{"id":34963,"date":"2025-04-29T12:54:40","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T16:54:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/?p=34963"},"modified":"2025-07-13T22:33:31","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T02:33:31","slug":"best-of-both-worlds-at-the-hukilau-2025-beachfront-resort-with-full-mai-kai-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/2025\/04\/29\/best-of-both-worlds-at-the-hukilau-2025-beachfront-resort-with-full-mai-kai-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"Best of both worlds at The Hukilau 2025: Beachfront resort with full Mai-Kai experience"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated July 12<\/em><\/p>\n

When The Hukilau<\/a> moved from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale in 2003, it was a strategic move to bring the fledgling event into the sphere of the historic Mai-Kai Polynesian restaurant<\/a>, one of the last remaining Tiki temples of the mid-20th century. Host hotels came and went, but the Mai-Kai remained a fixture of the event, much to the delight of thousands of “villagers” who flocked to South Florida for the classic supper club experience that paired perfectly with The Hukilau’s modern Tiki revival experience.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

The Hukilau 2025 recaps<\/strong><\/font>
\n• The Hukilau live coverage, photos and video<\/a>
\n• Tikiphiles flock to The Hukilau and the Mai-Kai for special events<\/a>
\n• Photos, video: Mai-Kai unveils two large tiki carvings during The Hukilau<\/a>
\n• The Hukilau brings special events, guest bartenders, unique cocktails<\/a><\/p>\n

From the rowdy and intimate (Bahia Cabana) to the iconic and retro (Yankee Clipper) to the massive and mid-century modern (Pier Sixty-Six), The Hukilau adapted to the host hotels as it grew. But no matter the venue, attendees always looked forward to gathering en masse at the Mai-Kai for a main event featuring top surf and exotica bands, plus a dinner show starring the Polynesian Islander Revue,<\/a> the oldest continually-running authentic South Seas stage show in the United States (including Hawaii).<\/p>\n

This all came to a crashing halt in 2020, when the pandemic forced the event to go virtual that June. Then, just as tragically, the Mai-Kai was forced to close after a back-of-house roof collapse led to the eventual sale and what became a monumental $20 million restoration project<\/a> that revitalized the 68-year-old grand dame of Tiki. The restaurant reopened to great fanfare in November 2024, a little over four years after closing.<\/p>\n

In those interim years, The Hukilau found a new home at the oceanside Beachcomber Resort & Club<\/a> in Pompano Beach, making it the only major Tiki event in the United States located directly on a tropical beachfront. In June, villagers will return to the sandy shores of the boutique hotel for a fifth straight year, tying it for second most prolific host venue. More significantly, they’ll flock back to the Mai-Kai for the 18th time, immersing themselves in the full-blown vintage experience and the restaurant’s expanded bar program that should return the revelry to its previous heights.<\/p>\n

\"For<\/a>
For the first time, The Hukilau will take place at both the oceanfront Beachcomber Resort and the historic Mai-Kai restaurant. Photos by The Rum Trader (June 2024), Hurricane Hayward (April 2025)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Hukilau 2025<\/strong> – 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 (Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid, Tim “Swanky” Glazner), symposiums and classes, guest cocktail bars, pool parties, Tiki Treasures Bazaar, plus more.
\n• The Hukilau on social media: Instagram<\/a> | Facebook page<\/a> and group<\/a>
\nJump to more below:<\/strong> Tickets<\/a> | Entertainment<\/a> | Full list of vendors<\/a> | The Mai-Kai<\/a> | The Beachcomber<\/a><\/p>\n

SPECIAL FEATURE:<\/strong><\/font> “Build Your Own Tiki Bar,”<\/strong><\/a> is a two-day pre-event symposium featuring an all-star lineup of guest speakers, fabricators and visionaries. For one all-inclusive fee (starting at $99), a limited number of guests can attend six sessions at the Beachcomber spread over the two days totaling more than eight hours of instruction from Rodney Ray of HeadHunter Props and Fabrication<\/a>, Billy Crud (Crud Tiki)<\/a>, Frank Simotics (aka Tiki Rancher<\/a>), Notch Gonzalez of Top Notch Kustoms<\/a>, Danny Gallardo (aka Tiki Diablo<\/a>), Mai-Kai creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller<\/a>, and Scott “Flounder” Scheidly,<\/a> who spent two years working with Allsmiller on the restoration project. Buy your tickets now<\/a> before it sells out.<\/p>\n

