando), Bar Tiki (Clearwater Beach), and Permanent Vacation (Maitland).
The Mai-Kai content continued Saturday, bright and early at 10:30 a.m. in one of the Beachcomber’s beachfront huts. Mahalo to the 70-odd villagers who attended the symposium Total Tiki Immersion: How Reimagined Landscaping Takes the Mai-Kai to the Next Level hosted by yours truly and Jesse Muller of Perry-Becker Design. It was an honor to show off the great work Muller and his company did, and how it honors Mai-Kai and Polynesian culture. Look for a full recap, coming soon.
Later in the afternoon, visitors to The Hukilau’s Tiki Treasures Bazaar got a rare chance to meet several Mai-Kai legends, when three past performers in the Polynesian Islander Revue joined the festivities to pose for photos and chat with passers-by.
Kainoa Lauritzen was a Mai-Kai Islander for an amazing 30 years (1971 to 2001), many of those as lead dancer and poster girl. Even If you didn’t catch the show, you likely saw her image on brochers and ads for decades, and she’s considered the most recognized dancer in Mai-Kai history. Lauritzen was joined by two other veteran dancers: Kale Farley (1982 to 1997) and RJ Rewi (1989 to 1995) under the tent in the Bazaar.
The festivities at the Beachcomber recached a climax Saturday night with an authentic luau followed by a poolside concert featuring The Untamed Youth and The Disasternauts. Late-night bungalow parties gave villagers one more chance to let loose.
Day 5 began early Sunday with one more pool party (featuring guest cocktail bars) and Tiki brunch before villagers made a beeline for the Mai-Kai and a full day of Polynesian paradise to wrap up the event. It was a special day, fueled by half-priced cocktails during a happy “hour” that ran from noon to 7 p.m.
Glazner, the Mai-Kai historian and author, hosted a history tour that began in a packed Molokai Bar shortly after noon and moved to the showrooms, where more than 100 early birds gathered to admire the detailed restoration and learn more about the restaurant’s early years.
As the showroom was prepped for the first of three dinner shows, we wandered out into the exotic gardens and walked the meandering paths through waterfalls and authentic South Seas carvings. I led a small group out to the front of the property and gave a tour of the lush landscaping and reimagined entry experience.
We ended our tour in the new Bora Bora Bar, where local rockabilly stalwart Slip Mahoney treated early arrivals to a little solo rock ‘n’ roll. As the afternoon party kicked into gear, guest bartenders from Three Dots and a Dash (Chicago) and Tiki Tatsu-Ya (Austin) reunited with Mai-Kai beverage director Cory Starr for some top-notch cocktails. [See full coverage] Starr worked behind the bar at both establisments before joining the Mai-Kai.
Kudos to DeMahy, the head bartender, for orchestrating the service and flawlessly making all six drinks. On the bar nearby, a vintage Barney West tiki from the Mai-Kai archives made a rare appearance. It’s one of the original carvings from the 1960s that inspired owner Bob Thornton to create the molds that were used to duplicate the many tikis in the gardens.
Meanwhile, the Molokai rocked all afternoon with surf guitarist Skinny Jimmy Stingray and his band returning to host the bar’s Sunday finale, which the guitarist has dubbed the “Jetset Hangover Party.” [Click here or below for video] It was great to see many guests, new and old, squeezing every last drop out of The Hukilau.
The long, leisurely day gave visiting villagers plenty of time to hang out and savor the Mai-Kai one last time. Sadly, it had to end, but now you know to not miss Sunday’s Jetset Hangover Party next year. It’s the perfect way to end the weekend.
Panthers stars greet fans at Mai-Kai victory party
The entire region went nuts when the Florida Panthers won their second straight NHL championship, taking down the Edmonton Oilers with a Game 6 victory at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, west of Fort Lauderdale, on Tuesday, June 17. The celebrations started almost immediately as the Stanley Cup was hoisted and the athletes joined their appreciative fans amid the revelry.
The main event was a beachfront parade on Sunday, June 22, that stretched down A1A and ended with a rally at Fort Lauderdale Beach Park (see video). The day before, the nearby Mai-Kai became part of the celebration when it hosted four of the team’s bigggest stars for a special signing event and party from 1 to 4 p.m. Click here or below to see the coverage from CBS News Miami.
Parking was free and the Bora Bora and Molokai bars were open for happy hour as hundreds of Panthers fans descended on the Mai-Kai to celebrate the title and meet four Panthers stars: Jesper Boqvist, Seth Jones, Tomas Nosek, and Brad Marchand. Young and old, they came in their team colors and jerseys, eager to enjoy a perfect afternoon among like-minded souls.
The event was extra special for two members of the Mai-Kai family. Managing partner Bill Fuller, a season ticket holder and longtime Panthers fan, wanted to make sure the championship team was honored at the restaurant he led back to glory after a multi-year, multimillion-dollar restoration. Fuller, a historic preservationist and co-founder of both Barlington Group and Mad Room Hospitality, pulled the strings that made the event happen.
Director of public relations Pia Dahlquist, who has been with the Mai-Kai since 1990, is not only a fan but also shares a homeland (Sweden) with Boqvist. After a busy day of running much of the logistics for the event, she posted a photo of her with Boqvist on Facebook. “We had the honor of hosting four Stanley Cup winners from Florida Panthers: Brad Marchand, Seth Jones, Tomas Nosek and Jesper Boqvist – All super nice guys! A LOT of fans showed up and got autographs and pictures taken. I got to spend some time with all of them but more with Jesper Boqvist, a fellow Swede. They are all sooo looking forward to their very well deserved parade tomorrow and so am I. Congratulations to the entire team!”
The Mai-Kai was well equipped to handle the crowds with its vast space and multiple dining rooms. Players were seated throughout the showroom as fans lined up for autographs and photos. Performers in the Polynesian Islander Revue greeted the players and fans, treating them to authentic celebratory dances.
Here are some of the many official Mai-Kai photos from the event:
• Click here to see the full gallery on Facebook.
More Mai-Kai news: Acclaim from South Florida media, popular YouTube show
The Mai-Kai snagged two mentions in the annual “Best of Miami” issue of Miami New Times (which also covers Broward County). Considering the spectacular reopening last November, the magazine’s writers named the Mai-Kai “Best Restaurant to Come Back From the Dead” with this introduction: “Rising like a rum-soaked phoenix from the retro ashes, Mai-Kai is back — and more tiki-fabulous than ever.”
“It’s still all here: the flaming cocktails, the swaying hula dancers, the waterfalls and the carved totems that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a vintage travel poster,” declares New Times. Thanks to all the fans of the restaurant who voted, the Mai-Kai also earned “Best Restaurant Broward” honors in the Readers’ Choice balloting.
• Click here to see all the winners.
The Mai-Kai and manager Kern Mattei were featured on Finding Florida, a weekly show on WPTV, the NBC affiliate in West Palm Beach. Episode 22 included a 3 1/2-minute segment that spotlighted the restaurant’s roots in Polynesian culture.
“My mom came here from Tahiti as a Polynesian dancer, and now my son has followed in her footsteps,” said Mattei of the nightly stage show that has run since the early 1960s. His son, Nick, showed off some of the moves he uses on stage.
Go here to see the Mai-Kai segment and full story, or watch below.
Mattei gave a tour of the decor and design of the dining rooms and Molokai Bar, then led the host out into the scenic Tiki gardens. They sat down to try some of the new menu items, including the Drunken Lobster Pad Thai. He had a simple answer to the question about the restaurant’s long-standing success.
“It’s the people that actually work here,” Mattei said. “If you treat them like family, they’re going to treat the guests and customers like family, and that’s the key. It takes a whole team, a whole family to make the magic happen here.”
Last but not least, Matt “Spike” Marble shared his adventures at the Mai-Kai in video on his popular YouTube channel, Spike’s Breezeway Cocktail Hour. With more than 30,000 subscribers, it’s easily the most watched Tiki-themed show on YouTube. The Mai-Kai episode quickly became one of the most popular the channel, which launched in 2020 during the pandemic when Marble was forced to take a break from performing with his band, the Hula Girls. Now, hundreds of videos later, he has built a loyal following online.
The 42-minute video made its debut on Friday, June 27, following a live streaming pre-party on Marble’s Instagram page. Click here or below to watch the episode.
The Mai-Kai episode was filmed during The Hukilau and before the third Spike’s Breezeway Cocktail Cruise, which sailed from Fort Lauderdale June 9 and returned on June 13. Marble and dozens of his viewers visited Bimini and Nassau, then returned to the Mai-Kai for one more round.
After just three days, the video had garnered 17,000 views, 857 likes and 159 comments. “Nevermind Disney, I know exactly where I’m going next time I’m in Florida,” one viewer wrote. “If heaven is real, this is it,” said another. Among the other comments were “This is place is insane!!!” and “That may be the best episode ever.”
Marble was equally effusive, from beginning to end. “The Mai-Kai isn’t just a restaurant. It’s the greatest surviving example of a fully immersive mid-century Tiki and Polynesian dining experience on the planet,” he said in the opening. “Calling it incredible doesn’t do it justice. It’s just jaw-dropping, other-worldly, it’s sacred ground for anyone who loves Tiki culture, and it’s a miracle that anything was built in such grand scale.”
Upon entering and encountering the reimagined porte-cochère and Bora Bora Bar, Marble turned to the camera with a big smile and said: “There are very few things in my life that make me this happy. And this is one of them.” The video shows Marble and an assortment of friends exploring the Mai-Kai over several days and nights, working their way through the cocktail menu, stunned at what they were seeing on multiple occasions as they admired the restoration.
They had dinner and watched the Polynesian Islander Revue while Marble received a Mystery Drink delivered by the iconic Mystery Girl. Mattei joined Marble to give him some sneak peeks into the new handicapped restroom and the back-of-house “hall of history” area that pays tribute to Mai-Kai legends from the past.
Marble plans to return for a deeper dive into the Mai-Kai’s restoration and revival for his vast viewership. In the meantime, check out his videos and catch the Hula Girls performing at Tiki Oasis in San Diego in August.
One last bit of news: On June 13, California artist Mcbiff posted a photo on Facebook of Mattei presenting the “She’s A Mystery” painting to its new owner in the Mai-Kai Trading Company gift shop. The artwork, which depicts the Mai-Kai’s iconic Mystery Girl, had been on display since Mcbiff’s special event in April and listed for $10,000.
• See photos, full coverage below and this update from Mcbiff posted in January 2026:
Not only is the 18-by-36 acrylic-on-canvas painting a one-of-a-kind original, so is the frame. Creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller built it out of reclaimed wood from his 2 1/2-year project restoring the interior of the historic restaurant. He also used rope that was once used to secure some of the Mai-Kai’s signature jade tiles in the dining rooms.
If you have a more modest budget, you can find many Mcbiff items for sale in the gift shop, including aloha shirts, glassware, totes and pillows. Also available are standard matted 14-by-18-inch prints of two other Mcbiff paintings featuring iconic Mai-Kai imagery, including “Mystery at the Mai-Kai,” released in April.
More June cocktail news
• Mai-Kai bar manager pops up at Boynton Beach event
• Upcoming: Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 coming soon, symposium and tasting planned for Tiki Oasis
Photos, video: Mai-Kai unveils two large tiki carvings during The Hukilau
Posted July 10, 2025
The Mai-Kai welcomed two towering Tiki carvings to its reimagined entry area during The Hukilau main event on June 6. One was created locally by a familiar artist, the other came from Arizona thanks to a veteran carver who traveled to South Florida to be a part of the unveiling.
Both were installed in the days before the event, but they were wrapped like mummies, adding an air of mystery to the occasion. The largest of the two was placed next the north side of the building near the valet stand. You can see it on the right as you walk toward the porte-cochère and Bora Bora Bar. The other greets you under the thatched roof, directly left of the front doors.
If you follow this blog, you probably had a good idea what the big one was. Back in March, we wrote about a 10-foot carving by Will Anders that was awaiting installation. The Fort Lauderdale carver is best known for the two large tikis in the back gardens, along with one of the three to the north of the Bora Bora Bar.
See below: New Tiki carvings await installation throughout the grounds
The source of the second was later revealed to be “Tiki Ray” Kieffer, whose pendants have been featured in the gift shop. One of those wearable tikis is a tribute to King Kai, the 10-foot Anders carving in the gardens. Having the two artists on hand when their new pieces were unveiled made the event even more special.
Kieffer made arrangements to travel from his Arizona home. After the June 6 unveiling, he spent time in the Mai-Kai Trading Company, where guests lined up to meet him and have their pendants signed. Arriving a few days early, he joined The Hukilau pre-party festivities on June 4.
MORE: Click here for the full story behind the new tiki carvings at the Mai-Kai
Molokai Bar rocks as Mai-Kai gears up for return of The Hukilau
Posted June 2, 2025
It’s been six years since The Hukilau guests had full access to the Mai-Kai during their annual Tiki weekender, which has called South Florida home since 2003. For 17 straight years, visiting the beloved Polynesian Palace was a highlight of the event for thousands of guests who traveled for around the world for a vintage Tiki experience that included live music, seminars, guest bartenders, and many memorable special events.
Who can forget Dawn Wells (Mary Ann from Gilligan’s Island) visiting the Mai-Kai in 2015, or top exotica and surf bands including Tikiyaki Orchestra and Los Straitjackets performing during the main event when the entire restaurant was taken over by Hukilau revelers. The Mai-Kai hosted a virtual event during the pandemic in 2020, then remained active in Hukilau festivities at the hotel on the Pompano Beach oceanfront over the next four years during the closing and renovations.
Last year, many Hukilau attendees got an exclusive sneak preview of the restored Molokai Bar and dining rooms, but nothing compares to the full experience that will return this year when The Hukilau welcomes hundreds of guests to both the Beachcomber Resort & Club and the Mai-Kai on June 5-8.
The Mai-Kai will host a Hukilau pre-party on Wednesday (June 4) along with official events on Friday and Sunday. You can find an overview of the schedule below, along with links to more Atomic Grog coverage. In advance of the influx of Tikiphiles, local bands returned to the Molokai Bar in May, kicking off a regular Thursday night live music night. Click here or scroll down for photos and video of the first two events.
Other highlights during May included an updated food menu for the bars and ongoing work in the Tiki gardens. Click on the links or scroll down for those updates. We also continued to monitor the work on the new path through the indoor gardens, which was finished by the end of the month when the metal railings were transformed into faux bamboo. [See full coverage, photos and video below]
Also check out our related coverage of the cocktails and bar team for news on beverage director Cory Starr’s appearance at an event in Italy, plus a rum and cocktail event that offered a sneak peek at new Bora Bora Bar cocktails.
