Updated March 25, 2025
This blog post will feature continually updated information from official sources at the historic Mai-Kai restaurant in South Florida. It will also include in-depth coverage and photos from journalist Jim “Hurricane” Hayward, along with information gathered from other reliable sources. Bookmark and return for the most accurate and complete guide to the reopening of the Tiki landmark, est. 1956.
• Mai-Kai Restoration & Reopening: Full story and photo archive
UPDATES: Mai-Kai bar and cocktail news, reviews and exclusive insights
LATEST NEWS BELOW: February-March 2025 update: Artists continue working on Mai-Kai design projects NEW
Official sites and social media
• MaiKai.com | Facebook page | Instagram
Facebook group: Join more than 23,000 Friends of the Mai-Kai
• Instagram: Classics of the Mai-Kai
The Atomic Grog: AtomicGrog.com | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky
LATEST EVENTS
Jump to more news below
• Inuhele event recap: Paradise Reimagined: Deep Inside the Mai-Kai Restoration
• Videos: A moment of zen
• Mai-Kai joins Miami Rum Congress festivities
• January 2025 update: Tiki gardens and new dining options open as Mai-Kai menus get a refresh
• Mai-Kai timeline, 1956-2024: Iconic restaurant marks 68 years of Polynesian Pop history
• Is it 1956 or 2024? Forward-thinking Mai-Kai menus sport retro flair
• Mai-Kai grand reopening: Answers to frequently asked questions
• Mai-Kai celebrates grand reopening, return of signature dinner shows
• Mai-Kai hosts preview of bars in advance of grand reopening
• Mai-Kai welcomes Cory Starr as new chief mixologist
February-March 2025 update: Artists continue working on Mai-Kai design projects, upgrading vintage look and feel
Posted March 24, 2025
There has been a lot of activity at the Mai-Kai since our last full update in January, from the completion of the restoration of the waterfalls in front of the iconic A-frame, to the addition of vintage tikis in the outdoor gardens, to the pending installation of new carvings across the property, to a new signature Bora Bora Bar sign and its fascinating back story. This story will cover all those topics and more, hitting all the high points since our presentation at Inuhele in Atlanta (see full story). Also remember to check our separate blog post that covers all the latest Mai-Kai bar and cocktail news, updated with coverage of two special events in March.
RELATED: Mai-Kai joins spirits festival, welcomes brands for cocktail and rum tasting events NEW
Here are the highlights of the continuing renovations and restoration of the restaurant, including new videos and photos.
Historic water features running, new front deck completed
If you thought that the extensive restoration and renovation of the Mai-Kai was nearly complete at the end of 2024, think again. We watched the progress throughout early 2025, culminating with the long-awaited return of the waterfalls that cascade through the rock work in front of the 40-foot A-frame.
The elaborate water features in front of the building along Federal Highway, which date back to the early days of the 68-year-old restaurant, were finally operational by the second week in March. Waterfalls now also envelope guests who walk out onto the new deck added to the front of the Molokai Bar during the restoration.
Bringing the water system back to life was a long, involved process. The system is vintage (aka very old), but the Mai-Kai has been able to restore it with the help of an expert who specializes in keeping such legacy systems running. In addition to separate pump systems in front to the left and right of the entry bridge, there are classic water features surrounding the banyan tree next to the Bora Bora Bar, and also throughout the walking paths in the back Tiki gardens.
Because the Mai-Kai is a local and national historic landmark, tearing out and replacing the vintage systems was not an option. As part of the reimagination, new rock work and waterfalls were added in front of the new outdoor bar. The most ambitious new water feature is the faux volcanic caldera and its water jets at the end of the entry driveway.
Manager Kern Mattei said they had to reboot, then typically replace, multiple aging pumps that had been shut down since 2020. Many hadn’t been working for years prior. Then crews had to inspect and debug every inch of pipe to make sure all the lines were working. They’re still plagued by leaks, but they’re finally all working correctly.
While this work was going on, “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller completed the conversion of the outdoor area in front of the Molokai Bar into a small Tiki garden, surrounded by flowing waterfalls. We got our first inkling that something special was coming in the summer of 2023 when Allsmiller restored the beam extensions on front of the bar.
Over the next year, the new deck was built and the outdoor area in front of the bar became a public space for guests for the first time. When the Mai-Kai reopened in November after 5 years and $20 million in improvements, the former fire door became a public exit, but more work was still left to be done.
By late February, the woodwork on the front of the building had been painted, temporary barriers removed, and new bamboo planted to block the sights and sounds of busy Federal Highway. “You can’t see the street anymore,” Mattei said, noting the guests inside the bar are now totally cut off from the real world, as intended. With a few exceptions, you’ll have this same experience throughout the restaurant. This immersion is key to the original design and carried through the restoration.
In early March, the water features were up and running and guests stepping out onto the deck were surrounded by a lush and exotic environment. Just don’t get too close to the rocks or you might get wet. Be sure to walk around to the front of the restaurant and check out all the restored waterfalls. Check out our video taken earlier this month:
If you’re there at night, look for the new lighting that highlights the massive A-frame roof. There’s white light on the front, to illuminate the vintage artwork, and color-changing LED lights on the sides. We covered the restoration of the mural briefly in our presentation at Inuhele (see photo), but there are more cool details to share.
The painting crew from Colonial Decorators that returned in 2024 to restore the artwork is led by a third-generation owner who worked on the original in 1973 as an 18-year-old. Tim Ellis was assisted by another member of that old crew, along with his son, the fourth generation of his company to work on the Mai-Kai.
Ellis told us he remembers talking to owner Bob Thornton, who was convinced he had to hire specialists from Disney World to take on the massive job. But he let the Colonial Decorators team take a shot at it, and they completed the mural to his liking.
The company has remained with The Mai-Kai ever since, handling much of the indoor and outdoor painting work over the next half century. They’re intimately familiar with all of the appropriate colors and textures of the wood throughout the building, so they played a key role in the restoration.
Ellis said his grandfather designed the mural, and he was tasked with making the nine stencils that were used to create it. He had to re-create the stencils when he returned 50 years later, and the mural was repainted in September and October using modern high-gloss paints. It should “last forever,” Ellis said.
In addition to the water features, new plants and landscaping were installed all along the frontage, including the southeast corner where the large Barney West moai carving once stood. The old platform is ready and waiting for a new carving.
Vintage pieces from the South Seas added to rear Tiki gardens
Since the Mai-Kai’s distinctive outdoor Tiki gardens reopened at the end of 2024, the area has become a magnet for guests who love to take a stroll in the lush surroundings, enveloped by waterfalls and tropical plants as well as a wide array of tikis. New seating areas and reimagined pathways (all handicapped accessible) make it even easier to spend more time in the space.
When the Mai-Kai went to the city of Oakland Park’s Historic Preservation Board before beginning the restoration, the new ownership team was told they needed to preserve as many of the tikis and artifacts as they could. This was an easy task since the Mai-Kai had been preserving them for decades, ever since original owner Bob Thornton wisely had molds made of most of the smaller figures.
Since the molds were made in the 1970s, the Polynesian statues have been replaced multiple times as they broke or wore out in the unforgiving Florida weather. Local artist Will Anders, who also carved the two large wooden tikis in the gardens, is credited with making cement replicas from those molds over the past several decades. [See previous story]
But recently, those old tikis in the gardens have gained some company, and the new pieces may be even more historic. A benefactor has donated to the Mai-Kai his collection of vintage stone carvings that he collected over decades working in the South Pacific.
Manager Kern Mattei recently filled is in on the artifacts and their former owner. The donor was an oceanic scientist who worked throughout the South Seas for most of his life, Mattei said. He became friends with people on the islands where he worked and collected artifacts while he was there.