VISITING BARS: <\/strong><\/font> Aku Aku (Orlando), The Bamboo Room (Savannah, Ga.), Bar Tiki (Clearwater Beach, Fla.), Bare Bones Tiki (South Florida), Cocomama Tiki Room (Cozumel, Mexico), Dead Isla (Detroit), Dirty Birds (Cocoa Beach), Kahala Koa (Arlington Heights, Ill.), Luau Lads (Jacksonville, Fla.), Permanent Vacation (Maitland, Fla.), Remora (Salt Lake City), Sugarcane Lounge (Phoenix), Swizzle Rum Bar & Drinkery (Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale), Three Dots and a Dash (Chicago), Tiki Tatsu-Ya (Austin, Texas).<\/p>\n

\"Hukilau<\/a>
\n Hukilau 2025 update: Symposiums and schedule announced for 23rd Tiki weekender in South Florida<\/a> <\/strong>
\nTikiphiles and fans of retro culture will flock to South Florida from around the world June 5-8 for unique classes and symposiums, distinctive merchandise, dozens of guest bartenders, plus multiple days and nights at the Mai-Kai.
\nFULL PREVIEW: <\/B><\/FONT> Day-by-day activities, special guest presenters, more<\/a><\/strong>
\nDirect links:<\/strong><\/font> Classes & symposiums<\/a> | Guest bars<\/a> | The Mai-Kai<\/a> | Daily schedule<\/a><\/p>\n

THE HUKILAU AT A GLANCE<\/strong><\/font><\/p>\n

A detailed schedule won’t be available until it gets closer to the event, but here’s a basic rundown. With the return of the Mai-Kai, the schedule will basically return to the same as it was from 2003 through 2019. The only major change is the dedicated dinner show is now Friday instead of Saturday.<\/p>\n

• Wednesday: Build Your Own Tiki Bar classes at the Beachcomber. Official pre-party at the Mai-Kai featuring live music.<\/p>\n

• Thursday: Build Your Own Tiki Bar classes and opening day at the Beachcomber, including live music and bungalow parties.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The work of theme park and Tiki bar designer Rodney Ray is featured annually in The Hukilau bungalow parties. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward, June 2023)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

• Friday: Early Beachcomber events, main event and dinner shows at the Mai-Kai, late night at the Beachcomber.<\/p>\n

• Saturday: Full day and evening at the Beachcomber, including the Tiki Treasures Bazaar, symposiums, live music, and bungalow parties.<\/p>\n

• Sunday: Brunch at the Beachcomber, special events including history tours, pop-up bars and live music at the Mai-Kai. <\/a><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Samoan Fire Knife Dance is one of the highlights of the Mai-Kai’s dinner show, performed since the early 1960s. (Mai-Kai photo, April 2025)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

HOW TO ATTEND<\/h3>\n

You can buy event passes on TheHukilau.com website<\/a> and book a room at the Beachcomber by calling (954) 941-7830. You must have a multi-day pass and book three nights in order to stay at the host hotel. Check the website<\/a> for more info, including a discount code for the Plunge Beach Resort, located 2 miles to the south on the Pompano Beach oceanfront.<\/p>\n

The Mai-Kai, less than 5 miles southwest of the Beachcomber, will host events on Friday and Sunday, as well as the official pre-party on Wednesday, June 4. Top-tier passholders get free bus transportation to the Friday main event. Passholders will receive an email with details on how to reserve a seat for the exclusive Friday dinner shows. See more on the Mai-Kai below.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Guests<\/a>
Guests enter the bungalow parties during The Hukilau 2024 at the Beachcomber Resort in Pompano Beach. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

EVENT TICKETS<\/strong><\/font><\/p>\n

The Hukilau has a three-tiered system of weekend passes. The South Seas Pass<\/strong> ($649 plus fees) includes all events on all four days, plus guaranteed seating at symposiums, early access to Saturday’s Tiki Treasures Bazaar, priority booking and seating at the Mai-Kai on Friday, full-sized featured cocktails, a Mai-Kai history tour on Sunday, plus more.<\/p>\n

