When The Hukilau moved from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale in 2003, it was a strategic move to bring the fledgling event into the sphere of the historic Mai-Kai Polynesian restaurant, one of the last remaining Tiki temples of the mid-20th century. Host hotels came and went, but the Mai-Kai remained a fixture of the event, much to the delight of thousands of “villagers” who flocked to South Florida for the classic supper club experience that paired perfectly with The Hukilau’s modern Tiki revival experience.
From the rowdy and intimate (Bahia Cabana) to the iconic and retro (Yankee Clipper) to the massive and mid-century modern (Pier Sixty-Six), The Hukilau adapted to the host hotels as it grew. But no matter the venue, attendees always looked forward to gathering en masse at the Mai-Kai for a main event featuring top surf and exotica bands, plus a dinner show starring the Polynesian Islander Revue, the oldest continually-running authentic South Seas stage show in the United States (including Hawaii).
This all came to a crashing halt in 2020, when the pandemic forced the event to go virtual that June. Then, just as tragically, the Mai-Kai was forced to close after a back-of-house roof collapse led to the eventual sale and what became a monumental $20 million restoration project that revitalized the 68-year-old grand dame of Tiki. The restaurant reopened to great fanfare in November 2024, a little over four years after closing.
In those interim years, The Hukilau found a new home at the oceanside Beachcomber Resort & Club in Pompano Beach, making it the only major Tiki event in the United States located directly on a tropical beachfront. In June, villagers will return to the sandy shores of the boutique hotel for a fifth straight year, tying it for second most prolific host venue. More significantly, they’ll flock back to the Mai-Kai for the 18th time, immersing themselves in the full-blown vintage experience and the restaurant’s expanded bar program that should return the revelry to its previous heights.
The Hukilau 2024 – June 5-8 at the Beachcomber Resort & Club in Pompano Beach and Mai-Kai restaurant in Oakland Park. Featuring live music (The Untamed Youth, The Swingin’ Palms, The Sound Minds, The Hilo Hi-Flyers, Slowey and the Boats, Eva & Kully, The Intoxicators, The Disasternauts, Skinny Jimmy Stingray), special guests (Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid, Tim “Swanky” Glazner), symposiums and classes, guest cocktail bars, pool parties, Tiki Treasures Bazaar, The Donn of Tiki movie screening, plus more.
• The Hukilau on social media: Instagram | Facebook page and group
Jump to more below: Tickets | Entertainment | Full list of vendors | The Mai-Kai | The Beachcomber
COMING SOON: The full lineup of guest bars, symposiums and presenters, plus more special features. This includes an intensive two-day educational boot camp, “Build Your Own Tiki Bar,” taught by a faculty that includes six top Tiki builders and artists. For one all-inclusive fee ($99 to $129), a limited number of attendees can attend six sessions spread over the two days totaling more than eight hours of instruction from Rodney Ray of HeadHunter Props and Fabrication, Billy Crud (Crud Tiki), Frank Simotics (aka Tiki Rancher), Notch Gonzalez of Top Notch Kustoms, Mai-Kai creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller, and Scott “Flounder” Scheidly, who spent two years working with Allsmiller on the restoration project.
THE HUKILAU AT A GLANCE
A detailed schedule won’t be available until it gets closer to the event, but here’s a basic rundown. With the return of the Mai-Kai, the schedule will basically return to the same as it was from 2003 through 2019. The only major change is the dedicated dinner show is now Friday instead of Saturday.
• Wednesday: Build Your Own Tiki Bar classes. Official pre-party at the Mai-Kai featuring live music.
• Thursday: Build Your Own Tiki Bar classes. Opening day at the Beachcomber, including live music and bungalow parties.
• Friday: Early Beachcomber events, main event and dinner shows at the Mai-Kai, late night at Beachcomber.
• Saturday: Full day and evening at Beachcomber, including the Tiki Treasures Bazaar, symposiums, live music, and bungalow parties.
• Sunday: Brunch at Beachcomber, special events including history tours, pop-up bars and live music at the Mai-Kai.
HOW TO ATTEND
You can buy event passes on TheHukilau.com website and book a room at the Beachcomber by calling (954) 941-7830. You must have a multi-day pass and book three nights in order to stay at the host hotel. Check the website for more info, including a discount code for the Plunge Beach Resort, located 2 miles to the south on the Pompano Beach oceanfront.
