The Mai-Kai is rolling out the red carpet for The Hukilau this week as hundreds of revelers roll into South Florida for the 24th annual weekender that celebrates vintage and modern Tiki culture. Headquartered at the oceanfront Beachcomber Resort in nearby Pompano Beach, the June 3-7 event includes four days and nights at the historic restaurant. Jump to more below
• Special cocktail menu to include four retired classic
• Updated Atomic Grog cocktail rankings, history
Musicians and performers from the Mai-Kai’s Polynesian Islander Revue welcome guest bartenders to a special dinner in the restaurant’s Tahiti Room on Wednesday, June 3. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
The event’s “villagers,” some who travel from around the world to attend, will be treated to bands and guest pop-up bars, a brand new Mai-Kai dinner show, a special theatrical drum show, new food and cocktails (featuring a menu of lost classics), plus the exclusive Florida appearance of retro pop culture humorist Charles Phoenix. [See the full schedule below]
Meanwhile, executive chef Justin Sherrer and beverage director Cory Starr continue to upgrade the food and beverage programs. Updated menus (food and cocktails) were released earlier this year. For The Hukilau, Sherrer and Starr (who is also the restaurant’s general manager), have teamed up to release an exclusive event menu featuring four dishes and four cocktails available only June 4 through June 7. [Full preview below]
Guests attending The Hukilau in South Florida on June 3-7 are encouraged to relax and enjoy the unique surroundings, a totally immersive escape from the craziness of today’s modern world. These “villagers” have ample opportunity to unwind at the oceanfront Beachcomber Resort & Club in Pompano Beach, then step back in time at the historic Mai-Kai restaurant in nearby Fort Lauderdale.
Highlights of The Hukilau 2026 include pop culture entertainer Charles Phoenix and simian surf band The Disasternauts, seen performing in 2024 (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
But they can’t relax too much. Like most other Tiki weekenders, the 24th annual event includes a robust schedule full of live music and other performances, tastings of craft cocktails and spirits, symposiums hosted by experts in their respective fields, plus a marketplace containing 30 vendors selling a wide range of art and collectibles.
This is the event’s sixth straight year at the Beachcomber, a small boutique hotel just steps from the Atlantic, and the 19th full live event at the Mai-Kai (est. 1956), generally considered to be the last remaining mid-century Polynesian supper club in the world. Many of this year’s participants are new to both The Hukilau and Tiki events in general, so it will be fun to enjoy the diversity and variety amid the familiar surroundings.
The Hukilau 2026 – June 3-7 at the Beachcomber Resort & Club in Pompano Beach and Mai-Kai restaurant in Oakland Park. Featuring live music, special guests, symposiums and classes, 20 guest cocktail bars, pool parties, Tiki Treasures Bazaar, plus more. Buy tickets:Weekend passes, Charles Phoenix presentation Book a room:More info on the Beachcomber
• The Hukilau on social media: Instagram | Facebook page and group
While the official schedule is full of activities every day, villagers can participate at their own pace, a literal “build your own Tiki adventure” weekend of sorts. We hope to guide you through some of the highlights with this extensive preview of the bands, symposiums and pop-up bars. Complimentary cocktails flow nearly non-stop every day and night, one of the most under-appreciated features of the event. Sponsors Ron Diplomatico and Tanduay will also offer complimentary rum tastings throughout the weekend.
Five-day tickets range from $489 for the Aloha Pass to $659 for the all-inclusive South Seas Pass. The best bet for locals and those coming in at the last minute is the two-day Palm Pass ($199), which gets you access to most of Saturday’s festivities (including unlimited cocktails and the vendor marketplace), plus Sunday’s finale at the Mai-Kai. Rooms at the Beachcomber are still available starting at $255 (plus fees) per night. You must buy an event pass online first, then call (954) 941-7830 to book through the resort.
The Hukilau’s official 2026 glassware by H.C. Warner, free to South Seas passholders. The Atlanta-based artist also designed the event flyer above.
Check out the links below to our previous coverage. The first story includes details on the special tribute to the late Danny ‘Tiki Diablo’ Gallardo at the Mai-Kai, plus a full rundown on the Tiki Treasures Bazaar vendors. The second covers the exclusive Florida appearance of pop-culture expert Charles Phoenix during the Sunday finale at the Mai-Kai.
For 2026, Mulder decided to go back to The Hukilau’s roots for inspiration. The mug is a nod to the event’s “Huki” character, designed by artist Kevin Kidney in the event’s early days. Kidney was inspired by Tangaroa, the principal deity of the sea, rivers and all aquatic life in Polynesian and Maori mythology. As envisioned by The Hukilau’s founders in 2002, the event’s name is a play on the traditional communal fishing tradition in Hawaiian culture, made famous in song.