The Hukilau is whole again with Mai-Kai back on the schedule
When the East Coast’s longest-running Tiki weekender rolls into town this week, guests will have three opportunities to enjoy all the Mai-Kai has to offer. This is all in addition to the many events happening at the Beachcomber, starting with the Build Your Own Tiki Bar Conference on Wednesday and Thursday. Two of the participating artists, “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller and Scott “Flounder” Scheidly, played a key role in the restoration of the Mai-Kai over the past three years.
Official Hukilau links: Tickets | Schedule
Atomic Grog coverage: Symposiums and schedule announced for 23rd Tiki weekender in South Florida NEW
Tickets are still available at the link above if you’d like to become a “villager” and immerse yourself in the full experience. Click above for a full preview.
Media coverage: Mai-Kai reignites the flame for The Hukilau 2025 (Resident magazine)
For locals, the one-day Palm Pass is a good way to dip your toes into the sand. You’ll have access to a full day and night of fun on Saturday, including daytime pool parties featuring live music from top independent garage, surf and exotica bands; the Tiki Treasures Bazaar marketplace with dozens of eclectic artists and vendors; late-night bungalow parties featuring free cocktails from top Tiki bartenders; plus more!
Following is a rundown on all of activities related to the Mai-Kai.
Wednesday: Doors open at 4 p.m. for the unofficial pre-party in the Molokai Bar, featuring live entertainment all night. Happy hour runs until 7 p.m. as usual. Look for many of the visiting bartenders, who will be enjoying their traditional group dinner in advance of four straight days of slinging hundreds of drinks.
Friday: Tim “Swanky” Glazner, author of Mai-Kai: History and Mystery of the Iconic Tiki Restaurant, will explore the defining eras with photos and insightful stories in a noon seminar (The Evolution of the Mai-Kai) at the Beachcomber. Later that day, the Mai-Kai main event kicks off when busses start arriving before the 4 p.m. opening. There will be two dinner seatings (5 and 8:30 p.m.) and extended happy hour until 8:30. Shortly before 5, look for the unveiling of a new carving by Arizona artist “Tiki Ray” Kieffer, whose pendants are featured in the gift shop. Eva & Kully, Slowey and the Boats, The Swingin’ Palms and The Intoxicators will perform in the Bora Bora and Molokai bars from 4 p.m. to midnight. There may be seats available for the dinner shows, which are blocked out on the Mai-Kai website. Call (954) 646-8975 to check on availability.
Saturday: Among the many special events at the Beachcomber is the seminar Total Tiki Immersion: How Reimagined Landscaping Takes the Mai-Kai to the Next Level with Jim “Hurricane” Hayward and Jesse Muller. At 10:30 a.m., we’ll show exclusive photos and plans from the architects who reimagined the immersive grounds during the $20 million restoration. [More info on Hukilau symposiums] There will also be an exclusive chance to meet and greet “Mai-Kai Legends of Dance” and managing partner Bill Fuller at 3 p.m.
Sunday: The party continues when the Mai-Kai opens at noon with The Hukilau finale featuring live music in the Molokai by Skinny Jimmy Stingray starting around 1 and happy hour running until 7 p.m. Meanwhile, the Bora Bora Bar will rock with solo sets by Slip Mahoney, singer/guitarist from Slip and the Spinouts. Villagers can join guided tours by Tim “Swanky” Glazner. Also look for other tours from noon to 1 p.m. Tiki cocktail fans are also in for a treat. Beverage director Cory Starr will welcome guest bartenders from the two establishments where he worked before joining the Mai-Kai last year: Tiki Tatsu-Ya (Austin, Texas) and Three Dots and a Dash (Chicago).
NOTE: Local Tikiphiles and anyone curious about what The Hukilau is all about are welcome to join the festivities in the Mai-Kai bars (space permitting), no pass or reservation necessary, on any day. Regular dinner reservations are also available via Mai-Kai.com for all nights except Friday.
UPDATE: The Mai-Kai is still awaiting the arrival of the new Mai-Kai Rum No. 1, the long-awaited blend of Barbados and Jamaican rums that was created by master distiller Don Benn at the West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados. [See recent coverage] The latest word is that it’s enroute to the bottling facility in Florida. An early summer release seems likely.
Related coverage
• Schedule announced for 23rd Tiki weekender in South Florida
• Live local bands return to Molokai Bar, set stage for The Hukilau
• Best of both worlds at The Hukilau 2025: Beachfront resort with full Mai-Kai experience
• Mai-Kai set to host multiple events during The Hukilau
Molokai Bar is rocking again with weekly concerts
Live entertainment has always been a staple of the Molokai Bar, going all the way back to the mid-1960s. The lounge was added to the restaurant in 1958, and by 1965 the Fort Lauderdale News was touting the arrival of Tahitian songress Mariterangi, making her third appearance on the U.S. mainland. Marie Mariterangi (1926-1971) was a prolific singer, guitarist and ukulele player whose fame landed her on a French Polynesian postage stamp in 2001. You can find her music on many streaming platforms.
By 1968, two staples of the Mai-Kai Islanders, Toti Terorotua and Heitapu, were featured performers in the bar and promoted in signature advertisting designed by artist Al Kocab. Both were founding members of the Mai-Kai’s Polynesian revue in 1962. Terorotua, the band leader, performed on stage and in the Molokai for the next five decades until his death in 2020.
In the 21st century, the Mai-Kai adapted to changing tastes and began booking local bands that fit the restaurant’s retro vibe into the popular bar. Along with lounge and exotica, featured music included rockabilly and instrumental surf, plus other vintage styles. For decades, the bar came alive on Friday nights when bands rocked the house at the end of happy hour.
When the Mai-Kai reopened in November, members of the Mai-Kai Serenaders – the band that backs the performers in the showroom – took up residence in the traditional performance space at the end of the bar. You can catch them there on many nights, led by longtime Mai-Kai musician Conrad Teheiura Itchener, an artist who also played a key role in the restoraton efforts. [See past coverage]
Now, with The Hukilau fast approaching, the Mai-Kai is bringing live local bands back to the Molokai every Thursday night from 7 to 10 p.m. We’re told to expect an eclectic lineup of musicians and DJs, plus more surprises. With happy hour specials running until 7 and a new food menu to check out, these events promise a fun, unique evening at the Mai-Kai.
Deerfield Beach surf guitarist Skinny Jimmy Stingray and his band were the first to rock the refurbished bar on May 22, performing two sets of classic ’60s tunes along with their own reverential originals. Stingray has been performing locally and at the Mai-Kai for more than a decade (see video), and he’ll return to the Molokai on Sunday, June 8, as part of The Hukilau finale (see preview above).
Another longtime Molokai favorite, guitarist/vocalist Slip Mahoney, brought the signature “rock ‘n’ roll and hulabilly” sounds of Slip and the Spinouts back to the bar on May 29. In addition to the weekly shows, the Spinouts were staple at the Mai-Kai’s annual Halloween party, aka Hulaween, during its heyday from 2009 to 2019.
Keep an eye out for future updates on Molokai bar entertainment in this story and the Mai-Kai’s social media pages.
Bar menu updated, more appetizers added
The Mai-Kai introduced an updated food menu for both bars on May 16, less than two weeks after the dinner menu got a signficant upgrade. Both menus were completely overhauled in late March after new executive chef Justin Sherrer took over the main kitchen that serves the dining rooms and started operating the small galley inside the Molokai Bar.
The goal is to have the bar menu return to its roots as an offering of appetizers and small plates. Traditionally, the dinner menu was available only in the dining rooms, and there’s been a concerted effort to return to this format. Note that in addition to the reservation-only showrooms, you can request walk-up seating for dinner at tables in the outdoor Lanai and secluded Tahiti Room. The latter is typically only used on busy nights.
To this end, four new appetizers have been added to the menu given to guests in both the Molokai and Bora Bora Bar. They are: Coconut Shrimp ($15), Crispy Pork Gyoza ($14), Mai-Kai Smoked Ribs ($19), and Shrimp Spring Rolls ($15). These items replace the three more expensive entrees that were on the previous menu.
Coconut Shrimp comes from the dinner menu (see below) while the ribs seem to be a reconfigured version of the previous menu’s entree. The spring rolls and pork gyoza (a crispy dumpling) are new. We’ve also been told you can order the Pork Egg Roll from the Pupu Platter as a stand-alone dish.
That means the menu essentially features 12 unique appetizers and the two remaining “Bar Stuff” items, which have new names but are similar to the previous menu. The Typhoon Burger replaces the Luau Burger and Mai-Kai Hot Wings replace the Smoked Korean Hot Wings. These latter changes appear to be subtle. Also be aware of the typo that repeats the Tuna Jalapeno Crispy Rice description under the coconut shrimp. The latter is a tempura style jumbo shrimp, very crispy and battered with fresh coconut, served with the same papaya slaw you’ll get with the wings and other dishes.
The ribs appetizer, priced $8 less than the entree, is a very similar meaty cut of pork and features the same sweet and spicy sauce. Even though the side of Jasmine Rice was great, it’s a good deal as a stand-alone app and a value since I received what appeared to be the same hefty pile of meat as the entree.
Look for more tweaks to the dinner menu as the chef and management continue to fine-tune the offerings and calibrate the logistics of both kitchens. We’re also happy to see that elements of the signature Pupu Platter have received enhancements recently, most notably the Cheese Tangs.
Our current favorites dishes on the bar menu (all rated “outstanding”) are the coconut shrimp, the wings, the Javanese beef, and the egg rolls. Overall, there is little not to like.
Previous coverage
• Dinner menu upgraded with more than 20 new dishes (May 5)
• Mai-Kai gives food menus a major facelift with all new bar, dining room dishes (April 1)
Painters spruce up outdoor Tiki gardens
The restoration work at the Mai-Kai is never complete, as we learned during a visit May 7. We ran into “Tiki John” Atkins, visiting from Virginia and continuing his ongoing work repainting many of the masks and small tikis in the back gardens (see before and after photo below). His goal is to make these figures, which were cast in cement or resin from molds of original artwork, actually look like wood carvings.
The designer and builder of his own Mai-Kai inspired home bar, the Hidden Oasis, previously did extensive paint work in the gardens in February and March. Most of these cement tikis were created by artist Will Anders using molds of original Polynesian art that founding owner Bob Thornton had artists create. This ensured that the artwork survived in South Florida’s brutal weather for more than a half century.
• Previous story, photos and walking tour: Inside (and outside) the Mai-Kai with Tiki carver Will Anders
After they were delivered by Anders, however, some of these pieces were painted by miscellaneous maintenance crews without artistic direction. Some were painted one solid color, others embellished with garish colors. Many simply faded in the brutal tropical sun. Painting them in an authentic manner requires a specific palette of colors and reverence for Polynesian artwork that Atkins has.
He has been doing this work since the reopening, repainting many of the tikis that stare up from the water features, and the masks that hang on the walls and fences. Atkins returns for short visits every few months, volunteering his time and effort. As we walked around the gardens, he pointed out many that he’d like to paint during future visits.
Earlier in the day, the firm that has maintained the Mai-Kai’s unique colors on interior and exterior surfaces for five decades joined Atkins in the gardens. A crew from Colonial Decorators painted the wooden bridges and did other detail work. Many of the crew’s “enhancements,” such as staining the chains along the pathways to make them look worn, may go unnoticed by guests. We also noticed that the metal roof next to the old Chinese oven building had been recently treated to look rusty so it fits in with the “distressed” theme.
• Previous coverage: Finishing work is business as usual for longtime painting crew
Atkins returned later in the month, posting on Facebook May 20 that he finished touching up and redoing a few more sculpts in the gardens and sharing some photos of his work. “I’m happy to add to the effort,” he wrote. “The gardens are absolutely beautiful. The fine-tuning continues. There will be more to come, so I encourage everyone to make repeat visits often to see the changes.” Follow him on Facebook and Instagram to see more photos and updates whenever he visits the Mai-Kai.
When Atkins said the fine-tuning continues, he wasn’t kidding. It’s always a good idea to look around for new details being added. On our last visit May 29, we noticed that the exterior of the old Chinese oven building had finishing touches added recently.
As explained by Allsmiller in this video in January, the project to add a distressed look to all of the new metal panels on the roof was completed. During the restoration, we saw how he used acid to make the metal look old and rusty. The building itself is also designed to look aged using special techniques. [See past coverage]
We were also happy to see the new Chinese lettering that Allsmiller designed and talked about in the video now adorning the outside of the building, running along the trim above the windows (see photo above). The old trim was in real distress, so it was removed during the restoration. Some of it now hangs on the wall inside the room, which you can tour along with the gardens. [See recent coverage]
The old lettering was done on the fly by the Colonial Decorators painters, who merely copied it off some old boxes of Chinese wine in the kitchen, Allsmiller said. The new wording he came up with, aided by Google translate, says:
Blessed are those who find love at the Mai-Kai, home of tropical drinks, delicious food and a Polynesian show. Try a Barrel O’ Rum or a Black Magic.
Allsmiller said it ends with a Chinese saying to the effect of “wherever you are in the world, you’re always part of our family.” A better sentiment we could not imagine.
Dinner menu upgraded with more than 20 new dishes
Posted May 5, 2025
The Mai-Kai continues to enhance its food offerings with the introduction of an updated dinner menu featuring a range of new dishes, from appetizers to entrees to sides and desserts. A few items were removed, but more than 20 were added to the menu introduced during the last week in April.
The expanded menu comes barely a month after new executive chef Justin Sherrer launched fully revamped dinner and bar menus shortly after he took over the kitchen in March. [See previous coverage] The menu for the Molokai and Bora Bora bars remains the same, for now, but it would not be a surprise to see this also upgraded soon.
The design and layout of the classic bi-fold dinner menu remains the same, and we noted only one slight price increase. But new dishes were added throughout, and subtle changes were made to other listings. Following is a rundown on the updates.
The appetizer section was expanded from eight to 12 dishes, including the addition of Crab Rangoons ($16) from the bar menu. The Cheese Tangs listing (like the dish itself) got an upgrade, and a slight price reduction (to $17). It now features fried ham, Swiss cheese, mushroom, and Yum Yum Sauce. The only one of the four elements of the Pupu Platter not available on either menu remains the egg rolls, which we hope will be rectified in the next update. It’s a highlight of the platter.