The Mai-Kai, less than 5 miles southwest of the Beachcomber, will host events on Friday and Sunday, as well as the official pre-party on Wednesday, June 4. Top-tier passholders get free bus transportation to the Friday main event. Passholders will receive an email with details on how to reserve a seat for the exclusive Friday dinner shows. See more on the Mai-Kai below.
EVENT TICKETS
The Hukilau has a three-tiered system of weekend passes. The South Seas Pass ($649 plus fees) includes all events on all four days, plus guaranteed seating at symposiums, early access to Saturday’s Tiki Treasures Bazaar, priority booking and seating at the Mai-Kai on Friday, full-sized featured cocktails, a Mai-Kai history tour on Sunday, plus guaranteed access to an engraved bottle of the Mai-Kai’s new signature rum.
The Aloha Pass ($449 plus fees), like the South Seas Pass, includes access to buy the event mug (crafted as usual by John Mulder of Eeekum Bookum), Thursday night’s kickoff party, the Friday and Saturday pool parties, three nights of bungalow parties, and unlimited sample cocktails. Saturday’s marketplace is included, along with space-available seating at symposiums and Friday’s Mai-Kai event. The Saturday luau ($119), Sunday brunch ($79), and Mai-Kai bus ($30) can be purchased à la carte. If you plan to do everything, the South Seas pass offers the better deal.
The Saturday-only Palm Pass ($189) includes full access to that day’s pool party and bungalow parties, the Tiki Treasures Bazaar, sample cocktails and all live entertainment. The luau and brunch can be added, similar to the South Seas pass. When you click to buy tickets, you’ll see a more detailed, graphical breakdown of all the passes and perks.
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
The Hukilau will again feature an eclectic lineup of bands performing Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Beachcomber Resort. Returning this year along with the Mai-Kai are performances at Friday’s main event and Sunday’s finale with bands setting up in both of the restaurant’s bars.
Five bands may be familiar from years past (The Swingin’ Palms, Slowey and the Boats, The Intoxicators, The Disasternauts, Skinny Jimmy Stingray) while four will make their Hukilau debut (The Untamed Youth, The Sound Minds, The Hilo Hi-Flyers, Eva & Kully). Here’s a quick rundown of all the announced acts:
The Untamed Youth is a legendary American garage/surf band from Columbia, Mo., formed in 1987 when all the members were in high school. The four-piece released numerous albums and toured the world through the late ’90s. Frontman Deke Dickerson went on play with The Whippersnappers, The Ecco-Fonics, The Dave and Deke Combo, and The Go-Nuts. In 2024, The Untamed Youth reunited with Dickerson joined by original member Steve “King of Men” Mace, plus Steve “Sammy” Rager (who joined in 1990), plus Chris “Sugarballs” Sprague (Los Straitjackets, Nick Lowe). The band is poised to release its first new album in 27 years, Git Up and Go, on June 27 on the Hi-Tide Recordings label. The record features guest appearances by Chris Montez, plus Tony Andreason of The Trashmen. The new music and ongoing reunion shows should give fans of surf, garage and 1960s party rock reason to crack open a cold one and celebrate.
The Swingin’ Palms perfectly channel a South Seas vibe with authentic Hawaiian instrumentals that belie the band’s Albany, N.Y., home. The quartet – Graham Tichy (steel guitar), Don Young (ukulele), Ian “Ritz” Carlton (bass) and Chris “Gringo Starr” Sprague (drums) – released a self-titled debut EP in 2019 on Hi-Tide. This will be band’s third Hukilau appearance since 2019.
The Sound Minds are a power trio from Albany, N.Y., that channels the raw energy of early 1960s frat rock, garage punk and Merseybeat, landing a spot on Little Steven’s Undergrounds Garage Cruise in May. The all-star lineup features three members of The Swingin’ Palms: drummer Chris “Gringo Starr” Sprague (also a member of The Untamed Youth), guitarist Graham Tichy (Commander Cody, Wanda Jackson), and bassist Ian “Ritz” Carlton (The Outta Sites, The Neanderthals). A single, I’m Not a Bad Guy, was released last August on Bandcamp with a new 45-inch record (Hide and Seek / She Won’t Stay For Long) dropping May 9 on the new Go-Time imprint from Hi-Tide Recordings.