The Hukilau official 2026 mug in production at Eeekum Bookum in St. Petersburg. (Photos provided by John Mulder)
At The Hukilau, the intention is to cast a net out into the ocean of Tiki culture and pull villagers to shore for a weekend of communal festivities. Kidney was an early influencer in the fledgling 1990s Tiki subculture, and also known for his extensive work (with partner Jody Daily) at Disney theme parks. In addition to the logo, he created other artwork for the event including glassware and the 2009 event mug based on Huki.
Mulder told us that the goal of the new mug is to “stay true to the Tangaroa and fisherman god with an eye to the Kevin Kidney logo.” The fish that you see front and center on the mug is also from Kidney’s design of the original logo. The mug is currently in the final steps of production in Mulder’s Eeekum Bookum studio in St. Petersburg. [See 2025 video tour]
Since reopening in late 2024 following a $20 million restoration and reimagination, the historic Mai-Kai restaurant has reestablished itself as the “mothership” of the Tiki revival, not only in Florida but for fans around the world. Guests new and old are flocking back to experience the magic of the last remaining mid-century Polynesian supper club, est. 1956.
The Hukilau, the East Coast’s longest-running event celebrating Polynesian Pop culture, returns June 3-7 with an expansive schedule that includes three days and nights at the Mai-Kai as well as an immersive weekend at the oceanfront Beachcomber Resort in nearby Pompano Beach. The Mai-Kai will host the signature Friday night main event, plus a special presentation on Sunday with acclaimed pop culture humorist Charles Phoenix, called “the King of Retro” by the The New York Times.
This story will preview the “Floridaland” slideshow on the Mai-Kai’s showroom stage on June 7, when Phoenix will roast and toast the Florida tourist experience in the ’50s and ’60s. It will also include the latest info on other happenings at the Mai-Kai during The Hukilau, including a special tribute to the late artist Danny “Tiki Diablo” Gallardo.
South Florida’s Slip and the Spinouts play the Molokai Bar on May 22. They’ll be joined during The Hukilau on June 5 by The Intoxicators from Tallahassee. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward and the Mai-Kai / July 2025)
While attendees from near and far are expected for The Hukilau, locals will have many opportunities to enjoy a plethora of Mai-Kai events in the coming weeks. We’ll detail the full entertainment schedule, including live music in both the Molokai and Bora Bora bars.
Finally, we’ll whet your appetite with ratings and reviews of all the Mai-Kai’s appetizers on the current menu, which was updated in February. Do we pooh-pooh the Pupu Platter? Read the full story to find out.
The Hukilau features pool parties and live bands including The Disasternauts at the oceanfront Beachcomber Resort in Pompano Beach. (Official photos)
The Hukilau to feature special pop culture presentation at the Mai-Kai
The Mai-Kai has been closely associated with The Hukilau since 2003, when the fledgling Tiki weekender moved from Atlanta in its second year to be closer to the vintage restaurant. That kinship only grew over time, to the point that now the two are “joined at the hip,” as organizer Richard Oneslager said in our preview of this year’s event.
The event features four full days of Tiki cocktails, pool parties, live music, vendors, symposiums, and a total takeover of the oceanfront Beachcomber Resort & Club in Pompano Beach, 12 miles northeast of the Mai-Kai. When combined with outings to the beloved restaurant, the event becomes a unique tropical escape for guests. These “villagers” can choose from a variety of passes ranging at $199 for two days to $649 for the elite South Seas pass. Rooms at the resort start at $255 (plus fees) per night. For slightly more, you can get an ocean view.
Charles Phoenix last appeared at Mai-Kai during The Hukilau in 2008, the event’s sixth year in South Florida. (Photos: Tiki Central)
Just announced for Sunday (June 7) is a special presentation by Charles Phoenix, a retro pop culture expert known for his high-energy shows featuring a treasure trove of authentic photos he has culled from the archives of mid-century tourists. Scheduled for noon on the Mai-Kai’s main stage, “Floridaland” is sure to be a wild and wacky trip back to the 1950s and ’60s.
Expect a hilarious tour through the best (and worst) roadside attractions, tourist traps, motels and hotels, plus more. It’s the perfect way to wrap up a fun-filled weekend at the Mai-Kai and the Beachcomber. Priority seating for this 90-minute show is available now for South Seas passholders for just $25. Tickets for other passholders (and the general public) are also available.
The last time Phoenix appeared at The Hukilau was 18 years ago, at the 2008 event, when he also did a presentation on the showroom stage at the Mai-Kai. In addition to “Floridaland,” the Sunday festivities will include live music and likely a few pop-up bars. Enjoy the jazz standards, bossa nova, and Latin sounds of Jackie Colada all day in the Molokai Bar.
The Mai-Kai’s Polynesian Islander Revue will launch a new show during The Hukilau on June 5. (Marina Anderson / Mai-Kai photo)
The Mai-Kai was a special place for Gallardo and his wife, Stephanie Mehr. He made the restaurant’s carvings and artwork the subject of many Tiki mugs over the years. They also tried to attend and sell their wares at The Hukilau whenever they could, including last year. Mehr has been invited to attend the memorial event, which will also include a charity raffle of some of Gallardo’s last pendants he made for The Hukilau.