Another new appetizer appears to be an updated version of one of the bar menu items, the Luau Pork & Pineapple Buns. The Lua Pork Belly Buns ($17) includes kimchi slaw, pineapple and Yum Yum Sauce, which is very similar. Since the Molokai Bar now has an operating kitchen, that may account for the slight differences in the dishes going out to bar patrons vs. those in the dining rooms.
The two brand new appetizers added to the dinner menu are Coconut Shrimp ($19) and Tom Kha Gai ($12). The former is served with papaya salad, which is also listed as one of seven side dishes on the new menu. The previous menu skipped the sides, so these additions are welcome. The other sides, ranging from $5 to $14, are ginger scallion broccolini, butter lettuce salad, jasmine rice, sweet potato puree, skinny fries with kimchi aoli, and Hawaiian tostones.
Two main entrees were adjusted slightly while one (Huli Huli Chicken Pad Thai) was dropped. Mai-Kai Mahi-Mahi (formerly Local Mahi-Mahi) has an expanded description including sweet potato and green papaya slaw. Since it’s the first item listed, we suspect the chef put special care into this dish starring one of the region’s favorite fresh catches. Another seafood dish – Mai-Kai Prawns – has a new signature name but no other apparent changes.
Lobster fans now have a great option with the addition of the Chef’s Special Drunken Lobster Pad Thai ($48), featuring bourbon butter Thai noodles, lobster, tomato, and cucumber. The other new main entree is Thai Beef Salad ($32), featuring Thai marinated beef, lettuce cups, prawn crackers, cucumber green papaya, baby tomatoes, umami vinaigrette, and Tiger Tear Sauce.
Another major addition is a new section of the menu featuring seven more approachable (and reasonably priced) options in two categories. Under Classic Teriyaki, you can choose chicken ($28), shrimp ($29), beef tenderloin ($32), or tofu ($24). There are also three Pad Thai dishes: Chicken ($26), shrimp ($28), and mixed vegetables ($24).
The Family Luau section, featuring dishes that serve multiple diners, also received a major overhaul with two new dishes added, one renamed and one (Mai-Kai Puaka) removed. The meat-centric dish is now called the Mai-Kai Island BBQ Grill (still $145) with a selection of pork ribs, short rib, ribeye and beef rice for groups of three or four. Mai-Kai Island Seafood Mix ($175), an enticing new seafood option for the same number of guests, features jumbo prawns, mahi-mahi, whole Maine lobster, green pineapple curry, sweet potato, prawn crackers, green papaya, and lobster butter rice.
The unltimate feast is the new Mai-Kai Suckling Pig ($400, serves four to six), a revamped version of the traditional Polynesian dining experience that was a eye-catching item on the grand reopening menu, but dropped in April. Presumably back by popular demand (and no longer requiring 72-hour advance notice), it also comes with butter lettuce wraps, beef rice, and Hawaiian tostones.
One new dessert (Flourless Chocolate Torte, $15) concludes the menu additions. Featuring Kona coffee foam, rum caramel and macadamia brittle, it looks like a worthy addition that gives chocolate lovers something to call their own. The separte list of entrees for kids is not included on the updated menu, but this should be available upon request considering the Mai-Kai’s many young guests.
We should see another menu update soon when a stand-alone dessert menu is introduced that also includes all of the after-dinner cocktails (which are not included on the main cocktail menu) and list of sipping rums. Beverage director Cory Starr says he hopes this will be available – along with an expanded Bora Bora Bar cocktail menu – in time for The Hukilau weekender in June. See our related story on all the latest cocktail updates.
It didn’t take chef Sherrer long to get the menu back to where it was previously in terms of the total number of options. We look forward to trying many of the new entrees. In the meantime, we’re working our way through the bar menu and hope to share reviews and rankings soon.
So far, our favorites are the outstanding Javanese Beef Sate and Smoked Korean Hot Wings. We also recommend the Shanghai Chicken Sate, Luau Pork & Pineapple Buns, Steamed Pork Shumai Dumplings, and Luau Burger. The Pupu Platter has rebounded after a rocky start, but it could still use a few tweaks to get it back to star status. It remains a solid option and fine choice to pair with those delicious cocktails.
Mai-Kai opens new passageway between Tiki gardens
Posted April 27, 2025
In a perfect example of the Mai-Kai combining its long-running restoration with inventive reimagination, the restaurant just opened a new portal into the inner sanctum that allows guests to once again stroll the exotic indoor gardens under the front of the main A-frame. Like many similar upgrades at the historic property, the new portal appears to be both a stylistic and logistical bonus for guests.
When we arrived shortly after the 4 p.m. opening on April 24, workers were putting the final touches on a new entryway that had been cut through decorative rocks and several feet of the concrete wall at the south end of the new deck outside the Molokai Bar. We were among the first to explore the new walking path, marveling at the towering tikis and waterfalls for the first time since before the October 2020 closing. It was being prepped for a special event that night.
The newly refurbished space is fully functional with flowing water, colorful mood lighting and lush tropical flowers courtesy of California designer Shawna Marie Tice, aka The Pleated Peacock. If the end result reminds you of Disneyland’s Enchanted Tiki Room, that’s because Tice created the faux floral arrangements there as well.
The walls, floors and ceiling still need a few finishing touches, but the space is jaw dropping, even if you’ve been there before. There is much eye candy to behold, including many vintage tikis, both original wood carvings and those cast in cement from molds that original owner Bob Thornton had made in the 1970s. It should be fully operational any day now.
Why is this new entrance important? Until now, the entire area was off limits to guests since the large crew of dancers and musicians in the Polynesian show have needed most of the space behind the stage, as well as the Samoa dining room, to prepare for their performances, which occur multiple times per night. Their former dressing room under the stage is still being redesigned.
Since the last large renovation in 1970, the path through the indoor gardens started in the main showroom, just to the right of the stage. It led guests down and through the gardens under the front of the A-frame, then up and out a door that leads to the rear gardens. Since the outdoor gardens reopened in late December, a stylized barricade made of historic pieces from the stage (see story below) was used to keep guests in the back gardens from entering the pathway on the south side of the building.
Mai-Kai ownership came up with an ingenious solution to the bottleneck, simply cutting a hole in the wall on the north side of the building, creating a seamless thoroughfare that bypasses the closed path behind the stage. This new route also allows guests in both the Molokai and Bora Bora bars to access the rear gardens without walking through the dining rooms. You can also now easily walk from the back gardens to the bars.
This route features many steps, so scooters, wheelchairs and guests with special needs must still use the main dining room thoroughfare. The Samoa Room and path behind the stage remain closed for now. Note: This new walkway is subject to closing during dinner show performances, special events, and at the restaurant’s discretion.
Watch our narrated walk-through tour along with more restoration videos on YouTube.
The current design of the showroom stage with the indoor gardens behind it dates back to the 1970 expansion of the restaurant, but water features were always part of the main dining room. The seating area in front of the stage is called Garden because it used to be a real tropical garden. Plants and trees were rotated in and out of the dining room from the Mai-Kai’s own greenhouse on the property.
This was possible because the front of the 40-foot A-frame was originally screened-in, allowing for a healthy environment for palm trees and lush foliage but perhaps not always a treat for guests when it rained. Sliding glass panels were soon added, allowing for light to keep the gardens alive. The roof was not fully sealed up until the 1980s, according to Tim “Swanky” Glazner, author of Mai-Kai: History and Mystery of the Iconic Tiki Restaurant. See the photos from his book below and check out this video for more history of the Garden dining area.
A water feature ran from outside into the original dining room, connecting to a 4-foot waterfall near the entrance, according to Glazner. Pathways in the restaurant included several bridges over the streams, which were guarded by ropes to keep people from stepping into them. “Occasionally, small animals would find a way to swim inside, only to be wrangled by the staff,” Glazner wrote in his book.
We reached out to Glazner for more details on the history of this part of the restaurant. He said you can still see where the water originally went down a waterfall behind the stage, then was pumped outside. The building originally ended at the Molokai Bar (added in 1958) and the Samoa Room, with the large water features running beneath it.
The 1970 renovations enlarged the stage and added new dining areas (Tahiti and Tonga), but the Samoa Room remains where it was, and you can still see parts of the old streams underneath it. The room is still being used by the performers in the Polynesian Islander Revue, but we’re told that it will eventually return as a guest dining area.
Another remnant of the 1950s is the back area of the Molokai Bar, which is clearly visible inside the new entrance. One open window looks out onto the waterfalls while the other is a shadowbox featuring model ships and maps that link the bar to the 1962 film, Mutiny on the Bounty. See our story below on how the bar features actual set pieces and props from the movie in its decor.
If this raised area of the Molokai seems detached from the rest of the bar, that’s because it was originally a section of the Oahu Room, an original 1956 dining area that fell by the wayside in 1970. Because of its location, this one small piece was kept and attached to the redesigned Molokai. Note that its decor is more in line with a South Seas dining room than the nautical-themed bar.
The return of the path through the indoor gardens also revives one of the most scenic photo opportunities in a venue full of them. Simply pause in the center of the garden and position yourself for two very distinctive shots. Take one with the lush gardens as the backdrop, then turn around and get another with the A-frame and its colorful lamps in the distance.
UPDATE: Five days later, on April 29, the new entryway was still a work in progress. Painting had been completed on the rock work, but a custom door was still being built and some fine-tuning of the water features was underway.
The metal railings along both sides of the steps into the gardens will also likely get an artist’s touch to turn them into faux bamboo like those on the outside deck, general manager Kern Mattei said. Like other water features that had been dormant for years during the restoration, these also need maintenance so they were down during our visit.
Also note that when the path is closed, a historic stanchion will likely block the corridor and entrance from the outdoor Tiki gardens in the rear. We’ll share additional photos when all the work is completed and the space is in peak condition.
FINAL UPDATE: As of May 15, the new passageway is considered complete. The themed handrails along the steps from the Molokai deck are finished, matching the faux bamboo style of those on the deck. All other cosmetic touches appear to be done.
General manager Kern Mattei said all that’s left are some adjustments to the waterfalls. In the meantime, be careful you don’t get splashed! And be aware the doors are shut when performers are using the backstage area.
Following is a walk-through video from May 15.
Mcbiff introduces ‘Mystery at the Mai-Kai’ print, merchandise during special event
Posted April 16, 2025
The Mai-Kai hosted Mcbiff for the official release of his “Mystery at the Mai-Kai” print and two nights of merchandise signings in the restaurant gift shop April 11-12. The California artist met with fans of his work and the Mai-Kai as they purchased an array of new items while enjoying special Mcbiff cocktails created for the event.
RELATED: Mcbiff cocktails toast artist’s arrival, ‘Mystery at the Mai-Kai’ event
Upon entering the Mai-Kai Trading Company, guests were immediately enchanted by the 30-by-45-inch framed giclee print (No. 1 of 150) hanging just inside the entrance. Brightly illuminated, this immediately became a new photo spot. It didn’t take long for prints No. 2 and No. 3 to sell for $1,800 each to lucky collectors.
The printing and framing were done by the same company that handles Mcbiff’s work for the Disney Parks, a relationship that has enhanced his stature in the Tiki art world. All of the museum-quality special editions that were available sold on the first day. More will be available in the gift shop soon.
Much more plentiful are the standard matted 14-by-18-inch prints, which continue to be available at the Mai-Kai along with Mcbiff prints released at the reopening in November. The first painting highlights much of the signature imagery of the Mai-Kai in Mcbiff’s own colorful style, including the unique A-frame building; familiar Tiki carvings, hanging lamps and jade tile; the Mystery Drink and Mystery Girl; and founding owners Bob and Jack Thornton, along with Bob’s widow Mireille.
“Mystery at the Mai-Kai” takes it up a notch, presenting a more detailed and avant-garde South Seas landscape that features many of the restaurant’s most well-known locations, past and present. There’s the showroom stage in the center, flanked by dining rooms (New Guinea, Tonga, Hawaii, Moorea, Tahiti, Samoa), the Trading Company, and the Molokai Bar. Look for cool details, such as the signature cannibal trio atop the large Mai-Kai sign in the bottom right.
This treasure map of sorts contains new additions, including the Bora Bora and Okole Maluna bars, as well as historic features such as the Chinese ovens. Created with Mcbiff’s trademark whimsical flourishes, the artwork is both reverential and fun. It took Mcbiff more than six months to complete the project.
Some of the artwork is also featured on glassware and tote bags. The design from the reopening was used to create aloha shirts, glasses, totes, and pillow cases, all still available for purchase.
Mcbiff is the nom de plume created for David McNeley, but the towering figure and his signature stern pose are nothing like his actual persona. With his fiancée Anna at his side, the soft-spoken and friendly Mcbiff spent every hour he was there hanging out with Mai-Kai staff and greeting an endless stream of friends, new and old.
The festive air was enhanced by a special menu of three cocktails created in the artist’s honor. Lead bartender Michael DeMahy employed the new Pa’lante Rum from Mexico in crafting twists on three Mai-Kai classics: The Mcbiff Mai Tai, Mcbiff’s Magic, and Mod Art Punch. [See video] The artist was particularly enamored with the homage to the Black Magic, his favorite Mai-Kai drink.
On the second night, creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller helped Mcbiff unveil a spectacular new art piece, a mash-up of Mai-Kai history and modern art. Allsmiller had just finished the one-a-kind frame that contains an original Mcbiff painting, and they made sure to document the occasion with photos in the Tiki gardens.
“She’s A Mystery” is an original acrylic painting of the Mystery Girl, completed in the early stages of Mcbiff’s Mai-Kai project as a prototype of sorts. The 18-by-30-inch canvas is set in a frame made of reclaimed wood, salvaged from the renovation of the Mai-Kai by Allsmiller. The finishing touch is rope once used to secure the restaurant’s signature jade tiles.
The combination of the painting and the frame make for a truly unique piece for collectors, and it’s priced as such at $10,000. Interested buyers can check it out in the gift shop, where it’s on display, or reach out to retail manager Tricia Lee Cline via email ([email protected]).
Here’s a full list of the current McBiff merchandise available in the gift shop. Sorry, there is currently no online store, but you won’t regret booking a special trip to South Florida to enjoy the Mai-Kai in all its glory while you shop in the Trading Company.
Featuring the “Mystery at the Mai-Kai” artwork:
• Standard matted 14-by-18-inch prints ($75).
• Zombie glasses ($24).
• Highball glasses ($22).
Featuring the original artwork from the reopening:
• Aloha shirts ($125). New color coming soon.
