Since joining forces with the Mai-Kai in 2003 and becoming Florida’s original Tiki weekender, The Hukilau has overcome numerous changes and challenges. Host hotels have come and gone, and the historic Polynesian restaurant was unavailable for five years during a massive restoration project.
The Hukilau has been headquartered at the oceanfront Beachcomber Resort in Pompano Beach since 2021.
But like the Polynesian Pop revival that inspired it, The Hukilau has evolved and adapted, pointing to the future while still honoring the past. For the event’s 24th annual event June 3-7, organizers are looking forward to calm seas with a return to the Mai-Kai for the second straight year since its $20 million reimagination.
It will also be the sixth straight year The Hukilau is headquartered at the oceanfront Beachcomber Resort & Club in Pompano Beach, with its scenic oceanfront vistas unlike any other Tiki event. In announcing the countdown to this year’s reunion, organizer Richard Oneslager renewed his commitment to The Hukilau with a promise of “new bars and bands, the return of many longtime favorites, and of course, the world famous Mai-Kai.”
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, guest cocktail bars, pool parties, Tiki Treasures Bazaar, plus more.
• The Hukilau on social media: Instagram | Facebook page and group
The Mai-Kai showroom and Polynesian Islander Revue performance during The Hukilau 2025. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
The 2026 gathering will be The Hukilau’s 19th full live event at the Mai-Kai, but just the second since 2020. The restaurant, built in 1956, is “the emotional anchor” of The Hukilau, said Oneslager, who invested a large sum of his own money to support the restoration efforts. The two entities “have been attached at the hip for 25 years,” he added.
Inspired by the Mai-Kai, his work (and personal appearances) were always a highlight of the event. As a tribute to the beloved California artist, The Hukilau and the Mai-Kai will host a special memorial gathering attended by his wife Stephanie Mehr as part of the traditional main event on Friday, June 5. The evening will include a charity auction of some rare editions of Danny’s pendants made for The Hukilau, plus a photographic tribute that will be shown before the nightly dinner shows.
Danny “Tiki Diablo” Gallardo and Stephanie Mehr in their booth in the Tiki Treasures Bazaar at The Hukilau 2025. At right is a pendant that was the last art piece Gallardo created for The Hukilau. (Photos by Jeanne-Vidrine, Pia Dahlquist)
“You couldn’t think of a more important, special, revered place to have a memorial service for Danny,” Oneslager said. More details on this portion of the event will be announced soon. The evening will include multiple performances of the Mai-Kai’s acclaimed Polynesian Islander Revue, the oldest continually-running authentic South Seas stage show in the United States (including Hawaii). Passholders will be able to make reservations for the tribute and the dinner shows that night directly through the Mai-Kai.
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.
Much has been revealed in recent years about Donn Beach (aka Don the Beachcomber), considered to be the godfather of 20th century Tiki culture. But we still don’t have a complete picture of the life and times of the enigmatic bootlegger-turned-restaurateur, who opened the first faux Polynesian bar in the 1930s and influenced countless imitators. That’s all about to change. Preview the book below:Images and sample pages | Video Bonus cocktail recipe:Beachcomber’s Silver
The back and front covers of the upcoming book, Searching for Don the Beachcomber.
Years in the making, the 208-page biography Searching for Don the Beachcomber will hit bookshelves in 2026, researched and written by Tiki historian Tim “Swanky” Glazner and published by London-based Korero Press. The hardcover book is due to be shipped April, and fans jumped at the chance to secure a special edition via a Kickstarter campaign that launched Jan. 20. More than $45,000 was raised in the first a week, smashing all goals. The total when the campaign ended was more than $60,000 (£45,230).
Early backers received several special rewards, including first-edition copies with an exclusive signed bookplate. A limited-edition mug by Eekum Bookum featuring Beach’s signature cannibal carvings sold out fast, and a second batch with a different glaze was added. The mug and book are now available for pre-order via the official website, along with 8×10 prints of Beach.
Glazner is co-founder of The Hukilau in the early 2000s and author of Mai-Kai: History and Mystery of the Iconic Tiki Restaurant (2016, Schiffer). It was during the research for that book that he starting uncovering fascinating facts and stories about the man who started life in 1907 as a Texan named Ernest Gantt and ended in 1989 in Honolulu as a lifelong supporter of authentic South Pacific culture.