Just three years old, an infant in terms of Tiki revival weekenders, Orlando’s Tiki-a-Go-Go has already grown into one of the premiere events on the annual calendar. This year’s gathering, happening March 27-29 at the Caribe Royale Resort, is loaded with some of the biggest names in the scene and chock full of activities for guests.
Not surprisingly, tickets sold out way in advance. We’ll be there to share a special presentation on the past, present and future of Tiki in the Sunshine State (Sunday at 11:30 a.m.). If you missed out on tickets, you can still meet up with the gathered masses at Sunday’s Magical Tiki Meet Up and Monday’s after-party at the Mai-Kai. PREVIEW:Tiki-a-Go-Go 2026 seminar to explore the past, present and future of Florida Tiki
Shag with his latest print, “The Happiest Place,” released March 21. The California artist designed special glassware and the event poster for Tiki-a-Go-Go 2026. (The Shag Store)
Launched in 2024 by two Florida couples with a passion for Tiki and retro Florida, Tiki-a-Go-Go has blossomed in a state that’s proving to be fertile ground for the subculture’s continued evolution. The event also attracts fans from around the country (and world), drawn to Central Florida’s robust and welcoming tourist market.
While the event has yet to encounter growing pains that have challenged other events (venue changes, pandemics, etc.), we see no signs of its popularity slowing down anytime soon. It can be daunting for newbies to negotiate the schedule’s vast array of activities, so we’ve tried to highlight some of the things we’re looking forward to below. SEE BELOW:Our Top 5 highlights | Basic daily schedule
Tiki-a-Go-Go 2026 event artwork by Shag.
March 27-29 – Tiki-a-Go-Go at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando. Featuring symposiums and classes (Shag, Kevin Kidney & Jody Daily, Sven Kirsten, Tiki Tony Murphy, Spike Marble, Garret Richard, Marie King, Tim “Swanky” Glazner, Henrik & Denise Van Ryzin, “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller, Scott “Flounder” Scheidly, et al.), guest cocktail bars and bartenders, live music (Los Straitjackets, The Neanderthals, The Sound Minds, The Swingin’ Palms, Skinny Jimmy Stingray), supper club, burlesque, artists and vendors, and more.
• Bonus event:Magical Tiki Meet Up on March 29 at the Magic Kingdom and Polynesian Village Resort at Walt Disney World.
• Tiki-a-Go-Go on social media: Instagram | YouTube | Facebook page and group
Last year’s event built on the success of the first, welcoming many top experts in their respective fields, plus some longtime favorite performers (Tikiyaki Orchestra, The Intoxicators, et al.). Guest bars and room parties kicked the nightly parties into high gear, and sponsors were abundant. The Caribe Royale is a large resort with vast convention space and a tropical environment dotted with pools and palm trees, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Not mentioned above or below is one other major strength of Tiki-a-Go-Go worth touting. The number of rum and spirits companies, bars and related industry participants is impressive, totaling around 40 sponsors. They range from Angostura to Tanduay, from Bar Tiki to The Honu, all contributing great products and aloha. More sponsors usually means more free samples and benefits for guests, which is always a good thing as event tickets don’t come cheap.
Tiki-a-Go-Go 2026: Top 5 things we don’t want to miss
In no particular order, here are five things we’re looking forward to during the whirlwind weekend.
Seminars
A focus on educational seminars on a wide range of topics is a foundational element of Tiki-a-Go-Go. The event space at the Caribe Royale allows for an extensive schedule. This includes topics as diverse as Asian Influences on Tiki Fashion (with Margo Scott) and Vintage Florida from DogLand to Skunk Apes (with Cathy Salustri), plus many deep dives into Tiki and Disney culture by notable experts.
Mixologist Dizz Fernandez makes cocktails for eager guests at Tiki-a-Go-Go 2024. This year he’ll join fellow Trader Sam’s skipper Kelly Merrell for a seminar on their respective enchanted Tiki bars. (Official photo)
The schedule includes 33 seminars and 14 classes and activities, most around an hour long, packed into 15 hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It’s impossible to attend them all, of course, but if you plan your day wisely you can catch some fascinating presentations about topics you enjoy.
More than 600 rum producers, bartenders, brands and enthusiasts are expected for the seventh annual event organized by Federico Hernandez and The Rum Lab, which also produces events in Puerto Rico, Chicago, New York, and elsewhere around the U.S. and Europe. [Past event photos] The Rhum Week schedule includes events from Fort Lauderdale to Key Biscayne, allowing more people to get a taste of great rums and cocktails from some of the industry’s top brands and VIPs.
The centerpiece remains the official Rum Congress seminars on Friday and “Grand Tasting” on Saturday at the convention center in the heart of South Beach. Experts from around the world will participate in eight seminars, while the tasting rooms will feature more than 85 brands offering samples of some 200 distinct rum expressions, available neat and in a “Twisted Daiquiri.”