• Standard matted 14-by-18-inch prints ($75).
• Pillow ($60) and pillow case ($45) in both colors.
• Black Mai Tai glasses ($27).
Featuring both artwork designs:
• Totes ($45 medium, $50 large).
CHECK OUT THE EVENT PREVIEW BELOW
Artist Mcbiff coming to Mai-Kai for special events, merchandise release
Posted April 4, 2025
The Mai-Kai Trading Company will host its first special event since the November reopening when it welcomes California’s Mcbiff on Friday and Saturday (April 11-12) in celebration of the release of his new print, “Mystery at the Mai-Kai.” The artwork will be available in several sizes and formats, along with an assortment of other cool new merchandise from the fine artist and designer.
Previous coverage
• New merchandise from Tiki artists available
• New Mcbiff glassware released
Mcbiff will be in the gift shop Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. to sign prints for guests. “Mystery at the Mai-Kai” will be available for purchase as a standard matted 14-by-18-inch print.
Also available will be a limited number of 30-by-45-inch framed giclee prints, produced as a museum-quality special edition for collectors. Mcbiff said that only 150 are being printed in that format.
More than six months in the making, the artwork pays tribute to many iconic elements of the Mai-Kai, past and present, as a treasure map of sorts. “I feel so humbled and incredibly honored to be given the reigns on creating an illustration like this by such a historic and loved place of Tiki worship,” Mcbiff wrote in a social media post.
In addition to the prints, the artwork is featured on new tote bags and pillow cases. Already released are Zombie and highball glasses.
Also for sale will be Mcbiff’s first original Mai-Kai painting, which was used to create the first wave of merchandise that came with the reopening. If you’re lucky, you picked up one of the prints, aloha shirts, glasses, tote bags or other items. Some still remain, so you can grab these collectibles at the event. A new version of the aloha shirt is also in the works.
The painting will be a true piece of Mai-Kai history. It will be displayed in a custom frame that was designed by Mcbiff and built by creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller using wood he sourced from the Mai-Kai during the restoration.
The Trading Company itself is a fantastic example of the meticulous restoration efforts. Added during the 1970 expansion as the Bangkok dining room, the space features all custom-made plaster wall panels and trim.
Old and broken panels were replicated by Allsmiller and his team – most notably Conrad Teheiura Itchener – by making molds and creating copies out of lightweight hard foam. The company that originally worked on the space, Colonial Decorators, came back to do all the painting.
When you aren’t scouring the shelves for the latest Mai-Kai goodies, be sure to look up and all around at the detailed design, including the giant lamps and vintage soliders that date back to the 1970s. Some changes were made, however, that upgrade the room.
You can now get a peek at the Polynesian Islander Revue performances after the removal of a wall separating the gift shop from the showroom. A window was also added to allow guests to see into the secret main service bar for the first time ever.
Merchandise has been flying off the shelves, so if you see something you like it’s a good idea to grab it now. Regular items such as mugs and T-shirts are always in the process of being restocked, retail manager
Tricia Lee Cline says. Special items by Tiki artists added recently have included pendants by “Tiki Ray” Kieffer and Molokai Girl swizzles by Kymm! Bang.
Cline, better known as Trixie, also touted some new collections made especially for the Mai-Kai. Look for candles in tiki glasses, made locally and hand-poured from clean and safe ingredients by Crazy Lady Adventures. They even smell like three different Mai-Kai cocktails. Even more practical are the colorful artisan glass items created by Kiku Handmade featuring Mai-Kai designs, including cheese boards, magnets, coasters, and bowls.
The Mai-Kai also stocks earrings, pins and magnets by Audrey Moorehead (aka Tee-Ki Togs). New mugs from Tiki Farm, featured on the cocktail menu and available in the gift shop, were designed by Florida’s Joe and Donella Vitale, plus Hawaii’s Bill Collins. Look for more mugs coming soon!
Mcbiff is the latest in a long line of modern Tiki artists who have long flocked to the Mai-Kai for inspiration. He even pitched in during the 3 1/2-year restoration project, visiting in September 2022 to help his friend Typhoon Tommy and show off his new designs. Next week’s event will mark Mcbiff’s first time back, so please give him a warm welcome.
Based in Huntington Beach, Mcbiff (born David McNeley) creates colorful works of art that lean heavily into mid-century modern design aesthetics. The Mcbiff moniker is a tribute to his imposing appearance, which someone compared to an Irish version of the film character Biff from Back to the Future.
He specializes in acrylic painting, with his signature clean simplicity and hidden surprises. Influenced and inspired by the Disney artists who came before him, Mcbiff came to worldwide attention and gained a loyal following with his works for the Disney Parks.
In honor of Mcbiff, the Mai-Kai will be offering three special cocktails for guests to order on April 11-12. The Mcbiff Mai Tai is a riff on the Mai-Kai classic with “a Mcbiff twist” featuring Pa’lante Rum. Likewise, Mcbiff’s Magic is another iconic drink (the Black Magic) customized for the event. The third, Mod Art Punch, is “a blend of Pa’lante Rum, tropical juices and spices that packs a punch and leaves you wanting more.”
• Follow Mcbiff: Mcbiff.com | Instagram | Facebook
Mai-Kai gives food menus a major facelift with all new bar, dining room dishes
Posted April 1, 2025
At first glance, the new food menus at the Mai-Kai look much like they did since the historic restaurant reopened in November after a 5-year hiatus and $20 million restoration project. The iconic artwork by artist Al Kocab, which defined the restaurant in the 1970s, still graces the cover of the Molokai and Bora Bora Bar menus. In the dining rooms, the menu design and artwork still look much the same, a reverential throwback to the original menu from 1956.
NEW: Mai-Kai dinner menu upgraded with more than 20 new dishes
Previous coverage
• January 2025 update: Mai-Kai menus get a refresh
• Forward-thinking Mai-Kai menus sport retro flair
But take a close look at the menu offerings, and you’ll see a complete facelift. Or, more accurately, massive reconstructive surgery. Under the guidance of new executive chef, Justin Sherrer, the beloved Polynesian restaurant launched a fully revamped food menu on April 1, hoping to please both longtime guests and those seeking the latest culinary delights.
For many restaurants, that’s always the trick. But at the Mai-Kai, which has survived for generations by appealing to tastes that are both familiar and exotic, it has become a critical mission. The dishes and accompanying menus that have been in use since November – then updated in January – have received mixed reviews, hastening the changes.
The updates are many, resulting in what we expect to be an entirely new dining experience, save for a few holdover items. But even these, it appears, have received an overhaul. We look forward to working our way through the new menus in the coming weeks and months, but until then we encourage everyone to once again approach these dishes with an open mind and knowledge that Mai-Kai ownership and management is doing everything it can to elevate the food to the same level as everything else at the Polynesian palace, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.
Let’s take a quick tour through the new menus:
The 11-item bar menu, which seemed to bear the brunt of dissatisfaction due to its hodgepodge of dishes, is now broken out into eight “Appetizers” (priced mostly in the $14-$18 range), four “Entrees” ($27-$41), and two that fall under “Bar Stuff” ($18 and $21). The 14 choices now give diners some clear options, from the return of the classic Pupu Platter (and, happily its individual components) to some enticing new dishes.
Speaking of the Pupu ($28, serves two), a mainstay since the early days, some of its familiar items appear to have been jazzed up, and three of them can be ordered separately (Crab Rangoons, Cheese Tangs, and Shanghai Chicken). New appetizers include Luau Pork & Pineapple Buns, Steamed Pork Shumai Dumplings, and Tuna Jalapeno Crispy Rice. A favorite from the pre-reopening days, Javanese Beef, is also making a triumphant return with a new presentation (grilled and skewered with pineapple glaze and lettuce wraps).
The entrees on the bar menu look enticing, though vegetarians may be disappointed. The ribs and and short rib dishes have been revamped, joined by the familar Mai-Kai Beef (with shishito peppers) and the only seafood offering, the new Banana Leaf Snapper & Green Pineapple Curry.
Like the previous menu, there is a Luau Burger and Korean wings, but again these are revamped. The burger is now a blend of brisket and short rib, sans ham, but still featuring pineapple. The previous burger was a bright spot on the menu (praised by some notable local YouTubers), but quite messy to eat. The wings are now “smoked” and come with a buttermilk dill, celery slaw.
Most of the items discussed above are exclusive to the bar menu and can’t be found on the main dinner menu. The eight appetizer offerings in the dining rooms are almost entirely different except for the Pupu Platter. It looks like the Shanghai Chicken Sate and Javanese BBQ Beef Sate are elevated versions (and slightly increased in price) for the showrooms. The single-serving apps are all $18-$22, including such new dishes as Smoked Brisket Buns and Cassava Fried Cheese. The Char Sui Pork Belly (with Mai-Kai BBQ sauce) appears to be a throwback to another favorite appetizer from before the 2020 closing.
There are now 13 entrees ($18-$44), down from 19, but we’ll take quality of quantity any day. Huli Huli Chicken, a bright spot on the previous menu, has been retooled into a very interesting Pad Thai. Panang Curry Chicken, another personal favorite, is one of the few dishes to survive the menu update intact. Mai-Kai Beef Tenderloin is a repeat from the apps menu, but everything else appears to be a new and unique entree.
Seafood lovers have multiple options (mahi-mahi, prawns, salmon, shrimp). Carnivores can enjoy beef and pork in multiple preparations, including Smoked Beef Rice Pot, Luau Smoked Baby Back Ribs, Hawaiian Ribeye, and Crying Tiger Skirt Steak. Two kimchi fried rice dishes with egg (one featuring pork belly) round out the menu.
Dedicated veggie options are lacking, but it’s worth asking your server which dishes can be prepared without meat or other ingredients that are not part of your particular diet. There are three appetizers and one entree labeled as gluten free.
Groups can no longer splurge on the attention-grabbing luau pig, which served four to six people but had a high price tag and required 72 hours advance notice. There are now two “Family Luau” options that serve three to four people each. Mai-Kai Puaka ($125) and Mai-Kai Island BBQ Grill ($145) feature a smorgasbord of meats (from Banana Leaf Smoked Pork Shoulder to Kona Smoked Short Rib).
The kids menu is scaled down from from six to four items (burger, chicken or shrimp, mac & cheese, BBQ pork ribs), but the price remains $12 and should please most young palates. The only major change to the menu’s overall offerings is the lack of side dishes, but it’s possible these simple offerings (rice, potato, vegetables) simply were not ordered enough to make them worth keeping on the menu.
The desert menu (down from six to five) also saw some major changes. There are still bread pudding, upside-down cake, madadamia, and key lime treats ($14 each), but they’ve all been totally reconfigured. These desserts were among the stand-outs on the previous menu, so it will be interesting to see how the new recipes compare. They certainly sound just as decadent. The coup de grace is the Lava Volcano! – a new showcase dessert that serves four (for $65) and appears to be a take on classic Baked Alaska with its “Tahitian ice cream” and “torched meringue.”
This is not a total return to the classic Mai-Kai menus of yore. Keep in mind that the historic Chinese ovens that were responsible for many of the signature dishes remain on hold until phase 2 of the restoration, when an expanded kitchen will be added. The new chef and kitchen staff are operating in a smaller space than before the catastrophic roof collapse that took out a large section of the back of house that has yet to be rebuilt.
However, the small kitchen behind the Molokai Bar is now refurbished and operating for the first time since long before the 2020 closing. This takes the load off the main kitchen and allows for the return of the individual Pupu Platter options, as well as other small plates. The bars, which seat hundreds of guests and boast a happy hour that runs from opening until 7 p.m., do a bang-up business and could use more small plates to complement the world-class cocktails. Also note that the full dinner menu is no longer available in the bars as a routine matter of course, especially during busy times. The larger bar menu features multiple entree options, and additional seating in the Tahiti Room will soon offer more options for diners who want dinner without the show.
This ambitious overall of the menu means essentially a complete reset for the food operations staff. While the previous menu featured some tasty dishes, there were shortfalls in execution and variety that this update appears to address. But the changes are not so radical as to confound current and new guests who have been flocking to the Mai-Kai since November.
We hope all guests, both new and old, approach the new and updated dishes with an open mind and adventurous appetite. As we’ve been told by managing partner Bill Fuller in the past, the food will continue to adpat to the demands of both the guests and the restaurant’s logistics as the Mai-Kai revival continues to evolve. As work progresses on design and decor elements, explored in great detail in our stories below, so does the fine-tuning of the Mai-Kai food menus.
February-March 2025 update: Artists continue working on Mai-Kai design projects, upgrading vintage look and feel
Posted March 24, 2025
There has been a lot of activity at the Mai-Kai since our last full update in January, from the completion of the restoration of the waterfalls in front of the iconic A-frame, to the addition of vintage tikis in the outdoor gardens, to the pending installation of new carvings across the property, to a new signature Bora Bora Bar sign and its fascinating back story. This story will cover all those topics and more, hitting all the high points since our presentation at Inuhele in Atlanta (see full story). Also remember to check our separate blog post that covers all the latest Mai-Kai bar and cocktail news, updated with coverage of two special events in March.
RELATED: Mai-Kai joins spirits festival, welcomes brands for cocktail and rum tasting events
Here are the highlights of the continuing renovations and restoration of the restaurant, including new videos and photos.
Historic water features running, new front deck completed
If you thought that the extensive restoration and renovation of the Mai-Kai was nearly complete at the end of 2024, think again. We watched the progress throughout early 2025, culminating with the long-awaited return of the waterfalls that cascade through the rock work in front of the 40-foot A-frame.
The elaborate water features in front of the building along Federal Highway, which date back to the early days of the 68-year-old restaurant, were finally operational by the second week in March. Waterfalls now also envelope guests who walk out onto the new deck added to the front of the Molokai Bar during the restoration.
Bringing the water system back to life was a long, involved process. The system is vintage (aka very old), but the Mai-Kai has been able to restore it with the help of an expert who specializes in keeping such legacy systems running. In addition to separate pump systems in front to the left and right of the entry bridge, there are classic water features surrounding the banyan tree next to the Bora Bora Bar, and also throughout the walking paths in the back Tiki gardens.
Because the Mai-Kai is a local and national historic landmark, tearing out and replacing the vintage systems was not an option. As part of the reimagination, new rock work and waterfalls were added in front of the new outdoor bar. The most ambitious new water feature is the faux volcanic caldera and its water jets at the end of the entry driveway.