After retiring, he sought a good home for his collection and found it at the Mai-Kai, where guests can now enjoy the artifacts. “It’s really cool stuff,” Mattei said, noting that each piece has a story behind it. For example, the fish figure was placed near the water to bring good luck when the indigenous people went fishing. There’s also a traditional Marquesan piece among the collection.
Mattei said all of these vintage tikis and other pieces were carved out of stone, mainly limestone and lava rock. The old owner kept them outside in Fort Lauderdale, so they should fare well in the Mai-Kai’s tropical environment.
You can spot the natural, unpainted designs amid the Mai-Kai’s more stylized Tiki figures that have been painted after being cast in cement. There are a total of seven, most of them no more than a foot or two high.
Check out the photos above and see if you can spot them on your next visit. You can also see some of them in our recent walk-though video of the gardens:
Also visible in the video: Allsmiller’s work completing the transformation of the space in the far southwest corner of the gardens in what used to be a back-of-house work area. He recently oversaw the installation of woven matting to the wall along the back of the building, giving the area a much more immersive feel.
In addition to being a nice quiet spot to sit away from the crowds, this space will likely be used for special events and parties with the addition of new furniture.
New Tiki carvings await installation throughout the grounds
If you’ve been to the Mai-Kai lately, you’ve probably seen (and admired) the new Tiki carvings that have been hanging out in the old Chinese oven room, which has been turned into a new guest area that will host special events and eventually serve as a museum documenting the restaurant’s history. Creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller, who designed the space, gives us a tour in this new video.
Four freshly-carved tikis took up residence here in January, after the Christmas tree was taken down. We knew immediately that they were the handiwork of South Florida carver Tom Fowner, who has been working as Allsmiller’s artistic partner since February 2024. (The third key member of the design team, Scott “Flounder” Scheidly, wrapped up his work at the end of 2024 and returned to Orlando.)
Fowner is believed to be the first person to carve tikis for the Mai-Kai on the property. His trio of cannibal carvings was completed before the opening, bidding farewell to guests as they leave via the new immersive driveway. He also contributed one of the three carvings installed in 2017 that now overlook the porte-cochère and Bora Bora Bar.
Previous coverage: The cannibal trio: Mai-Kai’s signature iconography
The new carvings popped up in the back room next to an existing piece that was formerly in the gift shop. This curious artifact is reportedly an old Papua New Guinea sacrificial chair from the 1800s. While you’re back there, look for another historic item, one of the Mai-Kai’s four vintage black velvet paintings, on the rear wall.
All of the new tikis stand between 5 and 6 feet fall. Three are Florida Cypress, a common wood for carvers in this part of the country. The fourth is palm, also something Fowner likes to carve. But the shape of what he calls the “curved guy” makes it very unusual.
The wood was salvaged from a palm tree that was planted outside in the “beach” near the driveway entrance during the restoration, but sadly didn’t survive. It was replaced with another ornamental tree with a curved trunk. “We have another one out there now, but it’s a lot smaller,” Allsmiller said. “The other one was grand.”
“I salvaged the bend and made a tiki out of it,” Fowner said, adding that he hopes its final home is “back out where it was supposed to go.” Regarding the other three, he said the Pele carving might also go out in the driveway entrance area as you near the caldera water feature, replacing the carving by Basement Kahuna that needs to be returned inside to the garden behind the showroom stage. This is apropos since Pele is the goddess of fire, volcanoes, and lava.
You can currently find Pele and a Marquesan-style carving in the Chinese over room along with the curved tiki. The latter has no particular style for reference. Its creator simply calls it “Fowner style.” The fourth, a Tangaroa, was last seen in the gift shop.
Fowner gave them all coat of paint/sealant in February, so they should be ready for their next home soon. Allsmiller took a break to work on another project, so the tiki installations may need to wait until he returns. Fowner said they need to find the exact spots for each and install secure bases.
“The Marquesan might go out in the new Molokai garden area,” he said. “And the Tangaroa, I want to put up here (in Bora Bora) so when you drive in, he’s overlooking.”
Meanwhile, a large carving that guests have not yet seen is waiting in the wings to be installed. The 10-foot-tall Marquesan-style carving was completed in January by Will Anders, the veteran carver who is also responsible for the two large tikis in the rear garden, as well as one of the three carvings in the Bora Bora Bar.
We visited Anders at his carving compound on Jan. 18 to see the finished piece. It still needed a few coats of sealant but it’s otherwise done, he said. Like Fowner’s carvings, it’s awaiting crews to add a secure cement foundation to its new home. It shouldn’t be hard to miss when it graces the Mai-Kai grounds.
According to Anders, it was carved from a 3,000-pound Florida cypress log. When the Mai-Kai acquired it, managing partner Bill Fuller contacted Anders and they made plans for the carving. The design was inspired by a photo of a Marquesan carving shared by Fuller and Allsmiller.
“I don’t consider myself an artist,” Anders said modestly. He said he’s good at copying a style, but “it’s going to have my own interpretation.”
While visiting his workshop, Anders explained how he works on his large pieces with them lying horizontally, then turing them to reach the sides and back. It’s not feasible for him to carve them upright, he said. The new carving looks good from the front but great from the side, he added.
To see more photos of his work on the Marquesan carving and other projects, check out his long-running thread on Tiki Central. Look for the first photos of the Mai-Kai carving on Oct. 29.
Past coverage
• Inside (and outside) the Mai-Kai with Tiki carver Will Anders (2024)
• New giant carved tiki added to Mai-Kai’s outdoor garden for 60th anniversary (2017)
• King Kai leads procession of new Tikis into the Mai-Kai (2016)
Bora Bora Bar gets signature sign, new link to Molokai Bar
As guests enter the Mai-Kai, they may notice several new hand-carved signs in and around the entrance. They’re the handiwork of creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller and artist Tom Fowner, whose Tiki carving skills were discussed above. Fowner also creates practical woodwork, such as the seating areas that are built into the exterior and the new signature bench near the restrooms.
The first sign went up in the special free parking area reserved for pre-1980 classic cars. Classics of the Mai-Kai is also the name of the Instagram page Allsmiller created to honor these beauties. “Because we are a classic restaurant, we want classic cars,” he said during our video walk-through created for Inuhele.
Fowner also created a sign that points the way to the Bora Bora Bar. It hangs on the side of the Molokai Bar in the walkway leading from the sidewalk along Federal Highway. It was originally intended for the bar itself, but he and Allsmiller came up with something much cooler to hang over the bartenders as they work in the immersive nautical space.
Allsmiller continues to enhance the theme of the bar, which we barely touched on in our February story on the new bar menu. The new sign, as well as the boxes and barrels recently added, reinforce the back story that connects the Molokai and Bora Bora bars.
The Molokai is built with set pieces from Mutiny on the Bounty, the 1962 film starring Marlon Brando, and features an iconic design that Allsmiller lovingly restored. Designers picked up the items just in time for the 1970 reimagination of the bar after the MGM prop warehouse closed.
Past coverage: Inside the Molokai Bar and tour of the Mai-Kai restoration
In creating the Bora Bora Bar, Allsmiller took some liberties with the true story of the HMS Bounty. “I like to do a little revisionist history and say they had their mutiny on Tahiti” instead of later on the Pitcairn Islands, he said. “Instead of burning the ship to the water, they took the ship apart, and they built their hangout in Tahiti, in paradise, in Polynesia. The Mai-Kai is Polynesian, the Molokai Bar is the disassembled ship.”
Allsmiller took his new story to heart when building the outdoor bar. He designed it as if it were the outside pieces of the ship. The bar top is the deck, the foot rests are the ladder from the side of the ship, and on the side that faces the front door of the restaurant you can see the back of the ship where it says “Bounty.”
Above the bar you’ll see the ship’s wheel and the rigging holding up the lights. The new centerpiece is meant to look like cargo from the ship. “They had to put the cargo somewhere,” Allsmiller said. “That’s why there are barrels up on the rocks.”