Rhum Barbancourt (Haiti) and Rhum Clement (Martinique) were two of many brands participating in last year’s Miami Rum Congress. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward / Feb. 1, 2025)
Mai-Kai pre-party to include seminar, rare Tahiti rum release
Rhum Week activities kick off Thursday (Feb. 5) at the historic Mai-Kai in Oakland Park, northwest of Fort Lauderdale. The restaurant’s Bora Bora and Molokai bars will host the South Seas Soiree, presented by the Florida Rum Society in association with Planteray Rum. The event will feature a talk by master blender Alexandre Gabriel along with complimentary tastings.
The rum society will also celebrate a special new release, produced by Down Island Spirits and sourced from Tahiti. It’s the perfect location to launch the Maiden Voyage expression, believed to be the first Tahitian single barrel rum ever sold in the United States. The Mai-Kai’s founding Thornton family has deep ties to Tahiti. The 69-year-old Tiki temple features artwork from the Pacific island, plus authentic music and dance as part of the nightly Polynesian Islander Revue, the oldest continually-running authentic South Seas stage show in the United States (including Hawaii).
Gabriel will discuss “the technical secrets behind the blends designed to match the high-octane energy of the Mai-Kai’s iconic cocktail program while meeting the exacting needs of the modern drink-smith,” according to an event invitation. Guests will also get a taste of Planteray’s Mister Fogg Sail No. 2, an inventive new blend that follows the historic methods of Britain’s Royal Navy rum.
Following years of tumultuous news, it was somewhat of a relief to enjoy a year free from extreme upheaval or drama. Sure, 2025 was also devoid of blockbuster good news, but there’s something to be said for a calm normalcy, especially when it comes to Tiki. That’s not to say that nothing happened last year. There were plenty of headlines and stories that evolved over time. But unlike past years, no one or two stories rose above the rest.
If there were any common themes, the first would be a continued reverence for the past, a foundational element for the modern Tiki scene. The other that seems to be evolving is Tiki culture’s slow growth into new territory and addition of new fans. Whether it’s through film, new bars and events, or the continued influence of the torch-bearers, this natural evolution can’t be denied.
Rather than rank these stories by importance, like past years, we present the top seven stories in no particular order. All are significant and deserve equal recognition. Bonus cocktail recipe:A tribute to the Mai-Kai’s Christmas Barrel
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ALOHA NEW TIKI BARS: Openings continue in 2025
The proliferation of new Tiki and Tiki-adjacent bars every year should no longer be a big surprise. We’ve been documenting this trend in our top news stories every year since 2020, even in the grip of the COVID pandemic. That in and of itself makes it a big story in 2025, reflecting what should be recognized as a legitimate and permanent feature of the modern bar and restaurant industry, not just a trend or “craze.” What’s crazy is Tiki bars are often still not recognized on the same level as other craft cocktail bars. What’s clear, happily, is there appears to be no end in sight to the growth of new bars and restaurants.
Dirty Birds Tiki Bar & Grill in Cocoa Beach features authentic design and Tiki decor by “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller (right) and Scott “Flounder” Scheidly, who did much of the work on the Mai-Kai restoration. (Photos by Rob Ripley, Andrew Turner / October, November 2025)
If we missed any, please let us know and we’ll add them to the list. In 2026, be sure to support all local Tiki bars, new and established. The MyTiki.Life website offers a robust database of commercial bars.
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IN MEMORIUM: Remembering those we lost.
Unlike some past years, the losses suffered in 2025 were not as frequent or earth-shattering. But no matter how large or small, they do need to be recognized and remembered.
In April, Kapu Bar closed after two years in Petaluma, Calif. One online report says the building owner sold the property and the bar owners may relocate. … In May, The Sorrow Drowner in Wilmington, N.C., closed after three years of presenting a unique “Tiki-noir” bar experience in an immersive space decorated by “Trader Brandon” Kleyla, who also worked on Disney’s Enchanted Tiki bars on both coasts. The owners are reportedly planning a move to the west coast, so stay tuned. … Marama Room, closed abruptly at the end of May after opening in April in Huntington Beach, Calif. An Instagram post said the owners were “fervently working with potential investors and inquiring about new locations in the Huntington Beach/Orange County area.”
Marty Reyes (left) and Jen Ann Tonic with their crew from Swizzle at The Hukilau in June 2024. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
In July, Swizzle closed its Greenville Avenue location in Dallas after five years, but owners Marty Reyes and Jen Ann Tonic are keeping the brand alive with pop-ups and catering events. … The tropical bar and restaurant Laki Kane closed its Upper Street Islington location in London after seven years of operation to move into a “new chapter.” The venue went out with a bang, featuring a month of farewell events leading up to the Sept. 1 closing. The Laki Kane proprietors announced that this may be goodbye for now, but their “story isn’t over”. A small, temporary Laki Kane lounge opened in October in the Covent Garden restaurant in London and continues to operate in early 2026.