Manager Kern Mattei said they had to reboot, then typically replace, multiple aging pumps that had been shut down since 2020. Many hadn’t been working for years prior. Then crews had to inspect and debug every inch of pipe to make sure all the lines were working. They’re still plagued by leaks, but they’re finally all working correctly.
While this work was going on, “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller completed the conversion of the outdoor area in front of the Molokai Bar into a small Tiki garden, surrounded by flowing waterfalls. We got our first inkling that something special was coming in the summer of 2023 when Allsmiller restored the beam extensions on front of the bar.
Over the next year, the new deck was built and the outdoor area in front of the bar became a public space for guests for the first time. When the Mai-Kai reopened in November after 5 years and $20 million in improvements, the former fire door became a public exit, but more work was still left to be done.
By late February, the woodwork on the front of the building had been painted, temporary barriers removed, and new bamboo planted to block the sights and sounds of busy Federal Highway. “You can’t see the street anymore,” Mattei said, noting the guests inside the bar are now totally cut off from the real world, as intended. With a few exceptions, you’ll have this same experience throughout the restaurant. This immersion is key to the original design and carried through the restoration.
In early March, the water features were up and running and guests stepping out onto the deck were surrounded by a lush and exotic environment. Just don’t get too close to the rocks or you might get wet. Be sure to walk around to the front of the restaurant and check out all the restored waterfalls. Here’s a video we took earlier this month:
If you’re there at night, look for the new lighting that highlights the massive A-frame roof. There’s white light on the front, to illuminate the vintage artwork, and color-changing LED lights on the sides. We covered the restoration of the mural briefly in our presentation at Inuhele (see photo), but there are more cool details to share.
The painting crew from Colonial Decorators that returned in 2024 to restore the artwork is led by a third-generation owner who worked on the original in 1973 as an 18-year-old. Tim Ellis was assisted by another member of that old crew, along with his son, the fourth generation of his company to work on the Mai-Kai.
Ellis told us he remembers talking to owner Bob Thornton, who was convinced he had to hire specialists from Disney World to take on the massive job. But he let the Colonial Decorators team take a shot at it, and they completed the mural to his liking.
The company has remained with the Mai-Kai ever since, handling much of the indoor and outdoor painting work over the next half century. The painters are intimately familiar with all of the appropriate colors and textures of the wood throughout the building, so they played a key role in the restoration.
Ellis said his grandfather designed the mural, and he was tasked with making the nine stencils that were used to create it. He had to re-create the stencils when he returned 50 years later, and the mural was repainted in September and October using modern high-gloss paints. It should “last forever,” Ellis said.
In addition to the water features, new plants and landscaping were installed all along the frontage, including the southeast corner where the large Barney West moai carving once stood. The old platform is ready and waiting for a new carving.
Vintage pieces from the South Seas added to rear Tiki gardens
Since the Mai-Kai’s distinctive outdoor Tiki gardens reopened at the end of 2024, the area has become a magnet for guests who love to take a stroll in the lush surroundings, enveloped by waterfalls and tropical plants as well as a wide array of tikis. New seating areas and reimagined pathways (all handicapped accessible) make it even easier to spend more time in the space.
When the Mai-Kai went to the city of Oakland Park’s Historic Preservation Board before beginning the restoration, the new ownership team was told they needed to preserve as many of the tikis and artifacts as they could. This was an easy task since the Mai-Kai had been preserving them for decades, ever since original owner Bob Thornton wisely had molds made of most of the smaller figures.
Since the molds were made in the 1970s, the Polynesian statues have been replaced multiple times as they broke or wore out in the unforgiving Florida weather. Local artist Will Anders, who also carved the two large wooden tikis in the gardens, is credited with making cement replicas from those molds over the past several decades. [See previous story]
But recently, those old tikis in the gardens have gained some company, and the new pieces may be even more historic. A benefactor has donated to the Mai-Kai his collection of vintage stone carvings that he collected over decades working in the South Pacific.
Manager Kern Mattei filled is in on the artifacts and their former owner. The donor was an oceanic scientist who worked throughout the South Seas for most of his life, Mattei said. He became friends with people on the islands where he worked and collected artifacts while he was there.
After retiring, he sought a good home for his collection and found it at the Mai-Kai, where guests can now enjoy the artifacts. “It’s really cool stuff,” Mattei said, noting that each piece has a story behind it. For example, the fish figure was placed near the water to bring good luck when the indigenous people went fishing. There’s also a traditional Marquesan piece among the collection.
Mattei said all of these vintage tikis and other pieces were carved out of stone, mainly limestone and lava rock. The old owner kept them outside in Fort Lauderdale, so they should fare well in the Mai-Kai’s tropical environment.
You can spot the natural, unpainted designs amid the Mai-Kai’s more stylized Tiki figures that have been painted after being cast in cement. There are a total of seven, most of them no more than a foot or two high.
Check out the photos above and see if you can spot them on your next visit. You can also see some of them in our recent walk-through video of the gardens:
Also visible in the video: Allsmiller’s work completing the transformation of the space in the far southwest corner of the gardens in what used to be a back-of-house work area. He recently oversaw the installation of woven matting to the wall along the back of the building, giving the area a much more immersive feel.
In addition to being a nice quiet spot to sit away from the crowds, this space will likely be used for special events and parties with the addition of new furniture.
New Tiki carvings await installation throughout the grounds
If you’ve been to the Mai-Kai lately, you’ve probably seen (and admired) the new Tiki carvings that have been hanging out in the old Chinese oven room, which has been turned into a new guest area that will host special events and eventually serve as a museum documenting the restaurant’s history. Creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller, who designed the space, gives us a tour in this new video.
Four freshly-carved tikis took up residence here in January, after the Christmas tree was taken down. We knew immediately that they were the handiwork of South Florida carver Tom Fowner, who has been working as Allsmiller’s artistic partner since February 2024. (The third key member of the design team, Scott “Flounder” Scheidly, wrapped up his work at the end of 2024 and returned to Orlando.)
Fowner is believed to be the first person to carve tikis for the Mai-Kai on the property. His trio of cannibal carvings was completed before the opening, bidding farewell to guests as they leave via the new immersive driveway. He also contributed one of the three carvings installed in 2017 that now overlook the porte-cochère and Bora Bora Bar.
Previous coverage: The cannibal trio: Mai-Kai’s signature iconography
The new carvings popped up in the back room next to an existing piece that was formerly in the gift shop. This curious artifact is reportedly an old Papua New Guinea sacrificial chair from the 1800s. While you’re back there, look for another historic item, one of the Mai-Kai’s four vintage black velvet paintings, on the rear wall.
All of the new tikis stand between 5 and 6 feet fall. Three are Florida Cypress, a common wood for carvers in this part of the country. The fourth is palm, also something Fowner likes to carve. But the shape of what he calls the “curved guy” makes it very unusual.
The wood was salvaged from a palm tree that was planted outside in the “beach” near the driveway entrance during the restoration, but sadly didn’t survive. It was replaced with another ornamental tree with a curved trunk. “We have another one out there now, but it’s a lot smaller,” Allsmiller said. “The other one was grand.”
“I salvaged the bend and made a tiki out of it,” Fowner said, adding that he hopes its final home is “back out where it was supposed to go.” Regarding the other three, he said the Pele carving might also go out in the driveway entrance as you near the caldera water feature, replacing the carving by Dave “Basement Kahuna” Wolfe that needs to be returned inside to the garden behind the showroom stage. This is apropos since Pele is the goddess of fire, volcanoes, and lava.
You can currently find Pele and a Marquesan-style carving in the Chinese oven room along with the curved tiki. The latter has no particular style for reference. Its creator simply calls it “Fowner style.” The fourth, a Tangaroa, was last seen in the gift shop.
Fowner gave them all a coat of paint/sealant in February, so they should be ready for their next home soon. Allsmiller took a break to work on another project, so the tiki installations may need to wait until he returns. Fowner said they need to find the exact spots for each and install secure bases.
“The Marquesan might go out in the new Molokai garden area,” he said. “And the Tangaroa, I want to put up here (in Bora Bora) so when you drive in, he’s overlooking.”
Meanwhile, a large carving that guests have not yet seen is waiting in the wings to be installed. The 10-foot-tall Marquesan-style carving was completed in January by Will Anders, the veteran carver who is also responsible for the two large tikis in the rear garden, as well as one of the three carvings in the Bora Bora Bar.
We visited Anders at his carving compound on Jan. 18 to see the finished piece. It still needed a few coats of sealant but it’s otherwise done, he said. Like Fowner’s carvings, it’s awaiting crews to add a secure cement foundation to its new home. It shouldn’t be hard to miss when it graces the Mai-Kai grounds.
According to Anders, it was carved from a 6,000-pound Florida cypress log. When the Mai-Kai acquired it, managing partner Bill Fuller contacted Anders and they made plans for the carving. The design was inspired by a photo of a Marquesan carving shared by Fuller and Allsmiller.
“I don’t consider myself an artist,” Anders said modestly. He said he’s good at copying a style, but “it’s going to have my own interpretation.”
While visiting his workshop, Anders explained how he works on his large pieces with them lying horizontally, then turing them to reach the sides and back. It’s not feasible for him to carve them upright, he said. The new carving looks good from the front but great from the side, he added.
To see more photos of his work on the Marquesan carving and other projects, check out his long-running thread on Tiki Central. Look for the first photos of the Mai-Kai carving on Oct. 29.
Past coverage
• Inside (and outside) the Mai-Kai with Tiki carver Will Anders (2024)
• New giant carved tiki added to Mai-Kai’s outdoor garden for 60th anniversary (2017)
• King Kai leads procession of new Tikis into the Mai-Kai (2016)
Bora Bora Bar gets signature sign, new link to Molokai Bar
As guests enter the Mai-Kai, they may notice several new hand-carved signs in and around the entrance. They’re the handiwork of creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller and artist Tom Fowner, whose Tiki carving skills were discussed above. Fowner also creates practical woodwork, such as the seating areas that are built into the exterior and the new signature bench near the restrooms.
The first sign went up in the special free parking area reserved for pre-1980 classic cars. Classics of the Mai-Kai is also the name of the Instagram page Allsmiller created to honor these beauties. “Because we are a classic restaurant, we want classic cars,” he said during our video walk-through created for Inuhele.
Fowner also created a sign that points the way to the Bora Bora Bar. It hangs on the side of the Molokai Bar in the walkway leading from the sidewalk along Federal Highway. It was originally intended for the bar itself, but he and Allsmiller came up with something much cooler to hang over the bartenders as they work in the immersive nautical space.
Allsmiller continues to enhance the theme of the bar, which we barely touched on in our February story on the new bar menu. The new sign, as well as the boxes and barrels recently added, reinforce the back story that connects the Molokai and Bora Bora bars.
The Molokai is built with set pieces from Mutiny on the Bounty, the 1962 film starring Marlon Brando, and features an iconic design that Allsmiller lovingly restored. Designers picked up the items just in time for the 1970 reimagination of the bar after the MGM prop warehouse closed.
Past coverage: Inside the Molokai Bar and tour of the Mai-Kai restoration
In creating the Bora Bora Bar, Allsmiller took some liberties with the true story of the HMS Bounty. “I like to do a little revisionist history and say they had their mutiny on Tahiti” instead of later on the Pitcairn Islands, he said. “Instead of burning the ship to the water, they took the ship apart, and they built their hangout in Tahiti, in paradise, in Polynesia. The Mai-Kai is Polynesian, the Molokai Bar is the disassembled ship.”
Allsmiller took his new story to heart when building the outdoor bar. He designed it as if it were the outside pieces of the ship. The bar top is the deck, the foot rests are the ladder from the side of the ship, and on the side that faces the front door of the restaurant you can see the back of the ship where it says “Bounty.”
Above the bar you’ll see the ship’s wheel and the rigging holding up the lights. The new centerpiece is meant to look like cargo from the ship. “They had to put the cargo somewhere,” Allsmiller said. “That’s why there are barrels up on the rocks.”
It makes sense, therefore, that the large Bora Bora Bar sign now hanging high above was fashioned from the rudder of the HMS Bounty, a British merchant ship that the Royal Navy purchased for its ill-fated botanical mission in 1789. Many details about the ship are documented online, including the whereabouts of the remains of the rudder salvaged from the wreck. (It’s in the Fiji Museum in Suva, Fiji.)
Notable replicas of the ship were built for the 1962 film and again for the 1984 movie The Bounty. The original replica was lost to Hurricane Sandy in 2012, while the newer version was last seen sailing the rivers of Thailand.
But when it came time to create their version of the rudder, Allsmiller and Fowner didn’t need to look far. A very accurate model of the HMS Bounty can be found inside a display case in the lobby of the Mai-Kai, one of those set pieces acquired in 1970 and frozen in time like much of the restaurant.
The next time you pass by the Molokai, take a look in the case on your left and take note of the ship’s rudder. Then compare it to the sign over the bar that has the exact same shape and details, including the four hinges and pins, which were crucial for allowing the rudder to pivot and steer the ship.
Then take another look at the sign over the bar and you can easily spot what look like barnacles, the sea creatures that attach themselves to ships. Fowner is proud to say that unlike everything else in this story, these barnacles are actually real.
We recommend then sitting at the bar, immersing yourself in the back story as you enjoy a classic Bora Bora or Mutiny cocktail, which are also definitely the real deal.
Guarded by artifacts, restored Tahiti Room readied for guests
One of the two non-showroom dining areas that did not reopen with the rest of the Mai-Kai in November is now available for special events. The Tahiti Room, which was added as part of the 1970 expansion, was recently completed after the addition of new custom, hand-made tables.
As noted in our January update below, the tables have Hawaiian acacia wood tops, matching the style of the tables in the showrooms. The logistics of serving day guests in the 56-capacity room are still being worked out, but in the meantime it’s available for large groups to reserve in advance.
In the meantime, non-showroom dining is typically available in the outdoor Lanai, just outside the windows from Tahiti. Besides the tables, work recently completed in Tahiti includes restored floors, plus new sconces and updated lighting. The room is distinctive for having its own A-frame roof, plus two portraits of Mai-Kai matriarch Mireille Thornton, a native of Tahiti and wife of co-founder Bob Thornton.
We’re hopeful that Tahiti will be employed during The Hukilau in June, as it has during past events. We have fond memories of this space hosting not only secluded diners, but some of the top surf and exotica bands in the world. Past musical guests have included The Intoxicators, Ixtahuele, and Los Straitjackets. (click links for videos).
