With the tribe here on the one uninhabited Secret Island there's a lot less time for drinking and blogging! The once serene bamboo hut is now so littered with children's toys that a late night return from the bar in the dark became more hazardous than it might have been!
The tribe Chief decided that the bar had to go to create a Jungle Rumpus room where the savages could play to their hearts content. So it was with much sadness that the bar was listed on eBay. It was eventually won by someone living two hours away who baulked at the courier costs and wanted me to get a trailer from somewhere, wrap and pack it and deliver it thirty minutes away to a depot!... not likely! Incidentally it would have never seen another Mai Tai as it was going to have a cash register sat on it in a Bikini Shop!
If further proof was needed that a good attitude goes a long way in this world I've since let it go to someone else at a reduced cost who will at least give it some love. Turns out the new owner is one of Sydney's Casino Rumblers. Hope he enjoys the bar as much as I enjoyed the music!
Back at the start of May I posted about the imminent opening of Trader Sams at Disneyland. Well the question is, is it any good?
Well what better place to find out than check Critiki . Well it would appear that its well worth the visit, scoring an average of 9.4. Whilst the decor is grabbing the headlines it is disappointing to see that its lowest scores come when reviewer score the drink quality, drink selection and food... all key elements of a quality Tiki Bar. The Critiki review states...
"Trader Sam's is named for the "head" salesman from the Jungle Cruise ride at Disneyland, and the decor is a mix of influence from that ride and the Enchanted Tiki Room, with a little of Walt Disney World's Adventurer's Club thrown in for good measure. Top-notch Disney designers Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily were able to work on some of the decor. There are reports of some interactive elements at the bar.
The early word is that the drink quality is higher than one might expect, with syrups from Portland's Trader Tiki in use. If you like the punny performance given by the Jungle Cruise skippers, you'll love the drink names: "HippopotoMaiTai", "Schweitzer Falls" and "Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Rum" are some of the cleverly-named cocktails."
To mark the opening Richard at the Designerland Blog has created and shared a rather nice unofficial Trader Sam's Soundtrack. Get over there and check it out...
The Tonga Room is a great old classic Polynesian restaurant, found in the basement floor of the upscale Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. In what was the hotel swimming pool The Tonga Room has gone through several incarnations over the years, themed initially as a cruise ship (the S.S. Tonga), then a Chinese restaurant, then finally the current theme of a Polynesian paradise.
Designed by MGM set designer Mel Melvin in a South Pacific/nautical theme, the Tonga Room opened in 1945. The 1920's swimming pool became a water-filled lagoon with a small ship in the middle which doubled as a stage for band and every thirty minutes a thunderstorm erupts, and rain falls into the pool.
In early 2009, the Fairmont announced plans to add a new tower of condominiums, and this plan will require the removal and/or destruction of the historic Tonga Room. This has prompted a fight against the removal of this unique San Francisco landmark.
Back in May the Tonga Room was deemed historic by the California Historic Resources Commission, which means all parts of the room, if moved, must be salvaged, reused or stored. However you would need to question whether the new location for the proposed New Tonga Room would have the same appeal or historical value. At the end of October following a three-hour-long discussion at the San Francisco Planning Commission, where residents voiced their opinions about the demolition of a 23-story hotel tower and replacing it with a 26-story residential tower, the environmental review of the project did not garner the necessary four votes for adoption. It failed 3-2. Therefore the Tonga Room is safe until at least January 2011.
Whilst it could be argued that the Tonga Room is just one of many Tiki Bars that once flourished, then lost some appeal and whom are now enjoying something of a renaissance there is a sense in the community that action must be taken to prevent the further erosion of Tiki culture. Much has been lost already ... now is time to take a stand. Show how much you support and value your local Tiki Bar wherever you live and counter the views of SF Weekly's Chris Roberts in the way we know how. Here at Mia Huna Moku we hope that the Tiki gods are smiling and that one day we might get to visit the Tonga Room in its current location.
In Aubrey London's most recent post she mentioned being inspired by commercial Tiki Bars and wanting to create a space in her home. It's the natural progression right? Experience a bit of the Tropics and you want take it home with you. It was those service men that were stationed there during WWII doing just that that bought Tiki culture to mainland USA.
Many people since have poured their love of the Tiki Lifestyle into their own intimate spaces at home. If you're looking for some inspiration there are plenty of reference books out there, but none seem to take you from the blank canvas to home Tiki Bar perfection quite like the Home Tiki Bar forum on Tiki Central. Some of the tiki bars on there are simply breathtaking... and certainly give people like me here on The Secret Island something to aspire to. However I strongly encourage anyone to follow their instincts, whether its the traditional route or not it's yours so make it work for you. I've thrown together a little movie with my collection of images of my Tiki Central favorites ... enjoy.
Mahalo to everyone who features from Tiki Central and YouTube for changing the music due to some copyright issues!!
Twice a year the inhabitants of the Secret Island go back to their huts and throw out the things that are surplus to requirements, these items are then sacrificed to the evil Tiki god Landfill.
Now this opportunity is perfect for what I'm calling "Urban Beachcombing." Many a bamboo and rattan item, casually tossed aside is picked up, spruced up and given a new home and lease of life. Almost all of the stuff that makes the Sandbar comes from roadside recovery. Pictured above are a bamboo plant stand and wicker basket. Salvaged from outside two different huts on the way home from work but brought together in perfect harmony.
As Summer approaches and the weather starts to warm up here at on the Secret Island our very own Tiki Bar will start getting regular patrons! Now it may not be a Tiki Bar in the traditional sense, in fact the white ceiling would have many over at Tiki Central crying into their Mai Tais.
Its basically a collection of free roadside pick ups, thrift shop purchases, eBay moments of madness or donated items. My well known love of almost anything Bamboo or Rattan means that I'm often being offered new stuff which is ... well rude to refuse. It's also a spare room for guests at times ... not all appreciate having so many watchful wooden eyes!
It's been situated in three different spots in what is a very small hut (house!)but this is the biggest yet. During the day its a spot to hang out, shelter from the savages (kids!), chill out and listen to music...
... during the evenings ... well that's when it really comes to life! ;0)
It's constantly changing and being added to as I pick up more flotsam, jetsam and other Tiki cast offs. If you're ever ship wrecked on the Secret Island be sure to pull up a stool, a warm welcome is guaranteed.