It makes sense, therefore, that the large Bora Bora Bar sign now hanging high above was fashioned from the rudder of the HMS Bounty, a British merchant ship that the Royal Navy purchased for its ill-fated botanical mission in 1789. Many details about the ship are documented online, including the whereabouts of the remains of the rudder salvaged from the wreck. (It’s in the Fiji Museum in Suva, Fiji.)
Notable replicas of the ship were built for the 1962 film and again for the 1984 movie The Bounty. The original replica was lost to Hurricane Sandy in 2012, while the newer version was last seen sailing the rivers of Thailand.
But when it came time to create their version of the rudder, Allsmiller and Fowner didn’t need to look far. A very accurate model of the HMS Bounty can be found inside a display case in the lobby of the Mai-Kai, one of those set pieces acquired in 1970 and frozen in time like much of the restaurant.
The next time you pass by the Molokai, take a look in the case on your left and take note of the ship’s rudder. Then compare it to the sign over the bar that has the exact same shape and details, including the four hinges and pins, which were crucial for allowing the rudder to pivot and steer the ship.
Then take another look at the sign over the bar and you can easily spot what look like barnacles, the sea creatures that attach themselves to ships. Fowner is proud to say that unlike everything else in this story, these barnacles are actually real.
We recommend then sitting at the bar, immersing yourself in the back story as you enjoy a classic Bora Bora or Mutiny cocktail, which are also definitely the real deal.
Guarded by artifacts, restored Tahiti Room readied for guests
One of the two non-showroom dining areas that did not reopen with the rest of the Mai-Kai in November is now available for special events. The Tahiti Room, which was added as part of the 1970 expansion, was recently completed after the addition of new custom, hand-made tables.
As noted in our January updated below, the tables have Hawaiian acacia wood tops, matching the style of the tables in the showrooms. The logistics of serving day guests in the 56-capacity room are still being worked out, but in the meantime it’s available for large groups to reserve in advance.
In the meantime, non-showroom dining is typically available in the outdoor Lanai, just outside the windows from Tahiti. Besides the tables, work recently completed in Tahiti includes restored floors, plus new sconces and updated lighting. The room is distinctive for having its own A-frame roof, plus two portraits of Mai-Kai matriarch Mireille Thornton, a native of Tahiti and wife of co-founder Bob Thornton.
We’re hopeful that Tahiti will be employed during The Hukilau in June, as it has during past events. We have fond memories of this space hosting not only secluded diners, but some of the top surf and exotica bands in the world. Past musical guests have included The Intoxicators, Ixtahuele, and Los Straitjackets. (click links for videos).
You can get a peek into the Tahiti Room on your way to the Tiki gardens, or when sitting in the Lanai. The entrance is directly at the end of the ramp to the gardens, just beyond the door that leads outside. After the opening, it was used as a private space for Mai-Kai performers and musicians.
There’s no door, so it has been cordoned off by a fantastically themed barricade that points the way to the gardens. While walking the paths, take note of a similar stanchion with a “No Entry” sign that keeps guests from wandering down the hallway in front of Tahiti. This walkway, which leads to the indoor garden behind the stage, is still being restored and off limits to guests.
These seemingly casually placed barriers are possibly the most historic barricades in the world of Tiki. They were salvaged from beneath the stage by creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller early days of his of work on the Mai-Kai showroom, then cleaned up and restored.
They were used more than 50 years ago as a barrier when the stage was used to seat guests before the nightly Polynesian show. The restaurant was so busy in those days, there was a need for dinner seating wherever they could find it. Four of these themed railings “would rise up out of the stage” at the push of a button, Allsmiller said.
Manager Kern Mattei told us that in the ’60s, before the addition of the back dining rooms, dinner seating continued until 10 p.m. The shows were held in the late night, at 10:30, midnight and 1:30 a.m. “There would be a line out the door of people waiting to come in,” Mattei said.
Presumably created by Oceanic Arts, which did much of the Mai-Kai’s original decor, the railings were connected to a mechanical pulley system. They could have three or four turnovers of guests, Mattei said, then quickly clear the stage and hit the button so the railings could slide back down and they could start the show.
At some point after the expansion, they were no longer needed and the two that remain were simply locked down under the stage like artifacts until Allsmiller discovered them. Like many restored items at the Mai-Kai, these vintage barriers have returned to their original utilitarian purpose of keeping guests safe and fully immersed in their experience.
New merchandise from Tiki artists available in gift shop
New merchandise continues to land in the Mai-Kai Trading Company gift shop as old items sell out. Be sure to check the gift ship every time you go.
In the most recent update on bar and cocktails news, we noted the new glassware by Mcbiff that arrived in March. You can catch the California artist during special appearances April 11-12. [See story and photos]
Other new additions include pendants by Arizona-based “Tiki Ray” Kieffer that pay tribute to the King Kai carving by Will Anders, along with other Mai-Kai inspired pendants. The Mai-Kai also just received exclusive new items from Chicago area artist Kymm! Bang, including the very cool Molokai Girl Swizzle.
Also worth noting is some nice national exposure in Garden & Gun magazine, which quotes managing partner Bill Fuller as saying original owners Bob and Jack Thornton revered Polynesian culture and never wanted the Mai-Kai to feel like a kitschy roadside attraction. To this end, Fuller hired a cultural director of Hawaiian and Tahitian ancestry, Teuruhei Kalaniu’i Buchin. “You have to hire artists who have this in their family legacy,” Fuller said, “and feel like this is the environment that properly showcases it.”
In the story posted online March 11, Fuller said he believes the brothers would have been proud of the renovation. “I think we’ve done an amazing job of protecting the legacy of the venue,” he said.
Official Inuhele event recap: Paradise Reimagined: Deep Inside the Mai-Kai Restoration
Hundreds of Tikiphiles flocked to Inuhele: Atlanta’s Tiki Weekend at the end of January for three days of artists and vendors, live music and entertainment, rum and cocktail tastings, plus a healthy dose of “edutainment.” The Omni hotel and Trader Vic’s were abuzz Jan 24-26 as enthusiastic guests enjoyed seminars and presentations on a wide range of topics.
The Atomic Grog was privileged to participate with an update on the reimagination and reopening of the Mai-Kai. This was a follow-up to our 2023 symposium, Okole Maluna! The Return of The Mai-Kai, when we revealed details and a sneak peek at what would become an ambitious $20 million project that’s still ongoing. After the grand reopening in November, there was a lot new to report.
Our 60-minute multimedia presentation, Paradise Reimagined: Deep Inside the Mai-Kai Restoration, featured an exclusive look at the reimagination and revival with photos, video and tips for your next trip.
DEEP DIVE: See the rest of the story on the renovation and reopening of the Mai-Kai
Videos: A moment of zen
Mai-Kai joins Miami Rum Congress festivities
Updated Feb. 18, 2025
The Mai-Kai was once again at ground zero of the rum world as brands, VIPs and enthusiasts flocked to South Florida for the sixth Miami Rum Congress. The restaurant hosted a special event on Jan. 30 and participated in several events Jan. 31 in Miami Beach.
In an unexpected surprise, the Mai-Kai won The Ultimate North America’s Rum Bar 2025 Jury Award during the presentations at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The Ultimate Awards recognize “the best of the best” in the rum industry and are awarded annually by organizer Federico Hernandez at Miami Rum Congress.
Following is a chronological recap of all the events.
The Miami Rum Congress Kickoff Happy Hour took over the Bora Bora Bar on Thursday (Jan. 30) from 6 to 8 p.m., featuring a special menu of cocktails spotlighting sponsor Holmes Cay Rum. The event was hosted by the Florida Rum Society and heavily attended by members who packed the outdoor bar and spilled over into the Molokai Lounge.