You can get a peek into the Tahiti Room on your way to the Tiki gardens, or when sitting in the Lanai. The entrance is directly at the end of the ramp to the gardens, just beyond the door that leads outside. After the opening, it was used as a private space for Mai-Kai performers and musicians.
There’s no door, so it has been cordoned off by a fantastically themed barricade that points the way to the gardens. While walking the paths, take note of a similar stanchion with a “No Entry” sign that keeps guests from wandering down the hallway in front of Tahiti. This walkway, which leads to the indoor garden behind the stage, is still being restored and off limits to guests.
These seemingly casually placed barriers are possibly the most historic barricades in the world of Tiki. They were salvaged from beneath the stage by creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller during the early days of his of work on the Mai-Kai showroom, then cleaned up and restored.
They were used more than 50 years ago as a barrier when the stage was used to seat guests before the nightly Polynesian show. The restaurant was so busy in those days, there was a need for dinner seating wherever they could find it. Four of these themed railings “would rise up out of the stage” at the push of a button, Allsmiller said.
Manager Kern Mattei told us that in the ’60s, before the addition of the back dining rooms, dinner seating continued until 10 p.m. The shows were held in the late night, at 10:30, midnight and 1:30 a.m. “There would be a line out the door of people waiting to come in,” Mattei said.
Presumably created by Oceanic Arts, which did much of the Mai-Kai’s original decor, the railings were connected to a mechanical pulley system. They could have three or four turnovers of guests, Mattei said, then quickly clear the stage and hit the button so the railings could slide back down and they could start the show.
At some point after the expansion, they were no longer needed and the two that remain were simply locked down under the stage like artifacts until Allsmiller discovered them. Like many restored items at the Mai-Kai, these vintage barriers have returned to their original utilitarian purpose of keeping guests safe and fully immersed in their experience.
New merchandise from Tiki artists available in gift shop
The Mai-Kai Trading Company gift shop continues to feature new merchandise as old items sell out. Be sure to check the gift shop every time you go.
In the most recent update on bar and cocktails news, we noted the new glassware by Mcbiff that arrived in March. You can catch the California artist during special appearances April 11-12. [See story and photos]
Other new additions include pendants by Arizona-based “Tiki Ray” Kieffer that pay tribute to the King Kai carving by Will Anders, along with other Mai-Kai inspired pendants. The Mai-Kai also just received exclusive new items from Chicago area artist Kymm! Bang, including the very cool Molokai Girl Swizzle.
Also worth noting is some nice national exposure in Garden & Gun magazine, which quotes managing partner Bill Fuller as saying original owners Bob and Jack Thornton revered Polynesian culture and never wanted the Mai-Kai to feel like a kitschy roadside attraction. To this end, Fuller hired a cultural director of Hawaiian and Tahitian ancestry, Teuruhei Kalaniu’i Buchin. “You have to hire artists who have this in their family legacy,” Fuller said, “and feel like this is the environment that properly showcases it.”
In the story posted online March 11, Fuller said he believes the brothers would have been proud of the renovation. “I think we’ve done an amazing job of protecting the legacy of the venue,” he said.
Official Inuhele event recap: Paradise Reimagined: Deep Inside the Mai-Kai Restoration
Hundreds of Tikiphiles flocked to Inuhele: Atlanta’s Tiki Weekend at the end of January for three days of artists and vendors, live music and entertainment, rum and cocktail tastings, plus a healthy dose of “edutainment.” The Omni hotel and Trader Vic’s were abuzz Jan 24-26 as enthusiastic guests enjoyed seminars and presentations on a wide range of topics.
The Atomic Grog was privileged to participate with an update on the reimagination and reopening of the Mai-Kai. This was a follow-up to our 2023 symposium, Okole Maluna! The Return of The Mai-Kai, when we revealed details and a sneak peek at what would become an ambitious $20 million project that’s still ongoing. After the grand reopening in November, there was a lot new to report.
Our 60-minute multimedia presentation, Paradise Reimagined: Deep Inside the Mai-Kai Restoration, featured an exclusive look at the reimagination and revival with photos, video and tips for your next trip.
DEEP DIVE: See the rest of the story on the renovation and reopening of the Mai-Kai
Videos: A moment of zen
Mai-Kai joins Miami Rum Congress festivities
Updated Feb. 18, 2025
The Mai-Kai was once again at ground zero of the rum world as brands, VIPs and enthusiasts flocked to South Florida for the sixth Miami Rum Congress. The restaurant hosted a special event on Jan. 30 and participated in several events Jan. 31 in Miami Beach.
In an unexpected surprise, the Mai-Kai won The Ultimate North America’s Rum Bar 2025 Jury Award during the presentations at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The Ultimate Awards recognize “the best of the best” in the rum industry and are awarded annually by organizer Federico Hernandez at Miami Rum Congress.
Following is a chronological recap of all the events.
The Miami Rum Congress Kickoff Happy Hour took over the Bora Bora Bar on Thursday (Jan. 30) from 6 to 8 p.m., featuring a special menu of cocktails spotlighting sponsor Holmes Cay Rum. The event was hosted by the Florida Rum Society and heavily attended by members who packed the outdoor bar and spilled over into the Molokai Lounge.
The four one-night-only cocktails from beverage director Cory Starr and his team included the Mai-Kai’s signature Mai Tai with Holmes Cay Heritage Blend Rum. Our favorite was Smell in the Pacific, an updated take on Jeff “Beachbum” Berry’s Hell in the Pacific (from 1998’s Grog Log) that combined Holmes Cay Fiji Blended Rum with lime, maraschino liqueur and pomegranate (likely house-made grenadine). The coup de grace was the spritz of Holmes Cay Reunion Island Grand Arome Rum.
Starr and bartender Michael DeMahy also presented two more inventive creations as they and other members of the bar team took center stage in the immersive new space under the historic porte-cochère. Jungle Nerd was a greatly elevated Jungle Bird featuring the grand arome rum, amaro, lime, pineapple and a clarified milk punch. Meanwhile, the Cay Punch spotlighted Holmes Cay Reunion Island Agricole Rum in a Ti’ Punch riff featuring lime and fermented starfruit (and simple but engaging garnish).
• Click here to see the menu
The Bora Bora Bar gives the Mai-Kai bar staff, traditionally hidden in back service spaces, the opportunity to show off their chops in full view of guests. They still go to great care, however, to keep many traditionally secret recipes and ingredients under wraps by using unmarked and cryptically labeled bottles. The happy hour was a big success, paving the way for similar events in the future.
The Mai-Kai was included in the seventh and final presentation during the opening day of Miami Rum Congress at the spacious convention center on Friday (Jan. 31). The other seminars covered such topics as “Rhum Liqueurs: From Tradition to Modernity” and “Give Rum a Shot – Tales from Brand Ambassadors & Trenches.” Guests also enjoyed rum samples and cocktails throughout the day, which culminated with The Ultimate Awards from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Reexamining Golden Era Rums of the Mai Tai, Mai-Kai, and Beyond ran from around 5 to 6 p.m., hosted by Myssi Davis of The Rum Traveler and also featuring Matt Pietrek, aka Rum Wonk. The author of the epic 2022 book Modern Caribbean Rum debunked many long-held assumptions about the classic Jamaican rum (Wray & Nephew 17 ) purportedly used by Trader Vic in his original Mai Tai. He also cleared up confusion over the rhums of Martinque, which weren’t always produced in the currently predominant agricole style.
I was honored to lead the Mai-Kai section of the presentation, joined by Starr, who took over the bar program in September after a decades-long career at some of the country’s top Tiki destinations (Tiki Tatsu-Ya in Austin, Three Dots and a Dash in Chicago). We started off with a discussion of Mai-Kai rum history, including an analysis of the restaurant’s rum purchases during its first year, 1956-57. Pietrek and I have shared this document at previous events, but it’s always worth spotlighting for its historical significance.
SEE THE FULL STORY on our new blog post dedicated to Mai-Kai bar and cocktail updates
January 2025 update: Tiki gardens and new dining options opening as Mai-Kai menus get a refresh
Posted Jan. 19, 2025
Guests attending the Mai-Kai’s 68th anniversary celebration on Dec. 28 got a special treat with the unannounced reopening of the restaurant’s lush tropical gardens. The immersive walking path through paradise was totally refurbished with new water features, all new themed pavement (no more steps), new plants and landscaping, rebuilt wooden bridges and railings, themed fencing with carved poles and tikis, more flaming torches, seating and secret nooks for guests, plus a new secluded corridor for special events in the southwest corner of the property
• See video, photos, more anniversary coverage below
Within a few weeks, the water features were fully operational, waterfalls and streams throughout the massive rockwork rounding out the experience, along with the enveloping Polynesian soundtrack. It’s a totally sensory experience with some work still remaining, but it’s looking great. A traditional wedding spot will be added, along with table seating in the nooks and event space.
By mid-January, dinner service had resumed in the Lanai, the romantic area adjacent to the gardens. These tables are all under cover from the elements, offering a perfect view of the gardens and waterfalls. Tables are available both to the right (on the wooden deck) and to the left (in front of the Tahiti Room) as you walk out the back door.
If you’re looking for an alternative to the Polynesian show or don’t want to eat in the bars, ask for a table on the Lanai. Just note that happy hour prices on cocktails (half-priced every day until 7) apply only to the Bora Bora and Molokai bars. The Lanai is a great place to relax and enjoy a cocktail or small bite anytime in the evening.
The next space to return will be the 56-seat Tahiti Room, the rear indoor dining area with windows looking out into the gardens and vintage decor that dates back to the Mai-Kai’s 1970 expansion. As a non-showroom, it offers a more private spot to dine and also is perfect for large groups.
When it reopens, you can say goodbye to the white tablecloths, which were actually hiding the not-so-attractive old tables. “We’re making brand-new tables for the Tahiti room,” general manager Kern Mattei told us on Jan. 16. Custom-made using Hawaiian acacia wood, they will match the style of tables in the showroom.
The booths and chairs will remain the same, he said, and the tables will be set up in the same configuration. “The plan is to have a different type of wood for Samoa,” he said of the tables in the other rear dining room that has yet to reopen. Restoration of these rooms is otherwise complete. The reopening of Samoa, with its signature shrunken skulls and other exotic decor, must wait until restoration is completed on the area behind the showroom stage and its walking path is reopened.
If you walk back to the Lanai and gardens, be sure to check out the hut-like building that used to contain the Mai-Kai’s signature Chinese ovens. Since the old adjacent kitchen was moved to a new location, this room has been redesigned by creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller, complete with a new bridge that connects it directly to the garden’s walking path (all ADA-compliant). Note the work done on the exterior to make the walls and roof look distressed, a feature Allsmiller is still in the process of restoring. Coming soon: The return of the exterior lettering, upgraded with a special message.
• Previous coverage: Chinese oven space has vintage look, new purpose
Inside the room, Allsmiller kept the Chinese theme with beautiful red wallpaper and bamboo, accented by dark wood trim. It’s still being built out, but when it’s complete, the walls will include historic Mai-Kai photos and artifacts. “Guests can come in here and learn the story of the Mai-Kai,” Allsmiller said during a tour. “A lot of people don’t even realize what this place is.” Newbies will find it interesting, he said, and “our ‘ohana will love it.”
In the future, the room will also be used for special events and parties. During the holidays, it hosted the Mai-Kai’s Christmas tree. [See video] Tucked away in a back corner is one of the Mai-Kai’s vintage black velvet paintings along with a historic piece from Papua New Guinea that’s reportedly a sacrificial chair from the 1800s. The latter was earlier spotted in the gift shop.
More recently, the room has been flanked by four new tikis by Tom Fowner, the South Florida artist who created the trio of cannibals that bids you adieu as you leave the Mai-Kai driveway. [See previous coverage] Like the cannibals, he completed these carvings on-site, leaving the wood to rest before adding the finishing. The new tikis will likely find homes elsewhere around the property. Look for a future update on the new carvings by Fowner, plus another large tiki due to be installed soon.
We spotted the bricks from the old ovens stacked neatly in the back-of-house space where the old 1970s-era kitchen was located. They were carefully removed when the room was renovated, saved for a hopeful reassembly during a planned phase 2 of the restoration project that should include a kitchen expansion. This may also feature a window for guests to once again see them in action.
The current kitchen and service bar were built in old staff and office space that was not impacted by the roof collapse in October 2020, when the Mai-Kai was forced to shut down. Still without a roof, the old kitchen area in the southwest corner of the building contains large storage and freezer units, as well as mobile kitchen equipment in self-contained buildings that have recently been enhanced with wood plank facades similar to the outside of the building. Even beyond the view of guests, theming is important.
With the ovens gone, the burden falls on executive chef Ferdinand Ortiz and his team to step up with new flavors and dishes to meet the needs of both the modern diner and those looking for a classic Mai-Kai experience. The new kitchen employs combi ovens and other state-of-the-art equipment in addition to woks and other more traditional means to prepare the dishes on the Asian fusion menus.
• Previous coverage: Food menus offer a modern take with traditions intact
As we noted in our story on the vintage design of the menus (see link above), both the bar and main dinner menus were scheduled for an update after the initial rush of the November grand reopening. The rush continued through the holidays, but updated menus were in place by early 2025. We got our first peek on Jan. 3 (see images below). Please note that the expansive cocktail menu has not changed since the reopening, though the special menu for the signature after-dinner drinks is still in the works. [Previous coverage]
These “v2 menus” are not a major change from the originals. The retro design remains, and only one new dish was added. Mattei confirmed that the updates mainly were done to remove the low-selling items and to streamline the menus so that the kitchen could perform at peak efficiency. This goes hand-in-hand with the addition of more dinner seating as noted above. There were also some price adjustments, which we’ll note below.
Managing partner Bill Fuller echoed Mattei’s comments when we asked him about the food menus, calling them a “work in progress” as the offerings evolve over time. The Molokai Bar kitchen is still not fully operational the last time we checked, so a return to some of the traditional apps that defined the bar’s offerings in the past could be still in the works. As for the dinner menu, we’ve been impressed with the quality and integrity of the food, as well as the modern plating, especially considering how many guests the Mai-Kai serves with such complex logistics.
In addition to the 300+ seats in the showrooms, with orders hitting the chefs in waves up to three times a night, there are 150 seats in the Molokai and another potential 100 guests in the new Bora Bora Bar and restored outdoor Lanai seating. All have access to all of the food, no matter the location or time. This is an under-appreciated upgrade from the old days, when it was rare to see people eating dinner in the bar.