Over those 82 years, Beach reinvented not only himself but America’s perception and appreciation of Pan-Pacific people. The book covers his entire life, including fascinating details and stories about his early years, which have remain shrouded in mystery. As it turns out, most of the tall tales and myths that have long surrounded Donn Beach were created and embellished by the man himself. But one thing is clear, Beach always lived up to his motto: “If you can’t get to paradise, I’ll bring it to you.”
Donn Beach in Hawaii, circa 1939 (left) and 1950. (Phoebe Beach archive)
In Searching for Don the Beachcomber, Glazer does his best to separate fact from fiction, but he also lets Beach’s rich archive of personal documents speak for themselves. The biography was made possible when Beach’s widow, Phoebe Beach, donated his personal papers, photos and other materials that she had been saving for the past 30+ years. Glazner has said they will end up in the collections of the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, which celebrates the history and culture of Hawaii and the Pacific.
Beach is best known today as the “Inventor of the Tiki Bar,” as the book’s subtitle states, a uniquely mainland American invention that he crafted in the shadow of 1930s Hollywood movie studios. But fate later brought the enterprising entrepreneur to the South Seas, where he spent most of the second half of his life, running namesake restaurants and spearheading projects that included the International Market Place in Waikiki. He was also a decorated veteran of World War II, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Army Air Force.
Don Beach’s military career in World War II is detailed in Searching for Don the Beachcomber. He’s pictured above in Italy in 1943. (Phoebe Beach archive)
Throughout his lifetime, Beach ignored racial barriers by quietly hiring and promoting staff who were immigrants from many Pacific and southeast Asian countries, decades before civil rights legislation was a reality. Reading Searching for Don the Beachcomber will give you a much more in-depth picture of not only the creativity, but the integrity and vision of Donn Beach.
Glazner details many significant storylines, including Beach’s unusual relationship with his first wife, Sunny Sund, and their precarious association with organized crime. The book is also chock full of more than 200 rare images and documents from Beach’s archives, plus an appendix that includes many of the influential mixologist’s original recipes from the 1930s and ’40s.
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
The weather is turning tropical in South Florida, which means it’s time for The Hukilau to return for an annual infusion of Polynesian Pop paradise. Tikiphiles and fans of retro culture are expected to flock from around the world on June 5-8 for the 23rd time to celebrate all things Tiki.
For the first time since 2019, Hukilau “villagers” will be able to enjoy the beloved Mai-Kai Polynesian restaurant as part of the festivities. The historic landmark has emerged from a multi-year, multimillion-dollar restoration with its charm intact along with modern flourishes. It will be the perfect accompaniment to the Beachcomber Resort & Club, an oceanfront resort in Pompano Beach that will host The Hukilau for a sixth straight year.
A performance of the Mai-Kai’s Polynesian Islander Revue during The Hukilau 2019. (Photo by Jim Neumayer)
Working the Mai-Kai back into The Hukilau and the Beachcomber schedule was a challenge, but the final results should please all villagers. A full schedule was just released on the official website, which we’ve broken down below. This update will also include details on the expert seminars and Tiki bar teams who will be serving delicious cocktails all weekend. Jump to more below: Classes & symposiums | Guest bar teams | The Mai-Kai | Daily schedule
The official 2025 mug for The Hukilau by John Mulder (Eeekum Bookum) depicts the Mai-Kai’s iconic Mystery Girl. (Facebook photos)
John Mulder and his team at Eeekum Bookum have been busy creating yet another fantastic official event mug for The Hukilau, which once again also pays tribute to the Mai-Kai. Sharing photos in a May 16 post on Facebook, Mulder wrote: “We are deep in the throws of making the mug for the Hukilau. It’s an exciting year with the Mai Kai open again. Can’t wait to see everyone poolside.” Mugs will be available exclusively at the event while supplies last.
The Hukilau 2025 – June 5-8 at the Beachcomber Resort & Club in Pompano Beach and Mai-Kai restaurant in Oakland Park. Featuring live music, 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 LIVE UPDATES: Text aloha to 201-534-2100 to get updates during the event.
The Hukilau offers an exotic tropical escape at a beachfront resort. (Photos by Lisa Platt, June 2024)
THE HUKILAU AT A GLANCE
The resort: Most of The Hukilau activities take place at the Beachcomber Resort & Club, a picturesque oceanfront property in northeast Broward County near Fort Lauderdale. It features multiple pools, outdoor meeting spaces, a restaurant and bar, plus lots of Tiki torches and aloha spirit. Hukilau villagers take over the entire hotel for the weekend, giving the event a highly immersive feel.