The four one-night-only cocktails from beverage director Cory Starr and his team included the Mai-Kai’s signature Mai Tai with Holmes Cay Heritage Blend Rum. Our favorite was Smell in the Pacific, an updated take on Jeff “Beachbum” Berry’s Hell in the Pacific (from 1998’s Grog Log) that combined Holmes Cay Fiji Blended Rum with lime, maraschino liqueur and pomegranate (likely house-made grenadine). The coup de grace was the spritz of Holmes Cay Reunion Island Grand Arome Rum.
Starr and bartender Michael DeMahy also presented two more inventive creations as they and other members of the bar team took center stage in the immersive new space under the historic porte-cochère. Jungle Nerd was a greatly elevated Jungle Bird featuring the grand arome rum, amaro, lime, pineapple and a clarified milk punch. Meanwhile, the Cay Punch spotlighted Holmes Cay Reunion Island Agricole Rum in a Ti’ Punch riff featuring lime and fermented starfruit (and simple but engaging garnish).
• Click here to see the menu
The Bora Bora Bar gives the Mai-Kai bar staff, traditionally hidden in back service spaces, the opportunity to show off their chops in full view of guests. They still go to great care, however, to keep many traditionally secret recipes and ingredients under wraps by using unmarked and cryptically labeled bottles. The happy hour was a big success, paving the way for similar events in the future.
The Mai-Kai was included in the seventh and final presentation during the opening day of Miami Rum Congress at the spacious convention center on Friday (Jan. 31). The other seminars covered such topics as “Rhum Liqueurs: From Tradition to Modernity” and “Give Rum a Shot – Tales from Brand Ambassadors & Trenches.” Guests also enjoyed rum samples and cocktails throughout the day, which culminated with The Ultimate Awards from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Reexamining Golden Era Rums of the Mai Tai, Mai-Kai, and Beyond ran from around 5 to 6 p.m., hosted by Myssi Davis of The Rum Traveler and also featuring Matt Pietrek, aka Rum Wonk. The author of the epic 2022 book Modern Caribbean Rum debunked many long-held assumptions about the classic Jamaican rum (Wray & Nephew 17 ) purportedly used by Trader Vic in his original Mai Tai. He also cleared up confusion over the rhums of Martinque, which weren’t always produced in the currently predominant agricole style.
I was honored to lead the Mai-Kai section of the presentation, joined by Starr, who took over the bar program in September after a decades-long career at some of the country’s top Tiki destinations (Tiki Tatsu-Ya in Austin, Three Dots and a Dash in Chicago). We started off with a discussion of Mai-Kai rum history, including an analysis of the restaurant’s rum purchases during its first year, 1956-57. Pietrek and I have shared this document at previous events, but it’s always worth spotlighting for its historical significance.
SEE THE FULL STORY on our new blog post dedicated to Mai-Kai bar and cocktail updates
January 2025 update: Tiki gardens and new dining options opening as Mai-Kai menus get a refresh
Posted Jan. 19, 2025
Guests attending the Mai-Kai’s 68th anniversary celebration on Dec. 28 got a special treat with the unannounced reopening of the restaurant’s lush tropical gardens. The immersive walking path through paradise was totally refurbished with new water features, all new themed pavement (no more steps), new plants and landscaping, rebuilt wooden bridges and railings, themed fencing with carved poles and tikis, more flaming torches, seating and secret nooks for guests, plus a new secluded corridor for special events in the southwest corner of the property
• See video, photos, more anniversary coverage below
Within a few weeks, the water features were fully operational, waterfalls and streams throughout the massive rockwork rounding out the experience, along with the enveloping Polynesian soundtrack. It’s a totally sensory experience with some work still remaining, but it’s looking great. A traditional wedding spot will be added, along with table seating in the nooks and event space.
By mid-January, dinner service had resumed in the Lanai, the romantic area adjacent to the gardens. These tables are all under cover from the elements, offering a perfect view of the gardens and waterfalls. Tables are available both to the right (on the wooden deck) and to the left (in front of the Tahiti Room) as you walk out the back door.
If you’re looking for an alternative to the Polynesian show or don’t want to eat in the bars, ask for a table on the Lanai. Just note that happy hour prices on cocktails (half-priced every day until 7) apply only to the Bora Bora and Molokai bars. The Lanai is a great place to relax and enjoy a cocktail or small bite anytime in the evening.
The next space to return will be the 56-seat Tahiti Room, the rear indoor dining area with windows looking out into the gardens and vintage decor that dates back to the Mai-Kai’s 1970 expansion. As a non-showroom, it offers a more private spot to dine and also is perfect for large groups.
When it reopens, you can say goodbye to the white tablecloths, which were actually hiding the not-so-attractive old tables. “We’re making brand-new tables for the Tahiti room,” general manager Kern Mattei told us on Jan. 16. Custom-made using Hawaiian acacia wood, they will match the style of tables in the showroom.
The booths and chairs will remain the same, he said, and the tables will be set up in the same configuration. “The plan is to have a different type of wood for Samoa,” he said of the tables in the other rear dining room that has yet to reopen. Restoration of these rooms is otherwise complete. The reopening of Samoa, with its signature shrunken skulls and other exotic decor, must wait until restoration is completed on the area behind the showroom stage and its walking path is reopened.
If you walk back to the Lanai and gardens, be sure to check out the hut-like building that used to contain the Mai-Kai’s signature Chinese ovens. Since the old adjacent kitchen was moved to a new location, this room has been redesigned by creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller, complete with a new bridge that connects it directly to the garden’s walking path (all ADA-compliant). Note the work done on the exterior to make the walls and roof look distressed, a feature Allsmiller is still in the process of restoring. Coming soon: The return of the exterior lettering, upgraded with a special message.
• Previous coverage: Chinese oven space has vintage look, new purpose
Inside the room, Allsmiller kept the Chinese theme with beautiful red wallpaper and bamboo, accented by dark wood trim. It’s still being built out, but when it’s complete, the walls will include historic Mai-Kai photos and artifacts. “Guests can come in here and learn the story of the Mai-Kai,” Allsmiller said during a tour. “A lot of people don’t even realize what this place is.” Newbies will find it interesting, he said, and “our ‘ohana will love it.”
In the future, the room will also be used for special events and parties. During the holidays, it hosted the Mai-Kai’s Christmas tree. [See video] Tucked away in a back corner is one of the Mai-Kai’s vintage black velvet paintings along with a historic piece from Papua New Guinea that’s reportedly a sacrificial chair from the 1800s. The latter was earlier spotted in the gift shop.
More recently, the room has been flanked by four new tikis by Tom Fowner, the South Florida artist who created the trio of cannibals that bids you adieu as you leave the Mai-Kai driveway. [See previous coverage] Like the cannibals, he completed these carvings on-site, leaving the wood to rest before adding the finishing. The new tikis will likely find homes elsewhere around the property. Look for a future update on the new carvings by Fowner, plus another large tiki due to be installed soon.
We spotted the bricks from the old ovens stacked neatly in the back-of-house space where the old 1970s-era kitchen was located. They were carefully removed when the room was renovated, saved for a hopeful reassembly during a planned phase 2 of the restoration project that should include a kitchen expansion. This may also feature a window for guests to once again see them in action.
The current kitchen and service bar were built in old staff and office space that was not impacted by the roof collapse in October 2020, when the Mai-Kai was forced to shut down. Still without a roof, the old kitchen area in the southwest corner of the building contains large storage and freezer units, as well as mobile kitchen equipment in self-contained buildings that have recently been enhanced with wood plank facades similar to the outside of the building. Even beyond the view of guests, theming is important.
With the ovens gone, the burden falls on executive chef Ferdinand Ortiz and his team to step up with new flavors and dishes to meet the needs of both the modern diner and those looking for a classic Mai-Kai experience. The new kitchen employs combi ovens and other state-of-the-art equipment in addition to woks and other more traditional means to prepare the dishes on the Asian fusion menus.