We took the photos of the menus around 4 p.m. on a Friday in the new Bora Bora Bar, where we spotted early birds enjoying dinner entrees. It’s also great to be able to order from the dinner menu during late hours in both bars, no reservation necessary. Please be patient while the staff continues to adjust and fine-tune both the look and tastes at this vintage treasure.
Following is a rundown on the major changes we noted on the menus between v.1 and v.2. The overall design is unchanged, though the color of the bar menu was adjusted slightly and “Since 1956” was added to the front of the dinner menu. The position of the items on the dinner menu was also adjusted, but the vintage look remains.
Molokai and Bora Bora menu: Reduced to 11 from 14 items with the removal of the house salad, Octopus Blowing Smoke Poke, and expensive scallop dish. One changed slightly: The garlic shrimp is now Crispy Rice Paper Shrimp (with the same green sauce). The Huli Huli BBQ Chicken is now billed as “24-hour Hawaiian BBQ glazed 1/2 chicken.” It’s also worth noting that several items received significant price reductions. The Luau Burger fell by 29 percent ($34 to $24), while the Kona-Braised Beef Short Ribs dropped by 20% (from $45 to $36). Also, the Double Trouble Poke Bowl ($34) was cut by $6, Extra-Crispy Korean Chicken Wings ($17) are $4 less, while the BBQ chicken ($26) and Crisp Cabbage Salad ($10) cost $2 less. There was just one increase: The Pupu Platter (for two) is $28, up from $24.
Dinner menu: There are now eight appetizers, down from 12. Gone are the kale, curry soup, house salad, and octopus poke. Six of the remaining are also on the bar menu, plus the wonton soup and calamari. The prices were adjusted so they’re the same on both menus. The kids menu remains the same with six items, all priced at $12. One side (baby bok choy) was dropped, leaving eight. The lobster ($17) and pork fried rice ($14) dishes increased ($5 and $2, respectively), but five other side dishes were reduced in price, some significantly. There are now four sides in the $6 to $9 range.
General Manager Kern Mattei showed off some of the Mai-Kai’s food and drinks during an interview with Miami’s CBS affiliate, WFOR-TV, channel 4. Watch the video here or below.
The entree menu was also simplified, reduced from 27 to 19 dishes, ranging from $17 to $48. The latter is the 10-ounce Aged New York Strip, a new item that replaces the $95 wagyu as the signature steak. Other expensive dishes removed were the filet mignon, lobster tails, lamb chops, pork tomahawk, whole red fish, duck, and scallops (all in the $55 to $80 range). The Peking Pork Stirfry was also jettisoned. Of the remaining entrees, nine saw price reductions, including the Pan-Roasted Mahi Mahi (down $11 to $34), and Pan-Roasted Salmon Misoyaki (down $6 to $29) . The short ribs, BBQ chicken, burger, and poke bowl prices were reduced to match the bar menu. There were five modest price increases ($1 to $3).
The one special entree worth noting is the 24-Hour Suckling Luau Pig, now listed as $350 (instead of market price) and spotlighted in the center of the menu. It serves four to six people (which equates to $58-$87) but must be ordered 72 hours in advance. Fuller told us that this has been the surprise hit of the menu, with many larger groups ordering the traditional Hawaiian dish.
The desserts were reduced to six from nine. This sadly includes the loss of the delicious Haupia Cocoa Puffs, along with the Coconut Leche Flan. The elaborate Angry Tiki Tower ($55) also got the boot. We consider the pastry department to be one of the kitchen’s strong suits, and some outstanding dishes remain, all still priced at $12. Be sure to save room for the bread pudding, upside-down cake, macadamia nut pie and key lime pie. You won’t be disappointed.
Note: All of the above menus are also posted on the MaiKai.com site, so be sure to check there for updates. We’ll post a story when the after-dinner drinks menu is released.
Mai-Kai timeline, 1956-2024: Iconic restaurant marks 68 years of Polynesian Pop history
Updated Jan. 3, 2025
For the first time since 2019, guests once again gathered for a full night of signature Mai-Kai cocktails, food and entertainment to celebrate the restaurant’s grand opening on Dec. 28, 1956. Closed since October 2020, the historic South Florida landmark reopened in November 2024 after a $20 million restoration and reimagination.
Hundreds of fans enjoyed happy hour from 3 to 7 p.m. in the vintage Molokai Bar and the new Bora Bora Bar outdoors under the porte-cochère. There were three dinner show seatings for the Polynesian Islander Revue at 4, 7 and 10 p.m. as the celebration continued all night.
The Mai-Kai, which is still in the final stages of the multi-year renovation project launched in 2022, held an anniversary party in the parking lot in 2020 after a catastrophic roof collapse over the kitchen shut down service indoors two months earlier. The popular restaurant persevered, securing new ownership and a creative team that is taking great care to meticulously restore every square inch of the 26,000-square-foot space.
In addition, ambitious new features have been added to the exterior, including a themed entryway that immediately whisks guests into an exotic tropical paradise. Opening to guests for sneak previews on Nov. 15, the Mai-Kai held its ceremonial grand reopening Nov. 21 and return of the signature dinner shows Nov. 22.
With an emphasis on the important activity in recent years, here’s a look back at some key dates and events over the course of the Mai-Kai’s long history:
Dec. 28, 1956 – Young and ambitious Chicago brothers Bob and Jack Thornton fulfill their dream by opening a Polynesian restaurant on a sleepy stretch of Federal Highway in Oakland Park, bordering Fort Lauderdale in South Florida. It cost $350,000 to create, reportedly the most expensive restaurant built that year. They name it Mai-Kai, which means “the best” in Hawaiian. The futuristic A-frame design is the work of acclaimed architect Charles F. McKirahan Sr. The restaurant seats 225 guests in five dining rooms and the Surfboard Bar. Key members of the team include manager Bob Van Dorpe, mixologist Mariano Licudine and chef Kenny Lee, who all come from the Don the Beachcomber location in Chicago and bring a rich institutional knowledge of the pioneering Polynesian restaurant concept.
1957 – In its first year, the Mai-Kai earns more than $1 million, making it one of the most successful restaurants of its time.
• SEE THE FULL CHRONOLOGY AND PHOTOS
2024 anniversary, New Year’s Eve photos & video
Is it 1956 or 2024? Forward-thinking Mai-Kai menus sport retro flair
Posted Dec. 5, 2024
This is part 1 in a series exploring the new cocktail and food menus at the historic Mai-Kai. In future stories, we’ll examine the drinks and the food in depth.
Since the Mai-Kai celebrated its grand reopening in mid-November, fans flocking back to 3599 N. Federal Highway in Oakland Park have been dazzled by the renovation and reimagination of the 67-year-old Tiki temple. This includes a painstaking rehabilitation of the Molokai Bar, the massive showroom under the vintage 40-foot A-frame, as well as all the surrounding dining rooms and other guest areas.
Much of the interior looks as good as it has since a 1970 expansion project that marked the last major design overhaul. For this, we can thank creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller and his team of artists, including Scott “Flounder” Scheidly, Tom Fowner, and Conrad Teheiura Itchener.
• Mai-Kai Restoration & Reopening: Full story and photo archive
But there are a few new additions to this throwback experience that may have escaped notice, right under the noses of many guests. The food and drink menus now boast a vintage look and feel that dates all the way back to the early days of the Mai-Kai. Let’s take a closer look at menus, their links to the past, and some breaking news on what’s coming next.
• Click here for the deep dive into the design and history, plus news on what’s next
Direct links to full coverage
• The cocktail menu: Welcome back to paradise, 1950s style
• The food menus: A modern take with traditions intact
• The cannibal trio: Mai-Kai’s signature iconography
Answers to frequently asked questions about the Mai-Kai
Updated July 13, 2025
It’s hard to imagine more interest in a restaurant reopening than the hoopla surrounding the return of the historic Mai-Kai after its $20 million rejuvenation in November 2024. More than three years in the making, the restoration and reimagination not only returned the 67-year-old Polynesian Palace to its vintage 1970s-era look, it also created an entirely new experience outside and around the grounds. Just as important, it created a solid infrastructure that will ensure its survival for generations to come.
We created a FAQ for the Friends of the Mai-Kai group on Facebook, which includes more than 23,000 members and continues to grow. Due to the overwhelming response, we wanted to provide the most official information we can find, along with our own tips and advice. It will be updated in tandem with Facebook, containing the latest helpful info for anyone planning a visit to the Mai-Kai. Feel free to follow either, or both. As always, go to MaiKai.com for the most official info and sign up for the email list to receive the latest news.
Mai-Kai celebrates grand reopening, return of signature dinner shows
Updated Nov. 24, 2024
The Mai-Kai’s new ownership and management celebrated the grand reopening with a special ceremony on Nov. 21 featuring Teuruhei Buchin and members of the Polynesian Islander Revue. Speakers included Mai-Kai managing partner Bill Fuller, Florida state Rep. Chip LaMarca, and Oakland Park Mayor Tim Lonergan.
Later during dinner, the new Polynesian Islander Revue made its full public debut on the showroom stage during a reopening event for friends and family.
More videos
• Legendary Mai-Kai Polynesian dinner theater reopens after four-year renovation (CBS Miami)
• Fort Lauderdale’s famous Mai-Kai officially reopens after $20M renovation (Deco Drive)
Media coverage
• Historic Mai-Kai reopens after $20 million remake (Florida Rambler)
• At the reopened Mai-Kai, more glory days may still be yet to come (New Pelican)
UPDATED: Mai-Kai announces grand reopening, offers dinner show reservations starting Nov. 22
Posted Nov. 21, 2024
If you thought the excitement over the special preview events underway at South Florida’s historic Mai-Kai this week were thrilling, you ain’t seen nothing yet. After opening the new Bora Bora Bar and vintage Molokai Lounge starting Nov. 15, the newly refurbished and reimagined restaurant will begin offering dinner seating for its acclaimed Polynesian Islander Revue starting Friday (Nov. 22) after a reopening ceremony on Thursday.
GO TO MAIKAI.COM NOW TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS!
Existing bar reservations that have been made through Sunday (Nov. 24) will be honored, but guests who want to see the dinner show will need to make a separate reservation via the link above. For the first time, the new online system enables you to select a specific table for the shows, offered multiple times every night. There is a per-person charge for the show, which varies by date, time and location of the seats.
The Mai-Kai sent an invitation to its email list subscribers that promotes three shows on Friday (5, 8 and 11 p.m.) and Saturday (4, 7 and 10 p.m.), with two on Sunday (4 and 7 p.m.). The restaurant will be closed Monday (Nov. 25). Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, Nov. 26, including walk-ups for happy hour. Check the booking link for available dates and times.
• Click here to see the announcement
The 45-minute performances offer “a glimpse into traditional Polynesian heritage through the use of authentic music, dance, original costumes and artifacts,” according to the official Mai-Kai announcement. “The team incorporated state-of-the-art tech, with DMX-controlled lighting, allowing customized spotlights for each individual table. Members of the troupe represent many islands in the South Pacific, including Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, New Zealand and the Philippines.”
The Polynesian Islander Revue is considered to be the oldest continually-running authentic South Seas stage show in the United States (including Hawaii), est. in 1962. The revue reflects the music and culture of each island by interpreting ancient stories through song and dance.
The new cultural arts & entertainment director is Teuruhei Buchin, who has performed in Polynesian dance troupes since turning professional at age 11. She has assembled a team of 24 performers, including many with deep connections to the Mai-Kai and its history. The performers and show band, which includes longtime musician Conrad Teheiura Itchener, have been rehearsing since September and are primed for the opening.
The preview parties this week have included many of the performers, including fire-knife dancers, hula dancers, and band members. In addition to the hundreds of seats for the dinner shows, extensive bar seating will continue to be available. A daily happy hour in the bars includes 50 percent off most of the Mai-Kai’s famous cocktails from opening until 7 p.m. The current opening times are 4 p.m. weekdays and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
The press release touts the bar’s “57 specialty drinks, a full-service bar and wine list.” Chief mixologist Cory Starr has reinvigorated the restaurant’s classic Tiki drinks while adding his own modern interpretations. Both classic and new custom-designed mugs will be available for purchase.
The food menu has also been transformed by a new culinary team. It “draws inspiration from the bold flavors of Polynesia, showcasing tropical fruits and aromatic spices,” according the release. “While showcasing vibrant new flavors, the menu pays homage to the original menu, with several signature dishes that have been beloved for over 50 years. Timeless signature items include the Pupu Platter, which offers an assortment of Mai-Kai favorites including Shanghai Chicken; Crispy Pork & Snow Crab Egg Roll; Classic Cheese Tangs & Mai-Kai Crab Rangoon. The BBQ Ribs; Peking Duck and Shanghai Chicken are also familiar favorites that have returned to the Polynesian-inspired menu. For dessert, guests can indulge in tropical fruit creations such as the Asian Pear Upside Down Cake, made with Vietnamese coffee ice cream and rum caramel sauce; the Mauna Loa Macadamia, made with nut pie; sweet cinnamon-vanilla filling and crushed macadamia nuts; as well as the Angry Tiki Tower, featuring an assortment of mochi, macadamia ice cream sandwiches, lychees and grapes.”
After dining, be sure to peruse the extensive gift shop, aka the Mai-Kai Trading Post. Here you will find not only Mai-Kai branded clothing and merchandise, but colorful new items by some of the Tiki scene’s top artists and craftspeople. Featuring an elaborate Asian theme that matches the award-winning women’s restroom, the trading post is located just behind the main showroom and now offers unique views of building’s vast A-frame and dining areas as well as a peek into the formerly secret back service bar.
Regarding the ambitious restoration, the press release states:
At the time of its original construction in the early 1950’s, the Mai-Kai cost $350,000, and it was considered to be the most expensive restaurant construction project ever in the United States. The current $20+ million improvement of the 2.7-acre property designed by Kravit Architectural Associates protects the original old charm of the Mai-Kai while modernizing the experience. In the updated Mai-Kai, as guests exit their cars, they will feel as if they are stepping onto an island shore, a sandy beach and then a lava-rock slab, thanks to the stamped and etched concrete design elements used by Perry-Becker Design. The restaurant’s interior design was brought to life with the expertise of “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller and a talented team of artisans.
This was all made possible by the founding Thornton family’s September 2021 sale of a controlling interest in the Mai-Kai to a new ownership team led by historic preservationist Bill Fuller of the Miami-based Barlington Group. Another company co-owned by Fuller, Mad Room Hospitality, is handling the operations.