• Click here for info on booking a room | Previous coverage
Tickets: Four-day weekend passes range from the Aloha Pass ($449 plus fees) to the South Seas Pass ($649 plus fees). The latter includes access to all symposiums and events, the Saturday luau and Sunday brunch, plus transportation to the Mai-Kai and a discount on the Build Your Own Tiki Bar Conference. The one-day Palm Pass ($189 plus fees) is available for Saturday. Click the links below for a more detailed breakdown of each pass.
• Click here to buy passes and tickets online | Previous coverage
Beverage director Kevin Beary will return to The Hukilau with the Three Dots and a Dash crew for the fourth time, and first since 2022. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward, June 2022)
Entertainment: Performing bands include The Untamed Youth, The Swingin’ Palms, The Sound Minds, The Hilo Hi-Flyers, Slowey and the Boats, Eva & Kully, The Intoxicators, The Disasternauts, and Skinny Jimmy Stingray. Check out last month’s preview for bios, links and more info on the bands and performers.
Tiki Treasures Bazaar: Dozens of artists and crafts people will sell their wares during Saturday’s events at the Beachcomber. Among these are John Mulder of Eeekum Bookum (Florida), Patrick Vassar of The Green Tiki (Florida), Kymm! Bang (Chicago), Laz in Orlando (Florida), David Outl1n3 (California), Franky Kokosza of Taboo Relics (Florida), Danny “Tiki Diablo” Gallardo (California), Frank “Tiki Rancher” Simotics (Florida), and “Tiki Tony” Murphy (California). Go to TheHukilau.com for an updated list of vendors and check our previous story for bios, links and photos.
SYMPOSIUM SPOTLIGHTS
Educational opportunities have long been part of The Hukilau experience. Some 20 years ago, the event pioneered the inclusion of “info-tainment” as part of Tiki weekender. These seminars are now a staple at events around the world. Following are just some of the special events on the 2025 schedule for the Beachcomber. [Check the full schedule below]
These presentations will take place at various locations around the resort. Check the website or the check-in desk at the Beachcomber to confirm times and locations. South Seas passholders are guaranteed access, with Aloha passholders filling in all available seats. Standing room is also available at many locations.
“Tiki Tony” Murphy will host a class on black velvet painting, similar to the one he taught at The Hukilau 2019, on Friday at noon. (Photo by Jose Villasana)
Simple is Simple with Devon “Kitty” Lopez of Bar Tiki (Friday at 10:30 a.m.). Find out how to take a basic sugar syrup to another level by creating something unique. The southwest Florida bar manager will explore new flavor pairings and natural ingredient colors, leading you on a journey to creating cocktails that only you can serve.
It’s a great time to be immersed in the modern Tiki lifestyle, which has grown from its humble revival a quarter century ago into a full-blown subculture that shows no signs of slowing down. Fueled a cavalcade of new artists, musicians, bartenders and home enthusiasts, the scene is attracting a new generation of fans and followers.
• Live coverage: Photos and video from Tiki-a-Go-Go in OrlandoNEW
The Disasternauts headline the Saturday night event at the first Tiki-a-Go-Go in April 2024. (Sveinn Photography)
Nowhere is this more apparent than Florida, home to a blossoming new event that perfectly exemplifies the modern Tiki era, circa 2025. Launched last year to great fanfare, Tiki-a-Go-Go returns to Orlando on April 4-6 for a whirlwind weekend celebrating the past, present and future of the lifestyle and its many subgenres. SEE BELOW:Tiki-a-Go-Go daily schedule | 10 questions with the co-founders
Do you want to learn about Tiki, Florida and Disney history? Check. Craving delicious cocktails crafted by top Tiki bartenders? Check. Eager to browse and buy from a smorgasbord of vendors? Check. Need tips on how to build a home bar or make cocktails? Check. Does your perfect evening involve live surf and exotica music, a retro supper club and classy burlesque? Check, check and check.
Tiki-a-Go-Go also offers interactive activities for everyone, from a hands-on “drink and paint” class with artist Mcbiff to vintage hair styling. Presentation topics range from tattoo art, to aloha wear, to Tiki pioneer Don the Beachcomber. The top tier passes are already sold out, so it’s probably a good idea to reserve your hotel room and buy your tickets now. You don’t want to miss one of Tiki’s hottest up-and-coming events. .