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. RELATED:Mai-Kai legends return to the stage for 69th anniversary celebration
The Mai-Kai’s holiday lights and theming immerse guests from the beginning to the end of their journey to the Polynesian wonderland. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward, December 2025)
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.
Chelsea and Avery welcome you to the Molokai Mistletoe Lounge, where the servers clad in their holiday sarongs treat guests to the Twelve Drinks of Christmas. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward / Dec. 7, 2025)
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 below: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 reviews and photos below as we taste our way through the cocktails. Christmas cocktail guide: Analysis, ratings, insights from bar manager Michael DeMahyUPDATED
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.
The Mai-Kai’s general manager and beverage director, Cory Starr, introduced Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 during a Miami Rum Festival seminar (left) on Nov. 8. The next day, he was joined by Molokai Bar server Hannah Almanzar in serving up samples during the event’s grand tasting. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)
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.
This story will offer a quick recap of the festival and look ahead at the upcoming release. But that’s not all. Starr gave us the exclusive inside scoop on many other exciting plans for the Mai-Kai during the 2025 holidays, plus more to come in 2026.
Special menu, early shows welcome Thanksgiving diners
The Mai-Kai will offer a special holiday dinner and show on Thanksgiving Day with two seatings: 2 p.m. (show at 3:30) and 5 p.m. (show at 6:30). The bars open at 1 p.m. with happy hour running from 4 until 7, offering most cocktails priced at 50% off.
A special dinner menu is available, along with the full regular menu. Thanksgiving meals include a choice of three appetizers, entrees and desserts for $75. Main courses are Huli Huli BBQ Turkey, Palm Sugar Salmon, and Kalua Roast Pork. [See the menu online]
If you want to attend the dinner show, it must be booked separately online through the official website. Tables are filling up fast, so make your reservations now.
Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 set for Black Friday release
After shopping yourself ragged in search of holiday gifts, treat yourself (or the special rum lover in your life) to a very special present on Friday, Nov. 28. During the release party that begins at 5 p.m. in both the Molokai and Bora Bora bars, you’ll be among the first to be able to pick up a bottle (or more) of Mai-Kai Old Style Special Rum Number One.
The rum will be priced at $75 for an embossed one-liter bottle in a custom box, both featuring distinctive Mai-Kai imagery. It will also be available by the case (six bottles) for $400, Starr said. The gift shop will also have some special exclusive merch and offers available during the party.
Also look for a special menu of Rum No. 1 cocktails at the event, including a flight of classics.These may include the Mai Tai and Zombie, which were served at the Nov. 6 sneak preview event.
In addition to the cocktail flight, you will be able to buy small samples of the rum at the bar to try it out. A new sipping rum menu is in the works. Starr said he’s been collecting rums since he joined the team as beverage director before the reopening last year. The rum list, which will likely be paired with the after-dinner drinks and desserts on a combined menu, will favor quality over quantity, Starr said. “We’re going to start with around 50, then get to 100 at some point.”
Beverage director Cory Starr pours cocktails and serves samples of Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 during a sneak preview event in the Molokai Bar on Nov. 6. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)
Like other Fridays this month, the 28th will also include live music in the Molokai Bar with Smerks and the Night Mares performing from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Makani Ryel will entertain Bor Bora Bar guests starting at 5 p.m..
The Miami Rum Festival offered guests a unique chance to learn about (and taste) Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 at a Nov. 8 seminar at the Coral Gables Marriott hosted by Adrienne Stoner, an ambassador for Maison Ferrand and all of its brands. The French company also owns the West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados, where the Mai-Kai rum is blended and shipped to Florida. A portion of the blend also includes rum from historic pot stills at the Long Pond Distillery in Jamaica, where Maison Ferrand shares ownership.
Stoner gave us an inside peek at both distilleries and profiled some of the key members of the team who craft the rums. She broke down the historic stills and some of the key components in Rum No. 1, most notably JAWS – a unique, high-ester rum sourced from the historic Vulcan pot still that dates back to the 19th century.
Beverage director Cory Starr (left) and Maison Ferrand ambassador Adrienne Stoner discuss Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 during a seminar at the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival on Nov. 8. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
We enjoyed a neat sip along with Starr’s updated version of the Mai-Kai’s Planters Punch as Stoner explained the rum’s creation and distillation process in Barbados. We also tasted a 120-proof sample of the JAWS rum, which is considered to be the first long fermentation, high-ester rum component crafted in Barbados in the past 80 years. You can clearly see how this is the key element in the Mai-Kai blend.
On Nov. 9, the festival hosted dozens of rum brands, including the Mai-Kai, for more than four hours of tastings at the historic Coral Gables Woman’s Club. Starr was joined by Mai-Kai manager Salomé Sepulveda and Molokai Bar server Hannah Almanzar in greeting guests and serving samples in their colorfully branded booth. They also passed out Starr’s reconfigured version of the Mai-Kai’s classic Bora Bora cocktail featuring the new rum.