The new owner talked about the significance of the historic property in the press release:
“The Mai-Kai’s legacy is iconic. I remember visiting the Mai-Kai as a child, teen and adult, each time more memorable than the last. Partnering with the Thornton family on the restoration of the Mai-Kai isn’t just business for me, it’s a passion. I’m here to honor the family’s hard work preparing the Mai-Kai for the next generation of guests. The brand they’ve built will have a bright future and continue to develop, never losing sight of what they have created back in 1956. Each guest that walks through the door will feel the energy that Bob and Jack Thornton originally created,” says Bill Fuller, managing partner of the Mai-Kai.
Media coverage
• Fort Lauderdale’s Historic Mai-Kai Returns After a $20 Million Glow-Up (Eater Miami)
Mai-Kai hosts preview of bars in advance of grand reopening
Updated Nov. 19, 2024
The Mai-Kai is presenting a series of special invitation-only preview events in the historic Molokai Bar and new Bora Bora Bar beginning Friday, Nov. 15. An invitation went out via email with the subject “Exclusive Invitation for Our Friends and Family: Reopening Week at The MAI-KAI!” If offers reservations to the special events though Nov. 24.
The Mai-Kai’s director of operations, Darius Green, posted an official announcement on the popular Friends of the Mai-Kai group on Facebook. As the opening approaches, new members have joined the group at a frantic pace. As of this writing, membership is 16,640 and growing by the hour.
Following is the complete statement from Green, who joined the Mai-Kai team from Mad Room Hospitality, the restaurant operations group co-owned by new Mai-Kai managing partner Bill Fuller, a Miami-based historic preservationist.
Aloha, Friends of the MAI-KAI!
We’re excited to announce the PREVIEW OPENING of our newly reimagined Bora Bora and Molokai bars today! This exclusive event is invite-only and reservations are required.
Please do not arrive without a reservation.
Invitations will be sent to select groups within the hour. Seating is limited, and we appreciate your understanding as we ensure a memorable experience for all.
If you’re on our mailing list but don’t receive an invite today, don’t worry! Additional invitations will be released over the next day or two, and reservations for the general public will follow soon after.
Mahalo for your patience and excitement – we can’t wait to welcome you!
It’s not yet known if the full public opening will come immediately after the preview events. Reservations are not yet available for dinner seating and the Polynesian Islander Revue, the oldest continually-running authentic South Seas stage show in the United States, including Hawaii.
Guests at the preview events may notice work ongoing on some of the outdoor areas of the restaurant, such as the water and rock features that span the vast frontage along Federal Highway. The back Tiki garden is also still under renovation and won’t be accessible during the private parties along with the dining rooms. The gift shop is also not operating yet..
Multiple permits still need to be approved before a full-scale opening can be announced. But, as Green noted in his announcement, that is expected to happen soon. Sign up at MaiKai.com to be alerted when reservations are available.
In the meantime, these private openings will give the staff of 200+ servers, bartenders, cooks and others an opportunity to get real-time practice in anticipation of the many loyal guests who have been without the Mai-Kai since the October 2020 closing.
Those attending the preview openings will be able to enjoy the full cocktail menu, which includes most the classic drinks – many dating back to the 1956 opening. There’s also a section of 12 new tropical drinks created by beverage director Cory Starr. While all of the classics feature rum, many of the new cocktails are designed for fans of other spirits – namely tequila, bourbon, and vodka.
Also expect a menu of dishes that have been under development by the Mai-Kai’s chef and culinary team for more than two months. Many of these new items take traditional faux Polynesian and Asian cuisine in new, modern directions. As always, the new food pairs perfectly with the cocktails and immersive atmosphere.
Live entertainment is also being provided by musicians and performers from the Polynesian Islander Revue. Happy hour runs from opening (4 p.m. weekdays, 3 p.m Saturday-Sunday) until 7 p.m.
• If you receive an invitation, click here here for some answers to common questions.
See previous updates below and check back for full coverage of the preview events on The Atomic Grog.
Related blog posts
• Mai-Kai welcomes Cory Starr as new chief mixologist in advance of grand reopening
• Inside the Molokai Bar and tour of the Mai-Kai restoration
Mai-Kai announces reservations and reopening coming ‘very soon’
Four years and five days after the October 2020 closing due to a catastrophic kitchen roof collapse, the Mai-Kai made a long-awaited announcement on social media Oct. 30, 2024, that indicates the reopening of the historic restaurant is right around the corner. The statement reads:
We are excited to welcome you back to MAI-KAI! Please continue to check here for updates as we prepare to announce reservation information and open our doors very soon.
The statement appeared on both the official Facebook and Instagram pages. It was immediately met with a huge response. Within an hour, the Facebook post received 750 responses, 70 comments, and 75 shares. The Instagram image garnered 1,300 likes and 70 comments.
Interest has been high following media reports last week that mentioned a November reopening date. While the new statement made no reference to a particular date, it likely sets the stage for such an announcement. All indications point to a target date some time in November. In addition to monitoring social media for further announcements, guests can sign up for the email list at MaiKai.com to be alerted when reservations are available.
As with all restaurant openings, guests cannot be allowed to enter and purchase food and beverages until all appropriate permits and licenses have been approved by the state, county and city. But this is no ordinary restaurant opening. After a sale to a new ownership team in September 2021, the Mai-Kai embarked on a massive restoration and reimagination of the 2.7 acre property.
Recent media reports have estimated the cost of the restoration project at $17.5 to $20 million. This includes replacing all of the 68-year-old landmark’s infrastructure, from the kitchen and bar to the air-conditioning, plumbing, and electrical systems.
Amid this work, great care was taken to retain and restore as much of the restaurant’s design and decor as possible. The property is officially designated as historic by both the city of Oakland Park and the National Register of Historic Places. As such, approval of the over-arching project hinged on many conditions that stipulate many iconic elements remain.
The historic nature of the property, along with the massive size and scope of the project, contributed to a timeline that has extended past many previous estimates. But with work clearly in the homestretch, it appears that the light at the end of the tunnel for the Mai-Kai’s many fans is fast approaching.
Mai-Kai welcomes Cory Starr as new chief mixologist in advance of grand reopening
Updated Nov. 4, 2024
The revered cocktail program at the Mai-Kai is in experienced and enthusiastic hands as the historic restaurant prepares for its grand reopening in November. The new beverage manager and head bartender is Cory Starr, most recently general manager and beverage director at the acclaimed Tiki Tatsu-Ya in Austin, and before that a key member of the team at Three Dots and a Dash in Chicago.
While Starr is used to creating unique offerings at his previous gigs, he’s equally excited about the challenge that lies ahead. “I feel a great responsibility for maintaining the standards of the past,” he said in an interview with The Atomic Grog just after his arrival.
Starr worked at Tiki Tatsu-Ya from 2019 until September 2023, creating the cocktail program from the ground-up before the spectacularly immersive restaurant opened in September 2021. Prior to that, he bartended at the Spirited Award-winning Three Dots and a Dash from 2015 to 2019, often joining beverage director Kevin Beary at events across the country.
The Arizona native cut his teeth as a tropical bartender at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on Hawaii’s Kona Coast from 2011 to 2015. Starr was also invited to compete twice (2018 and 2019) in the prestigious Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Festival at the Royal Kona Resort (finishing second and third). His time in Hawaii cemented is love for Tiki culture and launched him on a trajectory that has taken him to one of the most legendary Polynesian restaurants of the mid-20th century.
FULL STORY: MEET THE MAI-KAI’S NEW HEAD BARTENDER
• Take 5: Q&A with Cory Starr
• Bonus cocktail recipe: One Way Ticket
Excitement builds on Friends of the Mai-Kai group on Facebook
Posted Oct. 30, 2024
The most popular of several Facebook groups dedicated to the Mai-Kai has recently topped more than 12,000 members as the restaurant’s grand reopening nears. Dozens of new members have been joining Friends of the Mai-Kai daily in search of news and information, plus the camaraderie of other longtime fans of the Polynesian palace.
“I recently joined because we have great memories,” one new member posted. Another wrote: “I love this place and can’t wait for it to reopen! It’s iconic!” Many shared photos and video from recent times as well as decades ago.
The group’s members include many experts as well as former and current Mai-Kai staff who can answer almost any questions newcomers may have. Moderators include Mai-Kai managers was well as Jim “Hurricane” Hayward of The Atomic Grog, and Tim “Swanky” Glazner, author of Mai-Kai: History and Mystery of the Iconic Tiki Restaurant.
Established eight years ago on Oct. 26, 2016, the group has always been a civil, no-spam zone for Mai-Kai virgins and veterans alike. A mention in a recent Miami New Times story also likely helped spur new membership. The group is also one of the top results when you search for “Mai-Kai reopening” on Google.
After the reopening, this group will be the best place to share and see images and experiences from inside and outside the painstakingly restored property. If you haven’t joined already, we hope to see you among the many new Friends of the Mai-Kai!
Press reports on Mai-Kai reopening
Posted Oct. 30, 2024
Local daily and weekly papers tout prospective November date
The South Florida Sun Sentinel was the first media outlet to report the prospective opening date for the Mai-Kai with a breaking news story posted online Oct. 22. The initial report was sketchy, but the story was later updated with a more detailed announcement attributed to owner Bill Fuller. Here’s the MSN.com version of the story, which does not require a subscription:
• Mai-Kai restaurant announces opening date after four-year closure
“We want to make the Mai-Kai one of the best and biggest Polynesian venues in the world,” Fuller told the Sun Sentinel. “This is a cultural place we took extreme care to restore, while also honoring the Thornton family and showing great respect to history.” The cost of the project was said to be $17.5 million.
The story ran in print on Oct. 24, a new photo splashed across the front page. It shows a worker renovating the water features in front the Mai-Kai along Federal Highway.
Even moreso than for revealing the date, which had yet to be posted officially by the Mai-Kai, the story is significant for its news on the Polynesian Islander Revue and the introduction of new entertainment director Teuruhei Kalaniu’i Buchin. She “is of Hawaiian and Tahitian descent and has performed in Polynesian dance troupes since turning professional at age 11,” the story says.
Working with Mireille Thornton, widow of Mai-Kai cofounder Bob Thornton, they have “assembled a lineup of 24 performers connected to Polynesian culture, including the great-grandchildren of Merehau Tekurio, who designed the Mai-Kai’s original tropical gardens; and Buchin’s two daughters, who dance, sing and perform ukulele, guitar, bass and drums.”
Buchin told the Sun Sentinel that she was attracted to the job by the “exquisite attention to detail” in the restoration of the Mai-Kai’s decor. The story quotes her as saying: “What people see as decorations on the wall, I perceive as my ancestors. If they went the fancy, commercial route with LED lights on everything, I would have declined the job. But I met a lot of the artists working on these relics, and it was tactfully done with respect. Yes, we are a business, but we’re also keeping our families and our mana – our spirituality – intact.”
The story also quotes creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller, who came to the Mai-Kai after a 20-year career in theme park design, including Universal and Disney parks. “When I first started, it was falling apart and in disrepair, so I’m really proud to bring the old girl back to her original glory,” Allsmiller says. “We just gave her another 68 years of life.”
The story continues: “One of Allsmiller’s favorite new additions is a service bar, visible through a porthole in the gift shop, where customers can watch five bartenders mixing cocktails. Mounted in this bar is a black-and-white photograph of Mariano Licudine, who created the Mai-Kai’s cocktail recipes in 1956, receiving a diamond-encrusted money clip from founders Bob and Jack Thornton. It’s one of many new decorations most customers may not notice, he says.”
“Only 1% of the public will even see that,” Allsmiller says. “It’s truly for the people who work there to see, so they can be transported back in time just like the fans.”
Also for longtime fans is a second story posted on the Sun Sentinel website titled “From Tiki to Eternity: The Mai-Kai shook up South Florida supperclub scene when it opened nearly 70 years ago. It’s doing it again”.
Longtime South Florida writer John Dolen sums up the current state of the Mai-Kai nicely:
In 2020, after a devastating roof collapse in a pounding rainstorm, Fort Lauderdale’s landmark supperclub seemed finished. For those who had enjoyed its pleasures over the years, the exotic Polynesian dance revues, the gardens and waterfalls, the South Pacific masks and artifacts, the tropical Asian dishes, the world-renowned Tiki Bar – the question was, would the Mai-Kai ever reopen?
The answer, years in the making, is yes. The return is scheduled for Nov. 1, and by all signs, this special place will be as spectacular as ever. Three years of planning and construction have endowed the tropical retreat with a new and rethatched A-frame roof; a rebuilt Molokai bar; a new entrance way to reduce congestion (running over a wooden bridge to a roundabout); a new outdoor patio bar in a nautical setting; and an interior replicating all of the original bewitching Mai-Kai features. Patrons are likely to find the “new” Mai-Kai both fresh and familiar.
He then takes readers on a rollicking journey back in time, when the Mai-Kai “opened famously on what was previously a cow pasture alongside U.S. 1, on Dec. 28, 1956.” As Dolen succinctly says: “Stepping out locally would never be the same.”
Mai-Kai history has been told and retold in books and articles, but I’m always looking for new insights and stories. Dolen delivers here, telling the tale of founders Bob and Jack Thornton in colorful detail, with a new spin here and there. This story is highly recommended for history buffs. There’s also an audio link if you’d rather listen to the story.
Meanwhile, the weekly Miami New Times also shared the news on Oct. 22 with an updated story on the latest reopening timeframe. Headlined “Here’s When the Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale is Officially Reopening,” the article also became the cover story of the print edition that hit the streets on Oct. 24.
“The restaurant made it unscathed after the two hurricanes,” the story says. “According to a source, the reopening announcement is ‘imminent.'” (Not coincidentally, The Atomic Grog was the first to post a story saying that exact same thing.)
In a second story posted online Oct. 23, New Times spotlighted “9 Things You Can Expect at Mai-Kai Once Doors Reopen.” These include many of the renovated classic elements (Molokai Bar, themed dining rooms, tropical gardens) but also some new features.
“The $20 million improvement of the property designed by Kravitz Design protects the original old charm of Mai-Kai while modernizing the experience,” New Times said.
The story mentions the updated Polynesian Islander Revue, revealing new details: “The twice-nightly, 45-minute performances will incorporate state-of-the-art technology with DMX-controlled lighting, allowing customized spotlights for each table.” It also touts the enhanced entry experience: “As guests exit their cars, ‘they will feel as if they are stepping onto an island shore, a sandy beach, and then a lava-rock slab,’ thanks to the stamped and etched concrete design elements used by Perry-Becker Design.”
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