April 4-6 – Tiki-a-Go-Go at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando. Featuring 30+ symposiums and classes (Sven Kirsten, Tim “Swanky” Glazner, Garret Richard, Spike Marble, David “Mcbiff” McNeley, Matt Pietrek, Jonpaul Balak, Tiki Tom-Tom, Margo “Rocket Betty” Scott, Dave “Basement Kahuna” Wolfe, David “Dr. Skipper” Marley, How Bowers, Jim Bacchi, Tommy Tam, et al.), guest cocktail bars and bartenders, live music (Tikiyaki Orchestra and Tikiyaki 5-0, The Intoxicators, The Disasternauts, Les Greene and the Swayzees, more), supper club and burlesque, artists and vendors, plus more. Bonus event:Magical Tiki Meet Up on April 6 at the Magic Kingdom and Polynesian Village Resort at Walt Disney World.
* Tiki-a-Go-Go on social media: Instagram | Facebook page and group
• Atomic Grog coverage: 2024 photos, video on social media
Tiki-a-Go-Go is the brainchild of four longtime scene supporters and attendees of many events across the country. Jenna & Jose Villasana from Orlando joined forces with Mary & Jason Wescoat from Venice to create a Florida-centric weekender that honors the state’s roadside attractions and theme park history while also diving deep into Tiki history as well as contemporary topics not often covered elsewhere. They also linked their event to the established Magical Tiki Meet Up for a final day of fun at Disney World.
The event’s host hotel, the Caribe Royale Resort, is strategically located near Disney property and offers a tropical-themed vibe that complements the vast convention space. It’s a sprawling resort, so Tiki-a-Go-Go must share the facilities, but the Florida resort feel fits the event to a tee.
A view of the main pool at Orlando’s Caribe Royale Resort during the first Tiki-a-Go-Go. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward, April 2024)
The first gathering was an unqualified success, featuring such notables as Sven Kirsten, Tim “Swanky” Glazner, Spike Marble, and Tiki Tom-Tom. These experts all return in 2025, along with an expansive lineup of presenters, musicians, mixologists, and much more. It can be an over-used term, but this year’s lineup is truly eclectic.
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. Previous coverage:Event overview, plus photos and video on social media
The Luau Lads (Kurt Rogers and Michael Bloom) and Tiki Lindy were among the rum and mixology experts at Inuhele 2025 in Atlanta. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)
We gained a new appreciation for the work of pioneering artist Bosko, got mixology tips from the Luau Lads and Tiki Lindy, and received an exclusive update on the future of the Don the Beachcomber restaurants and upcoming book. The Atomic Grog was privileged to participate with an update on the reimagination and reopening of the Mai-Kai. Previous coverage:Don the Beachcomber brand closes maiden venue, but navigates rough seas with dynamic expansion plans
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.
The famous “Mai-Kai that never was” painting by Al Kocab of a planned design that was abandoned before the 1970 expansion. It’s available as a 4-by-6-inch postcard, suitable for framing, in the restaurant gift shop along with 14 others for just $2 each. Click for larger image.
Following are some of the highlights of our slideshow, including two walk-through videos with creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller. Click on the images for a larger view. Below are notes pertaining to each slide.
Paradise Reimagined: Deep Inside the Mai-Kai Restoration
Presented at Inuhele in Atlanta on Jan. 26, 2025 Historic photos from the Mai-Kai, Tim “Swanky” Glazner, and other sources. Current and recent photos by Hurricane Hayward and the Mai-Kai unless noted.
↑ Charles McKirahan was one of the foremost architects of the Mid-Century Modern movement. The Mai-Kai design was Inspired by Canlis in Hawaii, featuring a 40-foot steel A-frame allowing an open main area, flanked by dining rooms. McKirahan was responsible for some of South Florida’s most iconic buildings of that era.
↑ After attending Stanford University, Bob and Jack Thornton borrowed money from their parents and went on to create the biggest Tiki temple of them all. The Mai-Kai grossed $1 million during its first full year of operation (1957) as the 150 seat-restaurant served 1,000 customers a night. The colorized image is available as a 4-by-6 postcard in the gift shop.
In what amounts to a very expensive but insightful research-and-development project, the owners of the Don the Beachcomber brand have decided not to reopen the namesake restaurant and bar in Madeira Beach, which launched with great fanfare in February but was severely damaged by dual hurricanes that slammed Florida’s Gulf Coast in September and October.