• Previous coverage: Food menus offer a modern take with traditions intact
As we noted in our story on the vintage design of the menus (see link above), both the bar and main dinner menus were scheduled for an update after the initial rush of the November grand reopening. The rush continued through the holidays, but updated menus were in place by early 2025. We got our first peek on Jan. 3 (see images below). Please note that the expansive cocktail menu has not changed since the reopening, though the special menu for the signature after-dinner drinks is still in the works. [Previous coverage]
These “v2 menus” are not a major change from the originals. The retro design remains, and only one new dish was added. Mattei confirmed that the updates mainly were done to remove the low-selling items and to streamline the menus so that the kitchen could perform at peak efficiency. This goes hand-in-hand with the addition of more dinner seating as noted above. There were also some price adjustments, which we’ll note below.
Managing partner Bill Fuller echoed Mattei’s comments when we asked him about the food menus, calling them a “work in progress” as the offerings evolve over time. The Molokai Bar kitchen is still not fully operational the last time we checked, so a return to some of the traditional apps that defined the bar’s offerings in the past could be still in the works. As for the dinner menu, we’ve been impressed with the quality and integrity of the food, as well as the modern plating, especially considering how many guests the Mai-Kai serves with such complex logistics.
In addition to the 300+ seats in the showrooms, with orders hitting the chefs in waves up to three times a night, there are 150 seats in the Molokai and another potential 100 guests in the new Bora Bora Bar and restored outdoor Lanai seating. All have access to all of the food, no matter the location or time. This is an under-appreciated upgrade from the old days, when it was rare to see people eating dinner in the bar.
We took the photos of the menus around 4 p.m. on a Friday in the new Bora Bora Bar, where we spotted early birds enjoying dinner entrees. It’s also great to be able to order from the dinner menu during late hours in both bars, no reservation necessary. Please be patient while the staff continues to adjust and fine-tune both the look and tastes at this vintage treasure.
Following is a rundown on the major changes we noted on the menus between v.1 and v.2. The overall design is unchanged, though the color of the bar menu was adjusted slightly and “Since 1956” was added to the front of the dinner menu. The position of the items on the dinner menu was also adjusted, but the vintage look remains.
Molokai and Bora Bora menu: Reduced to 11 from 14 items with the removal of the house salad, Octopus Blowing Smoke Poke, and expensive scallop dish. One changed slightly: The garlic shrimp is now Crispy Rice Paper Shrimp (with the same green sauce). The Huli Huli BBQ Chicken is now billed as “24-hour Hawaiian BBQ glazed 1/2 chicken.” It’s also worth noting that several items received significant price reductions. The Luau Burger fell by 29 percent ($34 to $24), while the Kona-Braised Beef Short Ribs dropped by 20% (from $45 to $36). Also, the Double Trouble Poke Bowl ($34) was cut by $6, Extra-Crispy Korean Chicken Wings ($17) are $4 less, while the BBQ chicken ($26) and Crisp Cabbage Salad ($10) cost $2 less. There was just one increase: The Pupu Platter (for two) is $28, up from $24.
Dinner menu: There are now eight appetizers, down from 12. Gone are the kale, curry soup, house salad, and octopus poke. Six of the remaining are also on the bar menu, plus the wonton soup and calamari. The prices were adjusted so they’re the same on both menus. The kids menu remains the same with six items, all priced at $12. One side (baby bok choy) was dropped, leaving eight. The lobster ($17) and pork fried rice ($14) dishes increased ($5 and $2, respectively), but five other side dishes were reduced in price, some significantly. There are now four sides in the $6 to $9 range.
General Manager Kern Mattei showed off some of the Mai-Kai’s food and drinks during an interview with Miami’s CBS affiliate, WFOR-TV, channel 4. Watch the video here or below.
The entree menu was also simplified, reduced from 27 to 19 dishes, ranging from $17 to $48. The latter is the 10-ounce Aged New York Strip, a new item that replaces the $95 wagyu as the signature steak. Other expensive dishes removed were the filet mignon, lobster tails, lamb chops, pork tomahawk, whole red fish, duck, and scallops (all in the $55 to $80 range). The Peking Pork Stirfry was also jettisoned. Of the remaining entrees, nine saw price reductions, including the Pan-Roasted Mahi Mahi (down $11 to $34), and Pan-Roasted Salmon Misoyaki (down $6 to $29) . The short ribs, BBQ chicken, burger, and poke bowl prices were reduced to match the bar menu. There were five modest price increases ($1 to $3).
The one special entree worth noting is the 24-Hour Suckling Luau Pig, now listed as $350 (instead of market price) and spotlighted in the center of the menu. It serves four to six people (which equates to $58-$87) but must be ordered 72 hours in advance. Fuller told us that this has been the surprise hit of the menu, with many larger groups ordering the traditional Hawaiian dish.
The desserts were reduced to six from nine. This sadly includes the loss of the delicious Haupia Cocoa Puffs, along with the Coconut Leche Flan. The elaborate Angry Tiki Tower ($55) also got the boot. We consider the pastry department to be one of the kitchen’s strong suits, and some outstanding dishes remain, all still priced at $12. Be sure to save room for the bread pudding, upside-down cake, macadamia nut pie and key lime pie. You won’t be disappointed.
Note: All of the above menus are also posted on the MaiKai.com site, so be sure to check there for updates. We’ll post a story when the after-dinner drinks menu is released.
Mai-Kai timeline, 1956-2024: Iconic restaurant marks 68 years of Polynesian Pop history
Updated Jan. 3, 2025
For the first time since 2019, guests once again gathered for a full night of signature Mai-Kai cocktails, food and entertainment to celebrate the restaurant’s grand opening on Dec. 28, 1956. Closed since October 2020, the historic South Florida landmark reopened in November 2024 after a $20 million restoration and reimagination.
Hundreds of fans enjoyed happy hour from 3 to 7 p.m. in the vintage Molokai Bar and the new Bora Bora Bar outdoors under the porte-cochère. There were three dinner show seatings for the Polynesian Islander Revue at 4, 7 and 10 p.m. as the celebration continued all night.
The Mai-Kai, which is still in the final stages of the multi-year renovation project launched in 2022, held an anniversary party in the parking lot in 2020 after a catastrophic roof collapse over the kitchen shut down service indoors two months earlier. The popular restaurant persevered, securing new ownership and a creative team that is taking great care to meticulously restore every square inch of the 26,000-square-foot space.
In addition, ambitious new features have been added to the exterior, including a themed entryway that immediately whisks guests into an exotic tropical paradise. Opening to guests for sneak previews on Nov. 15, the Mai-Kai held its ceremonial grand reopening Nov. 21 and return of the signature dinner shows Nov. 22.
With an emphasis on the important activity in recent years, here’s a look back at some key dates and events over the course of the Mai-Kai’s long history:
Dec. 28, 1956 – Young and ambitious Chicago brothers Bob and Jack Thornton fulfill their dream by opening a Polynesian restaurant on a sleepy stretch of Federal Highway in Oakland Park, bordering Fort Lauderdale in South Florida. It cost $350,000 to create, reportedly the most expensive restaurant built that year. They name it Mai-Kai, which means “the best” in Hawaiian. The futuristic A-frame design is the work of acclaimed architect Charles F. McKirahan Sr. The restaurant seats 225 guests in five dining rooms and the Surfboard Bar. Key members of the team include manager Bob Van Dorpe, mixologist Mariano Licudine and chef Kenny Lee, who all come from the Don the Beachcomber location in Chicago and bring a rich institutional knowledge of the pioneering Polynesian restaurant concept.
1957 – In its first year, the Mai-Kai earns more than $1 million, making it one of the most successful restaurants of its time.
• SEE THE FULL CHRONOLOGY AND PHOTOS
2024 anniversary, New Year’s Eve photos & video
Is it 1956 or 2024? Forward-thinking Mai-Kai menus sport retro flair
Posted Dec. 5, 2024
This is part 1 in a series exploring the new cocktail and food menus at the historic Mai-Kai. In future stories, we’ll examine the drinks and the food in depth.