Right next door was a booth from Roneros Rum Brand Makers, the firm that developed the Mai-Kai rum’s distinctive branding, packaging and marketing. This includes the new MaiKaiRum.com website, which features the story behind the rum as well as more than a dozen cocktail recipes you can try after you pick up a bottle. If you’re feeling crafty, you can even submit your own.
Bar manager Michael DeMahy makes the Bora Bora and Zombie cocktails using Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 at the Nov. 6 sneak preview event in the Molokai Bar. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)
Lucky attendees at the Nov. 6 sneak preview in the Molokai Bar got a head start and were able to take a bottle home when Starr released a small batch for purchase. Some 30 or so guests were treated to samples of Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 plus four different Mai-Kai cocktails, shaken up to order in the “poop deck” area of the bar by Starr and bar manager Michael DeMahy. It was a rare chance to see these two master mixologists in action close-up in the Molokai, where drinks are usually made in secret in the back bar.
Two of the cocktails – the Planters Punch and Bora Bora – are reconfigured versions of classics featuring a full serving of the new rum. Both are noticeable improvements that will likely find their way onto the permanent menu in their reimagined form. Those who tasted them raved about both.
The two others we tasted, the Mai Tai and Zombie, were also excellent versions featuring a hefty dose of the new 100-proof rum. These two “No. 1 versions” will likely remain special menu items, Starr said, served in addition to the classic variations that feature blends of multiple rums and are tried-and-true favorites.
This won’t be the case for every cocktail, but Starr promised other off-menu drinks featuring the new rum. Deciding which drinks get which treatment is still a work in progress. Most cocktails that were designed to include a “dark Jamaican” style rum will simply be updated to include the new rum instead of the Mai-Kai’s previous blend that has been in use since the Kohala Bay brand stopped production in 2017.
The rum will be stealthily added, and Starr noted that the intention is that it goes undetected to most guests. “We’ll roll them out, but I don’t know when,” he said. “It’s more like a secret kind of rollout so people don’t really notice it happening. It’s going to be kind of a slow change.”
The Mai-Kai has long sought a proper replacement for Kohala Bay, and now thanks to the new ownership team and managing partner Bill Fuller, it has become a reality.
12 Drinks of Christmas, limited-edition mug highlight jolly holidays
The Mai-Kai has not leaned into the holidays in a big way since 2019, when it introduced its first lineup of Christmas drinks to pair with festive but tasteful decor. In the years since, the thirst for Christmas pop-up bars has grown exponentially.
Last year’s holidays came too quick after the reopening, but Starr and bar manager Michael DeMahy have an ambitious lineup of themed cocktails planned for 2025. Dubbed the “12 Drinks of Christmas,” these limited-time cocktails will be split among menus in the Molokai and Bora Bora bars, plus the showroom. This is even more than we enjoyed during the recent month of Hulaween hijinx.
The Christmas Rum Barrel Mug was created for the Mai-Kai by John Mulder of Eeekum Bookum. (Official photo)
Similar to Halloween, it will be a month-long celebration that Starr said they hope to kick off on Monday, Dec. 1. Be sure to mark your calendar for Wednesday, Dec. 3, when a special holiday mug will be introduced at an event attended by its creator. Doors open at 4 p.m.
Starr tapped a noted Florida mug designer, John Mulder of Eeekum Bookum in St. Petersburg, to craft and produce a special limited edition Christmas Rum Barrel Mug.
You can buy the mug in the gift shop for $125, but it’s a limited run of 250, so don’t delay. There will be two versions: A very limited 50 green and white barrels, and 200 of a more traditional brown Barrel, Starr said. There is a limit of one mug per person when you shop in the Mai-Kai Trading Post.
Master of ceremonies Lono and members of the Mai-Kai’s Polynesian Islander Revue. (Mai-Kai photo, January 2025)
Performers from the past to return for anniversary events
The events will include a reunion of past performers from the Polynesian Islander Revue, which dates back to 1961 and has long been considered the longest running authentic South Seas stage show in the United States. The driving force of the troupe for more than five decades was Mai-Kai matriarch Mireille Thornton, who joined the restaurant’s original show in the early 1960s and went on to become not only its choreographer and spiritual leader, but eventual owner of the restaurant. She married owner Bob Thornton, assuming leadership of the family empire when he passed away in 1989.