Takeaways from this story
• Don the Beachcomber in Madeira Beach will be replaced by the Tiki Docks concept. [MORE]
• Brand owner 23 Restaurant Services is accelerating the rollout of Gantt Reserve Collection bars. [MORE]
• A flagship Don the Beachcomber is still on track for Central Florida. [MORE]
• Author plans more Donn Beach books after biography is released. [MORE]
• New custom mugs available in online store. [MORE] Bonus cocktail recipe:Tribute to Marie King’s The Seminole Heights
“There’s no reason to be concerned about the health of the brand moving forward, or whether or not we’re going to opening any more restaurants,” creative director Justin Peterson told a crowd of concerned Tikiphiles at the Inuhele weekender in Atlanta on Jan. 25. “Every project we had in the pipeline is still going forward. On top of that, we have stuff we can’t even talk about today, exciting stuff that is going to blow your mind when we get around to it.”
Peterson and beverage director Marie King broke the news on behalf of parent company 23 Restaurant Services, which added the legendary Tiki concept to its portfolio of a half-dozen brands in 2022. After dispensing with the Madeira Beach update – which Peterson admitted was “a total bummer” – the pair spent the remainder of their 45-minute seminar getting us up to speed on the company’s more positive advancements related to Tiki’s founding father, Donn Beach, aka Don the Beachcomber.
This includes an aggressive rollout of more small cocktail-focused bars in the Gantt Reserve Collection, an umbrella grouping of speakeasies that pay homage to Beach’s given name (Ernest Raymond Gantt). The first, Morgan’s Cove, made its debut in downtown Tampa in July. The next location may open in Plantation, west of Fort Lauderdale, in early 2026. All will have unique names and theming related to their location. Past coverage:Don the Beachcomber launches Morgan’s Cove speakeasy in Tampa
The loss of the Madeira Beach restaurant, which will be replaced by the company’s more streamlined and tropical-themed Tiki Docks, will mean that the company will be without a branded Don the Beachcomber restaurant until what promises to be a spectacular new venue opens in Hamlin, just north of Walt Disney World, in 2026. From all accounts, it will be worth the wait. In the meantime, the pair spoke of keeping the brand in the public eye with pop-up appearances and an impressive array of merchandise.
Don the Beachcomber biographer Tim “Swanky” Glazner (left) joined creative director Justin Peterson and beverage director Marie King for a presentation on the state of the brand at Inuhele in Atlanta. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward / Jan. 25, 2025)
Author Tim “Swanky” Glazner, whose long-awaited biography (Searching for Don the Beachcomber) is on track for a fall 2025 release, joined his friends to talk about the book and reassure the Inuhele attendees that Beach’s legacy remains in good hands. “I believe they’re going to do a great job,” Glazner said of not only King and Peterson, but the entire 23 Restaurant Services team.
The presentation was perhaps the most information-packed and definitely produced the most breaking news from the entire event. Inuhele celebrated its sixth gathering of the tribe at a new venue (the Omni hotel) in downtown Atlanta with three days of symposiums, a Tiki marketplace, live entertainment, cocktail and rum tastings, room parties, and much more. A highlight was a luau and live music at another historic Tiki venue, the vintage Trader Vic’s that dates back to 1976. Related coverage:Inuhele, Atlanta grow together into a Tiki powerhouse
Following is a detailed breakdown on what we learned from Peterson, King and Glazner during the symposium. Please note that there are no set dates for any of the upcoming projects, just estimated dates as detailed below. Peterson wanted to make clear that these can change on a daily basis. So temper your expectations, but know that progress is being made.
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. NEW:2024 anniversary, New Year’s Eve photos & video
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.
The Mai-Kai shortly after its Dec. 28, 1956, opening in a reimagined vintage postcard image. This 4-by-6-inch card, suitable for framing, is among the 15 Mai-Kai Classics postcards available in the restaurant gift shop. (Official photo)
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.
The allure of the Mystery Girl is part of the mystique of the Mystery Drink. Myrna Weber (left) was a Playboy playmate of the month in August 1958.
1958 – The original Molokai Bar is built on the north side of the main building, creating a new lounge for the crowds arriving for dinner. Two iconic features are added: Sarong-clad serving girls and the Mystery Drink served by the Mystery Girl.
