Aloha and happy St Patrick’s Day Mai-Kai ohana! Today we have a great Supporter Spotlight on your favorite tiki scholar Sven Kirsten! We also have some Mai-Kai news on their merchandise and to-go cocktail offerings.
Petition Update: I have just checked the petition and we are still chugging right along! As of this morning we are standing at 10,425 Mai-Kai petition supporters! Great job! Together our voices will be heard.
Please keep sharing the petition link and keep the conversation going on the Save The Mai-Kai Facebook Group. Link: https://www.change.org/p/save-the-historic-mai-kai-restaurant-polynesian-show-fort-lauderdale-fl
Make sure you wear something green today and shake up your favorite cocktail & pour it into that green tiki mug!
Much love and mahalo,
Tiki Don
Supporter Spotlight on Tiki Historian Sven Kirsten!
For those who might not know Sven here is a little introduction and background on him.
Originally hailing from the German port town of Hamburg, Sven Kirsten decided to make California his home at age 25. While he continued to pursue his career as director of photography in Los Angeles, his visual sense lead him to appreciate American mid-century architecture and design, particularly the uncharted field of Tiki. After four books, several exhibitions, and countless lectures on Tiki style, Sven has emerged as the country’s singular authority on the subject.
As all of us are aware our shared tiki history has been slowly declining for quite some time. While, many new and amazing tiki bars and restaurants are popping up all over the country we have been losing our iconic keystone establishments that inspired this great love of tiki. With 10,425 supporters strong and many key individuals in the tiki community coming together to voice our support I hope that the Mai-Kai can return to its former glory. Sven has published many texts on tiki and is a leader in the Urban Tiki Archelogy field. He has given symposiums at all the big tiki events and is a familiar face at many markets and gatherings. I had a chance to catch up with Sven and find out why preserving the great Mai-Kai is so important to him, Sven had this to say…
Sven Kirsten -- MAI KAI Love –
“The Mai Kai restaurant is a place mythical stature. It is THE most elaborate example of authentic Polynesian architecture, décor and culture in America in existence. I have featured it in three of my books as one of the premiere “power places” of Tiki style, a pop cultural phenomenon which is experiencing an unprecedented renaissance.
Besides the many good reasons for the Mai Kai’s survival stated here already, there is one very specific historic fact that is near and dear to me:
The Mai Kai is one of the most important birthplaces of American Tiki culture by being among the first to incorporate the Tiki figure as a logo in its ads, on its menus, its signage, staff uniform, napkins, matchbooks and entrance doors:
While Don The Beachcomber imported the Tahitian Cannibal carvings to Hollywood, they were just one of the many décor items in his restaurants. It was the Mai Kai’s Thornton brothers that brought these whimsical Tikis to the forefront as the Mai Kai’s logo, marking the very beginning of Tiki culture, and the change from Pre-Tiki to Tiki style in the process. The importance of this fact cannot be overstated in my opinion: The Mai Kai, cradle of Tiki style.
-Sven Kirsten, Los Angeles"
If you would like to meet Sven Kirsten you can find him at events all over the West Coast. Sven will be signing his books and selling his tiki offering at the following events.
*Event: The Original Tiki Marketplace on Saturday, April 17th from 10am to 3pm. The event is held at The Elks Lodge, 11551 Trask Ave, Garden Grove, CA.
*Event: Alohana Palm Springs on Sunday, April 18th from Noon to 6pm. The event will be held at Palm Springs Cultural Center, 2300 Baristo Rd, Palm Springs, CA.
*Event: Arizona Tiki Oasis, April 22nd to April 25th. From Noon to 5pm daily. Sven will be selling his ceramics after his lecture on the Cannibal Carvings, Friday April 23rd at 3:00 pm. The event is held at The Valley Ho Hotel and room reservations are going fast! The Valley Ho Hotel is located at 6850 E Main Street Scottsdale, AZ 85251. For room reservations, tickets and information please visit, https://aztikioasis.com
Mai-Kai News!
The Mai-Kai Vintage T-Shirt for men is back and in two exciting new colors! This shirt features a vintage two-color graphic of the Mai-Kai that dates back to the 1960's. These are printed on 100% cotton, premium fitted tees that are super soft, light and comfortable. You can find Mai-Kai merchandise online at: www.maikaitradingpost.com
Don’t forget your Mai-Kai Drinks TO-GO for today’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities!
Make your friends green with envy, order Mai-Kai drinks for St. Patrick's Day!
Please call Pia at 954-646-8975
The Mai-Kai has all your favorites all available by the gallon or by the quart (price includes tax).
BARREL O'RUM® - the name says it all: Smugglers, pirates and rum runners took their pleasures with this spirituous libation, bold and big, but rightfully smooth. We suggest serving these shaken over ice in 12 oz. cups $80/gallon or $25/quart.
MAI-TAI - a favorite of sweet Molly Malone. The celebrated drink of the islands, made smoother here by the subtle introduction of Appleton 12 year old Jamaican Rum. We suggest serving these shaken over ice in 12 oz. cups. $120/gallon or $35/quart.
JET PILOT - This St. Patrick’s Day we dedicate this drink to Spitfire Paddy, the Irish ace who gave his all in the Battle of Britain! Fast and courageous, a vigorous blend of heavy bodied rums and zesty juices. We suggest serving our strongest drink in 8 oz. cups shaken over lots of ice. $131.50/gallon or $35/quart.
THE REAL McCoy 12-year “Distiller’s Proof” Mai-Kai Blend 92 proof bottles of Rum. This rum will make you feel like you just kissed the Blarney Stone! Single-blended Barbados rum, exceptionally smooth with unmistakable notes of toasted pecan, vanilla and wood spice, with a long elegant finish. Blended especially for The Mai-Kai. $85.60/bottle Limited supply so get yours ASAP!