Mireille Thornton was a dancer and choreographer of the Mai-Kai’s Polynesian Islander Revue from the early 1960s through 2020. (Mai-Kai photo)
Two of her children ran the day-to-day operations, but it was “Mrs. T,” as she’s lovingly known, who eventually saved the Mai-Kai when she signed off on the sale to historic preservationist Bill Fuller of Barlington Group in September 2021. [Past coverage] Now in her 80s and retired to north Florida, the native of Tahiti consulted on the revival of the stage show she led for more than 50 years when it returned in November 2024. [See video]
The performances are now being guided by longtime emcee Lono, who has taken over as Polynesian cultural director after the departure of Teuruhei Kalaniu’i Buchin in August. We’re told that Lono, who started with the Mai-Kai in 2009 and spent a decade under Thornton’s wing, is working on plans to bring back some of the classic show elements, though we may not see those changes until 2026.
Many of the show’s original members and backing band were accomplished performers in the South Pacific. Now, more than 60 years later, the Mai-Kai has its own cultural legacy.
Multiple members of the troupe have been there for decades, and several are second and third generation Mai-Kai. Dancer Varua (aka Nicholas Mattei) is the son of longtime manager Kern Mattei. His grandmother was in the show and his mother was a Molokai Girl. [See video] Michael, the AV director and Lono’s assistant, is Mireille Thornton’s grandson.
With this spirit of ‘ohana (or family) in mind, the Mai-Kai is inviting back many past performers for the anniversary weekend. You’ll even be able to see some of them perform on stage during the Saturday dinner shows. The formal anniversary celebration Sunday. Starr teased other additions to the weekend, including bands in the Molokai and Bora Bora bars.
A new event center is being built on the other side of this wall along the back corridor in the Mai-Kai’s outdoor garden. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward, May 2025)
New event center will complete Mai-Kai reimagination in 2026
Last but not least, Starr 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. Related coverage:The Hukilau returns to the Mai-Kai for five days of Tiki festivities
The Mai-Kai’s new event center will be accessed via a door in the old Chinese oven room, which has been reimagined by creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller. The lettering was salvaged from the outside of the building. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward, February-March 2025)
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.
Plans presented during a city of Oakland Park online meeting in 2022 show the future event center (left) and kitchen highlighted by managing partner Bill Fuller. The area in blue is the current bar and kitchen.
But now, after chef Justin Sherrer took over in March, the Mai-Kai is preparing for a change. The Phase 2 project includes a reconfiguration of the kitchen, as detailed in an earlier report. Some of the temporary buildings will be removed, and it’s possible the old Chinese ovens will return in some form.
The plans have changed slightly since Allsmiller’s original 2022 designs for a large, enclosed A-frame structure. [See 2022 coverage] It will remain a large A-frame, but we’re told it’s probably going to be more of an indoor-outdoor space, not unlike the new Bora Bora Bar under the old entry porte-cochère. [Past coverage]
“It’s not exactly the same, but it’s in the same vein,” Starr said. As for an opening timeframe, he said they’re planning for it to be available in 2026. “It will be done as soon as we can,” he said.
Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 to make a splash during 2025 Miami Rum Renaissance Festival
There will be multiple ways to enjoy the long-awaited signature rum as part of the 16th annual Miami Rum Festival. Enjoy a sneak preview Thursday at the Mai-Kai, learn more at Saturday’s seminar day in Miami, then sip along with hundreds of other spirits at Sunday’s Grand Tasting.
Mai-Kai’s Hulaween party returns from the dead in 2025
The historic restaurant was transformed into a haunted Polynesian island during October, culminating with the 13th Hulaween party on Oct. 31 in the Molokai and Bora Bars.
Mai-Kai October update: Hulaween returns bigger than ever, new food menu debuts
Halloween revelry and artistic decor have engulfed the historic South Florida restaurant all month with multiple special events. Check out the full preview, plus a recap of all the past happenings and a detailed look at the new food menu, plus more.
Halloween cocktails invade the Mai-Kai for October
Featuring fire, smoke and detailed theming, the new drinks capture the spirit of the season. Check out our ratings and reviews of these scary offerings, plus other recent special cocktails.
EXCLUSIVE:Mai-Kai Restoration & Reopening Guide
Check out all past news, photos, video and deep details on the refurbishment and resurrection of the Polynesian palace.
Rewind to the summer of 2001: Sven Kirsten’s The Book of Tiki, the influential bible of what would become known as the Polynesian Pop renaissance, was less than a year old. Beachbum Berry’s Grog Log, which lit the fuse of the Tiki cocktail revival, was barely 3. Tiki Central, which would explode into an online gathering place for enthusiasts from around the world, was a year away from leaving Yahoo to become a stand-alone website. The first modern Tiki bar (Taboo Cove in Las Vegas, designed by Bosko Hrnjak) would not open until September.
Official Tiki Oasis artwork by Derek Yaniger: The 2005 event was the last in Palm Springs. This year will mark the event’s 25th anniversary, and 20th year in San Diego.
Into this pubescent scene burst Tiki Oasis, making its debut as the world’s first all-encompassing event dedicated to celebrating the art, architecture, cocktails, fashion, music, history and overarching aesthetics of the forgotten 20th century pop culture craze that took hold in the 1930s, peaked in the 1950s and ’60s, but never really went away. A new generation, led by a loosely knit clan of California bohemians, was fully immersed in creating a new movement that has lasted well into the 21st century. Tiki Oasis became their playground.