Since the Mai-Kai celebrated its grand reopening in mid-November, fans flocking back to 3599 N. Federal Highway in Oakland Park have been dazzled by the renovation and reimagination of the 67-year-old Tiki temple. This includes a painstaking rehabilitation of the Molokai Bar, the massive showroom under the vintage 40-foot A-frame, as well as all the surrounding dining rooms and other guest areas.
Much of the interior looks as good as it has since a 1970 expansion project that marked the last major design overhaul. For this, we can thank creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller and his team of artists, including Scott “Flounder” Scheidly, Tom Fowner, and Conrad Teheiura Itchener.
• Mai-Kai Restoration & Reopening: Full story and photo archive
But there are a few new additions to this throwback experience that may have escaped notice, right under the noses of many guests. The food and drink menus now boast a vintage look and feel that dates all the way back to the early days of the Mai-Kai. Let’s take a closer look at menus, their links to the past, and some breaking news on what’s coming next.
• Click here for the deep dive into the design and history, plus news on what’s next
Direct links to full coverage
• The cocktail menu: Welcome back to paradise, 1950s style
• The food menus: A modern take with traditions intact
• The cannibal trio: Mai-Kai’s signature iconography
Mai-Kai grand reopening: Answers to frequently asked questions
Updated Feb. 25, 2025
It’s hard to imagine more interest in a restaurant reopening than the hoopla surrounding the return of the historic Mai-Kai after its $20 million rejuvenation in November 2024. More than three years in the making, the restoration and reimagination not only returned the 67-year-old Polynesian Palace to its vintage 1970s-era look, it also created an entirely new experience outside and around the grounds. Just as important, it created a solid infrastructure that will ensure its survival for generations to come.
We created a FAQ for the Friends of the Mai-Kai group on Facebook, which includes more than 23,000 members and continues to grow. Due to the overwhelming response, we wanted to provide the most official information we can find, along with our own tips and advice. It will be updated in tandem with Facebook, containing the latest helpful info for anyone planning a visit to the Mai-Kai. Feel free to follow either, or both. As always, go to MaiKai.com for the most official info and sign up for the email list to receive the latest news.
Mai-Kai celebrates grand reopening, return of signature dinner shows
Updated Nov. 24, 2024
The Mai-Kai’s new ownership and management celebrated the grand reopening with a special ceremony on Nov. 21 featuring Teuruhei Buchin and members of the Polynesian Islander Revue. Speakers included Mai-Kai managing partner Bill Fuller, Florida state Rep. Chip LaMarca, and Oakland Park Mayor Tim Lonergan.
Later during dinner, the new Polynesian Islander Revue made its full public debut on the showroom stage during a reopening event for friends and family.
More videos
• Legendary Mai-Kai Polynesian dinner theater reopens after four-year renovation (CBS Miami)
• Fort Lauderdale’s famous Mai-Kai officially reopens after $20M renovation (Deco Drive)
Media coverage
• Historic Mai-Kai reopens after $20 million remake (Florida Rambler)
• At the reopened Mai-Kai, more glory days may still be yet to come (New Pelican)
UPDATED: Mai-Kai announces grand reopening, offers dinner show reservations starting Nov. 22
Posted Nov. 21, 2024
If you thought the excitement over the special preview events underway at South Florida’s historic Mai-Kai this week were thrilling, you ain’t seen nothing yet. After opening the new Bora Bora Bar and vintage Molokai Lounge starting Nov. 15, the newly refurbished and reimagined restaurant will begin offering dinner seating for its acclaimed Polynesian Islander Revue starting Friday (Nov. 22) after a reopening ceremony on Thursday.
GO TO MAIKAI.COM NOW TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS!
Existing bar reservations that have been made through Sunday (Nov. 24) will be honored, but guests who want to see the dinner show will need to make a separate reservation via the link above. For the first time, the new online system enables you to select a specific table for the shows, offered multiple times every night. There is a per-person charge for the show, which varies by date, time and location of the seats.
The Mai-Kai sent an invitation to its email list subscribers that promotes three shows on Friday (5, 8 and 11 p.m.) and Saturday (4, 7 and 10 p.m.), with two on Sunday (4 and 7 p.m.). The restaurant will be closed Monday (Nov. 25). Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, Nov. 26, including walk-ups for happy hour. Check the booking link for available dates and times.
• Click here to see the announcement
The 45-minute performances offer “a glimpse into traditional Polynesian heritage through the use of authentic music, dance, original costumes and artifacts,” according to the official Mai-Kai announcement. “The team incorporated state-of-the-art tech, with DMX-controlled lighting, allowing customized spotlights for each individual table. Members of the troupe represent many islands in the South Pacific, including Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, New Zealand and the Philippines.”
The Polynesian Islander Revue is considered to be the oldest continually-running authentic South Seas stage show in the United States (including Hawaii), est. in 1962. The revue reflects the music and culture of each island by interpreting ancient stories through song and dance.
The new cultural arts & entertainment director is Teuruhei Buchin, who has performed in Polynesian dance troupes since turning professional at age 11. She has assembled a team of 24 performers, including many with deep connections to the Mai-Kai and its history. The performers and show band, which includes longtime musician Conrad Teheiura Itchener, have been rehearsing since September and are primed for the opening.
The preview parties this week have included many of the performers, including fire-knife dancers, hula dancers, and band members. In addition to the hundreds of seats for the dinner shows, extensive bar seating will continue to be available. A daily happy hour in the bars includes 50 percent off most of the Mai-Kai’s famous cocktails from opening until 7 p.m. The current opening times are 4 p.m. weekdays and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
The press release touts the bar’s “57 specialty drinks, a full-service bar and wine list.” Chief mixologist Cory Starr has reinvigorated the restaurant’s classic Tiki drinks while adding his own modern interpretations. Both classic and new custom-designed mugs will be available for purchase.
The food menu has also been transformed by a new culinary team. It “draws inspiration from the bold flavors of Polynesia, showcasing tropical fruits and aromatic spices,” according the the release. “While showcasing vibrant new flavors, the menu pays homage to the original menu, with several signature dishes that have been beloved for over 50 years. Timeless signature items include the Pupu Platter, which offers an assortment of Mai-Kai favorites including Shanghai Chicken; Crispy Pork & Snow Crab Egg Roll; Classic Cheese Tangs & Mai-Kai Crab Rangoon. The BBQ Ribs; Peking Duck and Shanghai Chicken are also familiar favorites that have returned to the Polynesian-inspired menu. For dessert, guests can indulge in tropical fruit creations such as the Asian Pear Upside Down Cake, made with Vietnamese coffee ice cream and rum caramel sauce; the Mauna Loa Macadamia, made with nut pie; sweet cinnamon-vanilla filling and crushed macadamia nuts; as well as the Angry Tiki Tower, featuring an assortment of mochi, macadamia ice cream sandwiches, lychees and grapes.”
After dining, be sure to peruse the extensive gift shop, aka the Mai-Kai Trading Post. Here you will find not only Mai-Kai branded clothing and merchandise, but colorful new items by some of the Tiki scene’s top artists and craftspeople. Featuring an elaborate Asian theme that matches the award-winning women’s restroom, the trading post is located just behind the main showroom and now offers unique views of building’s vast A-frame and dining areas as well as a peek into the formerly secret back service bar.
Regarding the ambitious restoration, the press release states:
At the time of its original construction in the early 1950’s, the Mai-Kai cost $350,000, and it was considered to be the most expensive restaurant construction project ever in the United States. The current $20+ million improvement of the 2.7-acre property designed by Kravit Architectural Associates protects the original old charm of the Mai-Kai while modernizing the experience. In the updated Mai-Kai, as guests exit their cars, they will feel as if they are stepping onto an island shore, a sandy beach and then a lava-rock slab, thanks to the stamped and etched concrete design elements used by Perry-Becker Design. The restaurant’s interior design was brought to life with the expertise of “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller and a talented team of artisans.
