{"id":31848,"date":"2024-06-05T22:04:51","date_gmt":"2024-06-06T02:04:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/?p=31848"},"modified":"2024-08-07T16:57:40","modified_gmt":"2024-08-07T20:57:40","slug":"the-mai-kai-restoration-work-expands-sneak-previews-offered-at-the-hukilau-may-2024-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/2024\/06\/05\/the-mai-kai-restoration-work-expands-sneak-previews-offered-at-the-hukilau-may-2024-update\/","title":{"rendered":"The Mai-Kai restoration work expands, sneak previews offered at The Hukilau (May 2024 update)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated July 10<\/em><\/p>\n

As The Mai-Kai<\/a> prepares for an invasion of Hukilau villagers this week, the expansive restoration project continues to engulf the 2.7-acre historic property. Passholders treated to special tours will see several of the fully restored indoor guest areas, but the massive parking lot project remains in low gear until all the permits are in place.<\/p>\n

The Hukilau photos, recaps<\/strong><\/FONT>
\nNEW:<\/B><\/FONT> Inside the Molokai Bar and tour of The Mai-Kai restoration<\/strong><\/a>
\n• Hukilau villagers return to The Mai-Kai<\/a><\/strong>
\n• Mai-Kai from the Outside In<\/em> with Will Anders<\/a><\/p>\n

Since our last update at the end of April,<\/a> several projects have advanced while others await a green light to take flight. The new kitchen, bar and back-of-house areas continue to come to life while creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller<\/a> and his team add their finishing touches. They also continue to restore, replicate and reimagine many other areas across the property.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A view of The Mai-Kai from Federal Highway. At right you can see the work being done to restore the rock work. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward, May 2024)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Hukilau offers guided tours of The Mai-Kai<\/h3>\n

Multi-day passholders attending the long-running Tiki weekender<\/a> will get exclusive guided tours of The Mai-Kai on Friday, June 7. [See previous coverage]<\/a> They will be escorted in small groups, allowing for a unique glimpse into the day-to-day operations of the renovation crew.<\/p>\n

Upon arrival, tour attendees will receive a restoration update as they gather in The Molokai bar for a cocktail. They will then break into smaller groups for a behind-the-scenes sneak peek at some of the restored dining rooms and reimagined back-of-house areas.<\/p>\n

There will be a strict “no photos” policy inside The Mai-Kai. The owners and staff request that guests respect their desire to be the ones to reveal their finished work. The creative director suggests the proper mindset: “Just take it in with your eyes, and know that you’ve seen something that nobody else has seen.” The tours will be given by Allsmiller, artist Scott “Flounder” Scheidly, manager Kern Mattei, and yours truly. I hope to see you there!<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
\nThe Hukilau 2024 preview & flashback: Inside (and outside) The Mai-Kai with Tiki carver Will Anders<\/strong><\/a>
\nThe South Florida artist will share his experiences creating authentic Polynesian art – both large and small – during a presentation on June 8 at the annual Tiki weekender on Pompano Beach.
\nAudio & photos<\/strong> Walking tour with Will Anders, Kern Mattei, Hurricane Hayward in 2018<\/a>
\nMore on The Hukilau:<\/strong><\/font> Symposiums, vendors and more announced for 22nd Tiki weekender June 6-9<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Latest news on the restoration<\/h3>\n

Operating under these same photo guidelines, we visited the restaurant in late May to get an update on the $15 million project that kicked off in early 2022 following the partnership between the founding Thornton family<\/a> and a new ownership team led by historic preservationist Bill Fuller of Barlington Group<\/a>. The sale was necessary after a catastrophic back-of-house roof collapse in October 2020 that destroyed the 1970s-era kitchen in the 67-year-old facility.<\/p>\n

We got an update on the new kitchen and bar from Mattei, the longtime manager, plus news from Allsmiller on his projects. Photos of the outdoor area also show some slow progress on prep work for the ambitious reimagination of the entry experience and parking lot.<\/p>\n

Recent Mai-Kai coverage<\/strong>
\n* The Mai-Kai reveals new images, plans for restoration at Orlando event, continues $15M project<\/a> (April 2024 update)
\n* Mai-Kai kitchen and bar take shape as team heads to Tiki-a-Go-Go (March 2024)<\/a>
\nStory archive:<\/strong> Full coverage of The Mai-Kai refurbishment<\/a><\/p>\n

Lamp project nearing home stretch<\/h3>\n
\"At<\/a>
At left is a finished lamp, shared on Instagram by Scott “Flounder” Scheidly on May 16. “There\u2019s still a ton of work to do at The Mai Kai but I\u2019m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he wrote. Fellow artist Tom Fowner shared the photo at right that shows the condition of some of the massive hanging lamps in the showroom, before and after restoration.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Among the project updates from Mattei and Allsmiller:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n