It’s still called the Tiki “revival,” but there seems to be no end in sight. The scene remains joined at the hip with Tiki Oasis, begun humbly by Otto and Baby Doe von Stroheim in Palm Springs. Otto was instrumental in both documenting the golden days and nurturing the nascent movement in his Tiki News fanzine (1995-2001). He also put together the first big Tiki music event (Exoticon ’95) and the genre’s first major art show (21st Century Tiki, 1996), both in Los Angeles.
He was also long notorious for his wild backyard Tiki parties featuring vintage mugs and cocktails, authentic music, and just a touch of anarchy that came naturally for the generation that grew up on punk and other underground subcultures. After he joined forces in 1996 with the creator of the Baby Doe’s Obsessed website, they set their sights on bigger and better events. She produced the first-ever burlesque convention, Tease-O-Rama, in 2001.
Tiki Oasis began as fundraiser for historic hotel
Baby Doe and Otto von Stroheim visit the Mai-Kai and manager Kern Mattei in January 2025. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
The original intent of Tiki Oasis – which made its debut on Aug. 18, 2001 – was altruistic: Raising money and awareness to preserve the vintage Caliente Tropics Resort in Palm Springs. The first year was modest, featuring around 50 guests. But the event grew rapidly over the next four years, selling out the small hotel and precipitating a move to San Diego in 2006. (The hotel has not only survived, it has thrived amid the Tiki revival, serving as the current host venue of the long-running Tiki Caliente and Circa Caliente events.)
The popularity of both Tiki culture and Tiki Oasis exploded during the next 14 years at the Crowne Plaza (formerly the historic Hanalei Hotel), expanding into a five-day event that has defined the concept of “Tiki weekender” for a new generation. The von Stroheims also added new events to their portfolio, including Arizona Tiki Oasis in Scottsdale (2019-present) and Resort-O-Rama in Santa Rosa, Calif. (2023).
• 2014 flashback: 5 questions with Otto von Stroheim
Tiki Oasis spent one year at the expansive Paradise Point Resort during the COVID restrictions of 2020, then moved in 2021 to the Town and Country Resort, where it has remained for five years. The 23-acre property in Mission Valley oozes mid-century style and charm.
The Town and Country Resort provides the perfect setting for a salute to mid-century Tiki culture. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward, August 2023)
The event takes over the entire 600+ rooms and nearly 300,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor event space. Originally built in 1953 as a roadside lodge, the Town and Country has a rich history that was honored during a major renovation in 2019.
Tiki Oasis will honor its legacy, as well as the early days of the revival, with several symposiums this year. On Friday, Aug. 8, at 9:30 a.m., Sven Kirsten will host The Book of Tiki Turns 25, discussing how photographing and collecting the remnants of the lost mid-century culture led him to understand its unique qualities, and how that convinced him of the importance of documenting and preserving it.
The von Stroheims have lined up an array of guest speakers for 25 Years of Tiki Oasis, hosted by David “Dr. Skipper” Marley at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9. They promise “rarely seen photos and untold stories from Tiki Oasis’ past, followed by a lively Q&A.”
History, reimagination of legendary Mai-Kai back bar to be revealed
The Atomic Grog’s seminar for Tiki Oasis 2025, “Sneak Peek into the Historic Mai-Kai’s Secret Bar,” will explore the mysterious space from the early days of mixologist Mariano Licudine through the reimagination by “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller and bar program of Cory Starr. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
We’ll reveal details and show exclusive photos of the multimillion-dollar restoration that preceded the November 2024 relaunch after a four-year closing due to extensive damage to the back of house kitchen and bar. Given a clean slate to rebuild, Allsmiller took the former utilitarian space to a new level and made it a showpiece that’s now on the same level as the guest areas, some of which date back to the 1956 opening.
Starr will serve up a reinvigorated classic cocktail from those early days, enhanced by a new rum that’s due to be released in the coming weeks. We’ll also serve samples of Mai-Kai Rum No. 1, a 100-proof blend sourced from historic stills at the West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados and the Long Pond Distillery in Jamaica. Event attendees will be among the first to get a taste of the final product. Related: Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 coming soon, symposium and tasting planned for Tiki Oasis
The Hukilau 2025 – June 5-8 at the Beachcomber Resort & Club in Pompano Beach and Mai-Kai restaurant in Oakland Park. Featuring live music (The Untamed Youth, The Swingin’ Palms, The Sound Minds, The Hilo Hi-Flyers, Slowey and the Boats, Eva & Kully, The Intoxicators, The Disasternauts, Skinny Jimmy Stingray), special guests, symposiums and classes, guest cocktail bars, pool parties, Tiki Treasures Bazaar, plus more.
• The Hukilau on social media: Instagram | Facebook page and group
