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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2011
- The legendary Hawaii Kai was a fixture in Times Square for almost 40 years. From the early 1950's to the late 80's this establishment was the ultimate in the magical world of Tiki Bar culture. Another example of New York's loss of unique establishments that are being replaced by sterile, overpriced upscale boring lounges and restaurants. Not a chain or cookie cutter corporate outpost, the Hawaii Kai was a unique and exciting addition to Times Square.
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I absolutely loved this trip down memory lane. 1967 after prom, the place to go.
Double dated at Hawaii Kai with boyfriend, now husband of 53 years. Still have my professional photo in it's logo cover. I had a virgin Pink Lady!
Thank you for this interview❤❤
Sweet 16 for a friend in 1968! Great memories
I used to go there on Saturday with my friend , I was 20 yrs old . I loved it .🎊🌺
I was the drummer for the Loki Ontai Hawaiian band for four years. 1968 to 1972. So many great memories. Thanks for putting this together.
I visited the place during the time you were there. What a great memory. We need places like this again!
Celebrated my 16th bday there in 1974. Great memory and good time.
Energetic fellow you are. Surprisingly no one saw the uniqueness and kept the timeless kitsch going . . . Subbed!
Never anything like it. Ty for this great memory xo
November 16 1964 Got married on the 14th in Connecticut, had to wait a few days for our Cruise ship. We went in this restaurant for dinner. Just like it was yesterday. I remember it all.......could have painted a picture in my mind. TOO BAD it's no longer there. Great food.
Was was a dancer there in the early 80's, my brother Leo was a singer there from the late 70's thru the early 80's. It was a wonderful time of my life, I am proud to say I was part of this.
I probably seen you and your brother lol. We used to love going to Hawaii Kai. There use to be a doorman there who was announcer and MC for a famous jazz club Birdland. Beautiful memories.
Had dinner a few times there, memories that are not forgotten.. I even have a photo with my date.
I had my sweet 16 party there in 1977. Wow, did this bring back memories...LOL.
I frequented there many, many times! It was quite a lovely place!
My dad worked here as a host, waiter and bartender from the mid-70s to the mid-80s. I have fond memories of coming here as a little kid. I just saw some of the old gang recently at my wedding. I always think of the place when I walk by.
Went there on a trip with my parents in 1968. Still have the drinks glasses (more like sculptures) and some of the cocktail hardware!
I was the hostess/ aloha girl there in the late seventies. Too much fun!
What a flashback! We went there during our honeymoon weekend November, 1969...still have the photos
Parents took me there all the time back in the 70's....GOOD Memories!!!!....GREAT FOOD!!!....And the Howard Johnson on the corner of 46th & Broadway had Good food too!!!
Dig this !!!! So cool sad to see history go!!!
Went to a birthday party there in 1975. Pupu platter!
I used to perform there in the 1960s and 1970s. Sam Makia had the band, and I used to come down from Hartford, Connecticut on his days off. I played drums.
had my sweet sixteen here in '76... wonderful place..
II have great memories of this place. We celebrated our JHS graduation there and I still have the picture. It was 8 of us!
I went there once after seeing James Earl Jones and Christopher Plummer in Othello at the Winter Garden Theatre. Unfortunately, it was during a strike and we had to pass through a small picket line but once inside we had a wonderful meal. The topper for me was a coconut drink I think they called a Coco Loco served right in the shell with the coconut meat still on the shell. It's a shame it is no longer in existence. Thank you for shooting this video!
Omg!!! We use to go here 1x every month!!! Fir years my dad git v.i.p treatment. The poo poo platter!!!! The hawiann dancers, the fire throwers, the comic hr. This was my freaking youth!!! Late 7's and 80's
It was a tradition in my family to have our Sweet 16s here.
i used to go to niu valley intermediate and kaiser high back in the day. i miss all the dorky friends i used to have.
OMG...I've been here =D
It was a family place too. My mom, sister, brother and I frequently visited in the early 70's.
You got leid as soon as you entered the restaurant. Hehehe
Wonderful memories...My brother still has a keepsake picture of us at Hawaii Kai.
There is a restaurant and bar in Fort Lauderdale known as the Mai Kai. They have all the same drinks, pupu platter, and polynesian shows. The bar has the theme of being in a old wooden ship. It is amazing, check it out.
I was only 16 when my bf and his sister and hubby took us all there. I remember it was very dark and food was pretty good and I remember my bf and I shared this huge drink. And no they didn't card me. It was a nice New Years Eve memory. They closed that same year sadly
Great tribute. If i am not mistaken it had a Polynesian theme. When it closed during the rebirth of times square the glass doors were still there with the admission and cover charge,i think it was $7.50 to get in and they had the bankamericard sticker on the door.trust me i tried hard to take the door but it was too heavy.i didn however wind up with the two hot dog door pulls from nedicks up the street. Great video
Thelma Goes Hawaiian at the Hawaii Kai ~ NYC ~ 1984
I loved your video. What wonderful memories. Thank you for making it. Now I am going to look for the one on Howard Johnson's.
Yes, reopen I will come back.
I still have the menu.
Madison, if you would: Was the cream of coconut and rum drink served in the coconut shell called the Coco Loco? That name sticks in my head. Thank you.
Coco Loco - A South Sea Sneak! - Fresh coconut with a devilish mixture of Martinique rum and coconut milk. $1.85
Madison Grace Thank you so much, Madison!
You are very welcome. I'm glad the menu could be of some use after all these years.
My father once met a "funny guy" at this place. Turns out, he wasn't so funny. A real psychopath, actually.
Does any one remember the door man that let you into the Hawaii Kai,he had a doorman's outfit and he was no more then 4feet tall,and always wanted a tip to get you into the place,poo poo plater was great.Going back to 1968.New York has changed for the worse!!.Sad...Ray the Pilot
Yes!! 1967. A very short man with a very loud voice and a uniform. He was the greeter❤
I was here for my brother and his girlfriend 's engagement dinner. I was only twelve years old at the time. The only thing that really sticks out in my memory of this place was the little doorman. Do you remember him? Thanks for the video, it really bought back some good memories of this place.
We saw James Earl Jones and Christopher Plummer (and Kelsey Grammer as Casio) in Othello at the Winter Garden Theatre and then headed to the Hawaii Kai for dinner and drinks during a strike. It felt odd going through the picket lines but the meal and Coco Locos were fantastic. This had to have been the early 1980s, I think.
Where are you, Jerry Rio? A free beer at City Swiggers on me. Saturdays, generally.
When was this taped? 1989?
One Summer I was driving a cab in Manhattan and I used to drive by every chance I had around Prom time, and through the summer, just to see the couples (in Mr.B tuxes and the girls in creamy formals, all lei'd and mai tai'd) coming out on to Times Square smiling.
When "diversity" is preached, they should remember there needs to be room for funny even sad places like Hawaii Kai in this world. Not just franchise corporate copies of some Plan.
@jaslinc1 Well Put, however I wouldn't call it "sad", it was a lot of trashy fun though. I was there like 3 times back in the early 80's, modern Times Square is definitely missing alot these days without a place like this around!
@Domenic Dee I wasn't clear. Some of the guy's dates looked sad. Maybe that they were leaving 'the Kai';) or maybe getting a look at their dates in the 2 o'clock glare of T.Sq. (rap on)?
I just googled this place to let my daughter know exactly where to go when she's in NY. I'm shocked to find out it's no longer there. This was one of my favorite spot when I lived in NY. Why, WHY, Why??