This was all made possible by the founding Thornton family’s September 2021 sale of a controlling interest in the Mai-Kai to a new ownership team led by historic preservationist Bill Fuller of the Miami-based Barlington Group. Another company co-owned by Fuller, Mad Room Hospitality, is handling the operations.
The new owner talked about the significance of the historic property in the press release:
“The Mai-Kai’s legacy is iconic. I remember visiting the Mai-Kai as a child, teen and adult, each time more memorable than the last. Partnering with the Thornton family on the restoration of the Mai-Kai isn’t just business for me, it’s a passion. I’m here to honor the family’s hard work preparing the Mai-Kai for the next generation of guests. The brand they’ve built will have a bright future and continue to develop, never losing sight of what they have created back in 1956. Each guest that walks through the door will feel the energy that Bob and Jack Thornton originally created,” says Bill Fuller, managing partner of the Mai-Kai.
Media coverage
• Fort Lauderdale’s Historic Mai-Kai Returns After a $20 Million Glow-Up (Eater Miami)
Mai-Kai hosts preview of bars in advance of grand reopening
Updated Nov. 19, 2024
The Mai-Kai is presenting a series of special invitation-only preview events in the historic Molokai Bar and new Bora Bora Bar beginning Friday, Nov. 15. An invitation went out via email with the subject “Exclusive Invitation for Our Friends and Family: Reopening Week at The MAI-KAI!” If offers reservations to the special events though Nov. 24.
The Mai-Kai’s director of operations, Darius Green, posted an official announcement on the popular Friends of the Mai-Kai group on Facebook. As the opening approaches, new members have joined the group at a frantic pace. As of this writing, membership is 16,640 and growing by the hour.
Following is the complete statement from Green, who joined the Mai-Kai team from Mad Room Hospitality, the restaurant operations group co-owned by new Mai-Kai managing partner Bill Fuller, a Miami-based historic preservationist.
Aloha, Friends of the MAI-KAI!
We’re excited to announce the PREVIEW OPENING of our newly reimagined Bora Bora and Molokai bars today! This exclusive event is invite-only and reservations are required.
Please do not arrive without a reservation.
Invitations will be sent to select groups within the hour. Seating is limited, and we appreciate your understanding as we ensure a memorable experience for all.
If you’re on our mailing list but don’t receive an invite today, don’t worry! Additional invitations will be released over the next day or two, and reservations for the general public will follow soon after.
Mahalo for your patience and excitement – we can’t wait to welcome you!
It’s not yet known if the full public opening will come immediately after the preview events. Reservations are not yet available for dinner seating and the Polynesian Islander Revue, the oldest continually-running authentic South Seas stage show in the United States, including Hawaii.
Guests at the preview events may notice work ongoing on some of the outdoor areas of the restaurant, such as the water and rock features that span the vast frontage along Federal Highway. The back Tiki garden is also still under renovation and won’t be accessible during the private parties along with the dining rooms. The gift shop is also not operating yet..
Multiple permits still need to be approved before a full-scale opening can be announced. But, as Green noted in his announcement, that is expected to happen soon. Sign up at MaiKai.com to be alerted when reservations are available.
In the meantime, these private openings will give the staff of 200+ servers, bartenders, cooks and others an opportunity to get real-time practice in anticipation of the many loyal guests who have been without the Mai-Kai since the October 2020 closing.
Those attending the preview openings will be able to enjoy the full cocktail menu, which includes most the classic drinks – many dating back to the 1956 opening. There’s also a section of 12 new tropical drinks created by beverage director Cory Starr. While all of the classics feature rum, many of the new cocktails are designed for fans of other spirits – namely tequila, bourbon, and vodka.
Also expect a menu of dishes that have been under development by the Mai-Kai’s chef and culinary team for more than two months. Many of these new items take traditional faux Polyesian and Asian cuisine in new, modern directions. As always, the new food pairs perfectly with the cocktails and immersive atmosphere.
Live entertainment is also being provided by musicians and performers from the Polynesian Islander Revue. Happy hour runs from opening (4 p.m. weekdays, 3 p.m Saturday-Sunday) until 7 p.m.
• If you receive an invitation, click here here for some answers to common questions.
See previous updates below and check back for full coverage of the preview events on The Atomic Grog.
Related blog posts
• Mai-Kai welcomes Cory Starr as new chief mixologist in advance of grand reopening
• Inside the Molokai Bar and tour of the Mai-Kai restoration
Mai-Kai announces reservations and reopening coming ‘very soon’
Four years and five days after the October 2020 closing due to a catastrophic kitchen roof collapse, the Mai-Kai made a long-awaited announcement on social media Oct. 30, 2024, that indicates the reopening of the historic restaurant is right around the corner. The statement reads:
We are excited to welcome you back to MAI-KAI! Please continue to check here for updates as we prepare to announce reservation information and open our doors very soon.
The statement appeared on both the official Facebook and Instagram pages. It was immediately met with a huge response. Within an hour, the Facebook post received 750 responses, 70 comments, and 75 shares. The Instagram image garnered 1,300 likes and 70 comments.
Interest has been high following media reports last week that mentioned a November reopening date. While the new statement made no reference to a particular date, it likely sets the stage for such an announcement. All indications point to a target date some time in November. In addition to monitoring social media for further announcements, guests can sign up for the email list at MaiKai.com to be alerted when reservations are available.
As with all restaurant openings, guests cannot be allowed to enter and purchase food and beverages until all appropriate permits and licenses have been approved by the state, county and city. But this is no ordinary restaurant opening. After a sale to a new ownership team in September 2021, the Mai-Kai embarked on a massive restoration and reimagination of the 2.7 acre property.
Recent media reports have estimated the cost of the restoration project at $17.5 to $20 million. This includes replacing all of the 68-year-old landmark’s infrastructure, from the kitchen and bar to the air-conditioning, plumbing, and electrical systems.
Amid this work, great care was taken to retain and restore as much of the restaurant’s design and decor as possible. The property is officially designated as historic by both the city of Oakland Park and the National Register of Historic Places. As such, approval of the over-arching project hinged on many conditions that stipulate many iconic elements remain.
The historic nature of the property, along with the massive size and scope of the project, contributed to a timeline that has extended past many previous estimates. But with work clearly in the homestretch, it appears that the light at the end of the tunnel for the Mai-Kai’s many fans is fast approaching.
Mai-Kai welcomes Cory Starr as new chief mixologist in advance of grand reopening
Updated Nov. 4, 2024
The revered cocktail program at the Mai-Kai is in experienced and enthusiastic hands as the historic restaurant prepares for its grand reopening in November. The new beverage manager and head bartender is Cory Starr, most recently general manager and beverage director at the acclaimed Tiki Tatsu-Ya in Austin, and before that a key member of the team at Three Dots and a Dash in Chicago.
While Starr is used to creating unique offerings at his previous gigs, he’s equally excited about the challenge that lies ahead. “I feel a great responsibility for maintaining the standards of the past,” he said in an interview with The Atomic Grog just after his arrival.
Starr worked at Tiki Tatsu-Ya from 2019 until September 2023, creating the cocktail program from the ground-up before the spectacularly immersive restaurant opened in September 2021. Prior to that, he bartended at the Spirited Award-winning Three Dots and a Dash from 2015 to 2019, often joining beverage director Kevin Beary at events across the country.
The Arizona native cut his teeth as a tropical bartender at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on Hawaii’s Kona Coast from 2011 to 2015. Starr was also invited to compete twice (2018 and 2019) in the prestigious Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Festival at the Royal Kona Resort (finishing second and third). His time in Hawaii cemented is love for Tiki culture and launched him on a trajectory that has taken him to one of the most legendary Polynesian restaurants of the mid-20th century.