The Aloha Pass<\/strong> ($449 plus fees), like the South Seas Pass, includes access to buy the event mug (crafted as usual by John Mulder of Eeekum Bookum<\/a>), Thursday night’s kickoff party, the Friday and Saturday pool parties, three nights of bungalow parties, and unlimited sample cocktails. Saturday’s marketplace is included, along with space-available seating at symposiums and Friday’s Mai-Kai event. The Saturday luau ($119), Sunday brunch ($79), and Mai-Kai bus ($30) can be purchased \u00e0 la carte. If you plan to do everything, the South Seas pass offers the better deal.<\/p>\n

The Saturday-only Palm Pass<\/strong> ($189 plus fees) includes full access to that day’s pool party and bungalow parties, the Tiki Treasures Bazaar, sample cocktails and all live entertainment. The luau and brunch can be added, similar to the South Seas pass. When you click to buy tickets,<\/a> you’ll see a more detailed, graphical breakdown of all the passes and perks. <\/a><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Untamed Youth and The Sound Minds will play The Hukilau for the first time in 2025. Both bands have new releases on the Hi-Tide Recordings label.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT<\/h3>\n

The Hukilau will again feature an eclectic lineup of bands<\/a> performing Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Beachcomber Resort. Returning this year along with the Mai-Kai are performances at Friday’s main event and Sunday’s finale with bands setting up in both of the restaurant’s bars.<\/p>\n

Five bands may be familiar from years past (The Swingin’ Palms, Slowey and the Boats, The Intoxicators, The Disasternauts, Skinny Jimmy Stingray) while four will make their Hukilau debut (The Untamed Youth, The Sound Minds, The Hilo Hi-Flyers, Eva & Kully). Here’s a quick rundown of all the announced acts:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Untamed Youth<\/a><\/strong> is a legendary American garage\/surf band from Columbia, Mo., formed in 1987 when all the members were in high school. The four-piece released numerous albums and toured the world through the late ’90s. Frontman Deke Dickerson went on play with The Whippersnappers, The Ecco-Fonics, The Dave and Deke Combo, and The Go-Nuts. In 2024, The Untamed Youth reunited with Dickerson joined by original member Steve “King of Men” Mace, plus Steve “Sammy” Rager (who joined in 1990), plus Chris “Sugarballs” Sprague (Los Straitjackets, Nick Lowe). The band is poised to release<\/a> its first new album in 27 years, Git Up and Go<\/em>,<\/a> on June 27 on the Hi-Tide Recordings label.<\/a> The record features guest appearances by Chris Montez, plus Tony Andreason of The Trashmen. The new music and ongoing reunion shows should give fans of surf, garage and 1960s party rock reason to crack open a cold one and celebrate.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Swingin’ Palms peform during The Hukilau in June 2019 at the Pier Sixty-Six Hotel. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Swingin’ Palms<\/a><\/strong> perfectly embody a South Seas vibe with authentic Hawaiian instrumentals that belie the band’s Albany, N.Y., home. The quartet – Graham Tichy (steel guitar), Don Young (ukulele), Ian “Ritz” Carlton (bass) and Chris “Gringo Starr” Sprague (drums) – released a self-titled debut EP<\/a> in 2019 on Hi-Tide. This will be band’s third Hukilau appearance since 2019.<\/p>\n

The Sound Minds<\/a><\/strong> are a power trio from Albany, N.Y., that channels the raw energy of early 1960s frat rock, garage punk and Merseybeat, landing a spot on Little Steven’s Undergrounds Garage Cruise in May (along with The Untamed Youth and Deke Dickerson). The all-star lineup features three members of The Swingin’ Palms: drummer Chris “Gringo Starr” Sprague (also a member of The Untamed Youth), guitarist Graham Tichy (Commander Cody, Wanda Jackson), and bassist Ian “Ritz” Carlton (The Outta Sites, The Neanderthals). A single, I’m Not a Bad Guy<\/em><\/a>, was released last August on Bandcamp with a new 45-inch record (Hide and Seek<\/em> \/ She Won’t Stay For Long<\/em>)<\/a> dropping May 9 on the new Go-Time imprint from Hi-Tide Recordings.<\/p>\n

The Hilo Hi-Flyers<\/a><\/strong> formed in Southern California in 2018, but the ensemble harkens back to the mid-20th century with its mash-up of traditional exotica with swing and Rat Pack era jazz. An 11-song debut album, Adventure<\/em>, was released in 2021<\/a> by Hi-Tide. The band will make its Hukilau debut this year after postponing in 2021.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n