FULL STORY: MEET THE MAI-KAI’S NEW HEAD BARTENDER
• Take 5: Q&A with Cory Starr
• Bonus cocktail recipe: One Way Ticket
Excitement builds on Friends of the Mai-Kai group on Facebook
Posted Oct. 30, 2024
The most popular of several Facebook groups dedicated to the Mai-Kai has recently topped more than 12,000 members as the restaurant’s grand reopening nears. Dozens of new members have been joining Friends of the Mai-Kai daily in search of news and information, plus the camaraderie of other longtime fans of the Polynesian palace.
“I recently joined because we have great memories,” one new member posted. Another wrote: “I love this place and can’t wait for it to reopen! It’s iconic!” Many shared photos and video from recent times as well as decades ago.
The group’s members include many experts as well as former and current Mai-Kai staff who can answer almost any questions newcomers may have. Moderators include Mai-Kai managers was well as Jim “Hurricane” Hayward of The Atomic Grog, and Tim “Swanky” Glazner, author of Mai-Kai: History and Mystery of the Iconic Tiki Restaurant.
Established eight years ago on Oct. 26, 2016, the group has always been a civil, no-spam zone for Mai-Kai virgins and veterans alike. A mention in a recent Miami New Times story also likely helped spur new membership. The group is also one of the top results when you search for “Mai-Kai reopening” on Google.
After the reopening, this group will be the best place to share and see images and experiences from inside and outside the painstakingly restored property. If you haven’t joined already, we hope to see you among the many new Friends of the Mai-Kai!
Press reports on Mai-Kai reopening
Posted Oct. 30, 2024
Local daily and weekly papers tout prospective November date
The South Florida Sun Sentinel was the first media outlet to report the prospective opening date for the Mai-Kai with a breaking news story posted online Oct. 22. The initial report was sketchy, but the story was later updated with a more detailed announcement attributed to owner Bill Fuller. Here’s the MSN.com version of the story, which does not require a subscription:
• Mai-Kai restaurant announces opening date after four-year closure
“We want to make the Mai-Kai one of the best and biggest Polynesian venues in the world,” Fuller told the Sun Sentinel. “This is a cultural place we took extreme care to restore, while also honoring the Thornton family and showing great respect to history.” The cost of the project was said to be $17.5 million.
The story ran in print on Oct. 24, a new photo splashed across the front page. It shows a worker renovating the water features in front the Mai-Kai along Federal Highway.
Even moreso than for revealing the date, which had yet to be posted officially by the Mai-Kai, the story is significant for its news on the Polynesian Islander Revue and the introduction of new entertainment director Teuruhei Kalaniu’i Buchin. She “is of Hawaiian and Tahitian descent and has performed in Polynesian dance troupes since turning professional at age 11,” the story says.
Working with Mireille Thornton, widow of Mai-Kai cofounder Bob Thornton, they have “assembled a lineup of 24 performers connected to Polynesian culture, including the great-grandchildren of Merehau Tekurio, who designed the Mai-Kai’s original tropical gardens; and Buchin’s two daughters, who dance, sing and perform ukulele, guitar, bass and drums.”
Buchin told the Sun Sentinel that she was attracted to the job by the “exquisite attention to detail” in the restoration of the Mai-Kai’s decor. The story quotes her as saying: “What people see as decorations on the wall, I perceive as my ancestors. If they went the fancy, commercial route with LED lights on everything, I would have declined the job. But I met a lot of the artists working on these relics, and it was tactfully done with respect. Yes, we are a business, but we’re also keeping our families and our mana – our spirituality – intact.”
The story also quotes creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller, who came to the Mai-Kai after a 20-year career in theme park design, including Universal and Disney parks. “When I first started, it was falling apart and in disrepair, so I’m really proud to bring the old girl back to her original glory,” Allsmiller says. “We just gave her another 68 years of life.”
The story continues: “One of Allsmiller’s favorite new additions is a service bar, visible through a porthole in the gift shop, where customers can watch five bartenders mixing cocktails. Mounted in this bar is a black-and-white photograph of Mariano Licudine, who created the Mai-Kai’s cocktail recipes in 1956, receiving a diamond-encrusted money clip from founders Bob and Jack Thornton. It’s one of many new decorations most customers may not notice, he says.”
“Only 1% of the public will even see that,” Allsmiller says. “It’s truly for the people who work there to see, so they can be transported back in time just like the fans.”
Also for longtime fans is a second story posted on the Sun Sentinel website titled “From Tiki to Eternity: The Mai-Kai shook up South Florida supperclub scene when it opened nearly 70 years ago. It’s doing it again”.
Longtime South Florida writer John Dolen sums up the current state of the Mai-Kai nicely:
In 2020, after a devastating roof collapse in a pounding rainstorm, Fort Lauderdale’s landmark supperclub seemed finished. For those who had enjoyed its pleasures over the years, the exotic Polynesian dance revues, the gardens and waterfalls, the South Pacific masks and artifacts, the tropical Asian dishes, the world-renowned Tiki Bar – the question was, would the Mai-Kai ever reopen?
The answer, years in the making, is yes. The return is scheduled for Nov. 1, and by all signs, this special place will be as spectacular as ever. Three years of planning and construction have endowed the tropical retreat with a new and rethatched A-frame roof; a rebuilt Molokai bar; a new entrance way to reduce congestion (running over a wooden bridge to a roundabout); a new outdoor patio bar in a nautical setting; and an interior replicating all of the original bewitching Mai-Kai features. Patrons are likely to find the “new” Mai-Kai both fresh and familiar.
He then takes readers on a rollicking journey back in time, when the Mai-Kai “opened famously on what was previously a cow pasture alongside U.S. 1, on Dec. 28, 1956.” As Dolen succinctly says: “Stepping out locally would never be the same.”
Mai-Kai history has been told and retold in books and articles, but I’m always looking for new insights and stories. Dolen delivers here, telling the tale of founders Bob and Jack Thornton in colorful detail, with a new spin here and there. This story is highly recommended for history buffs. There’s also an audio link if you’d rather listen to the story.
Meanwhile, the weekly Miami New Times also shared the news on Oct. 22 with an updated story on the latest reopening timeframe. Headlined “Here’s When the Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale is Officially Reopening,” the article also became the cover story of the print edition that hit the streets on Oct. 24.
“The restaurant made it unscathed after the two hurricanes,” the story says. “According to a source, the reopening announcement is ‘imminent.'” (Not coincidentally, The Atomic Grog was the first to post a story saying that exact same thing.)
In a second story posted online Oct. 23, New Times spotlighted “9 Things You Can Expect at Mai-Kai Once Doors Reopen.” These include many of the renovated classic elements (Molokai Bar, themed dining rooms, tropical gardens) but also some new features.
“The $20 million improvement of the property designed by Kravitz Design protects the original old charm of Mai-Kai while modernizing the experience,” New Times said.
The story mentions the updated Polynesian Islander Revue, revealing new details: “The twice-nightly, 45-minute performances will incorporate state-of-the-art technology with DMX-controlled lighting, allowing customized spotlights for each table.” It also touts the enhanced entry experience: “As guests exit their cars, ‘they will feel as if they are stepping onto an island shore, a sandy beach, and then a lava-rock slab,’ thanks to the stamped and etched concrete design elements used by Perry-Becker Design.”
More from The Atomic Grog
EXCLUSIVE: Mai-Kai Restoration & Reopening Guide
Check out all past news, photos, video and deep details on the refurbishment and resurrection of the Polynesian palace.
Okole Maluna Society: The Mai-Kai Cocktail Guide
Hurricane Hayward reviews and rates the historic restaurant’s current and past tropical drinks, plus reveals a treasure trove of ancestor and exclusive tribute recipes.