The Hilo Hi-Flyers formed in Southern California in 2018, but the ensemble harkens back to the mid-20th century with its mash-up of traditional exotica with swing and Rat Pack era jazz. An 11-song debut album, Adventure, was released in 2021 by Hi-Tide. The band had to drop off The Hukilau’s 2021 lineup, but will finally make its debut this year.
Eva & Kully is the dymanic duo of Eva Mikhailovna (vocals, guitar) and Kale “Kully” Stiles from the The Hilo Hi-Flyers (lap steel guitar), performing Tiki tunes along with ’50s and ’60s standards. Since 2011, Mikhailovna has recorded an LP (Letters From the Moon, 2014) and EP (La Douleur Exquise, 2016) along with more recent online releases with Stiles and her band, Eva & the Vagabond Tales.
Slowey and the Boats from Philadelphia bring their breezy sounds of the islands to The Hukilau for a second straight year (and third overall). Formed in 2012, the group features steel guitar, piano and upright bass as well as guitar and drums. Slowey Goes West (2024) is one of four LPs you can buy in the Hi-Tide Recordings shop along with a single and tons of merch.
The Intoxicators are synonymous with The Hukilau, performing this year for a record 19th time since 2005. The Tallahassee-based instrumental surf combo always puts on an energetic live show featuring memorable original songs and select covers. Founded in 2001, the four-piece band has multiple self-released albums to its credit and performs at festivals and special events across the country.
The Disasternauts have been a Hukilau mainstay as long as The Intoxicators (coincidentally also hailing from the upper Florida peninsula), traditonally headlining one of the main events with their usual primal energy and instrumental surf classics. The mysterious simian supergroup never fails to ignite the crowd until they go bananas.
Skinny Jimmy Stingray returns with his instrumental surf trio to play the traditional Sunday afternoon sets in the Molokai Bar at the Mai-Kai, site of many past Hukilau finales. This year will mark the 10th Hukilau apparance for the South Florida guitarist, performing his usual mix of classic surf tunes and expanding catalog of originals.
Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid is back at The Hukilau with her husband Roy Anderson to perform with their taiko drum troupe for the first time since 2021. As an aquatic entertainer, Marina Anderson was a fixture at the event and signature performer in the South Florida retro entertainment scene during her years leading the pioneering mermaid and burlesque shows at the B Ocean Resort on Fort Lauderdale Beach (formerly the Yankee Clipper) from 2006 through 2024.
• Past coverage: The Hukilau offers a deep dive into the history of porthole cocktail lounges and their mysterious mermaids (2014)
Special event: The Donn of Tiki, which has been making the rounds of the film festival circuit since its release in April 2024, will be shown exclusively at the Beachcomber Resort (date and time to be announced). This will be a rare public showing of the movie outside of theaters. It documents the life and times of Tiki’s founding father, Donn Beach (aka Don the Beachcomber), with dozens of interviews, rare footage and audio, plus creative animation.
• Past coverage: Fans flock to premieres, boost film’s profile
TIKI TREASURES BAZAAR
The Hukilau’s long-running marketplace has been scaled back to one day since the event arrived at the Beachcomber Resort in 2021, but this doesn’t mean it’s smaller in size or scope. This year’s lineup includes at least 25 artists and vendors from across the country.
It will again be held on Saturday, allowing villagers a full day to peruse and buy an array of merchandise. The bazaar opens an hour early for South Seas passholders (typically around noon), and usually stays open until around at 7 p.m. Here’s the confirmed lineup at press time:
Aloha, Art, and Alligators – Vintage Hawaiian, tropical and all things exotica.
Apocalyptiki – A classy twist on traditional Tiki décor and accessories featuring original designs and carvings.
Captain Cowfish – Tiki, tropical and oceanic décor, signs, and necklaces from artist Todd Ashbaugh.
Castaway Grotto – Ceramic mugs and pendants.
Dead Serious Customs – Accessories, purses, jewelry, hair flowers, hats.
Eeekum Bookum – Limited-edition Tiki mugs created by artist John Mulder.
Gill-Man’s Grog Shop – The ultimate vessels for your most sinister sips.
The Green Tiki / Monkey Skull – Paintings, carvings and mugs from Florida artist Patrick Vassar.
Kymm! Bang – Gravel art, jewelry, and more for your mid-mod Tiki life from the Chicago artist.
Laz in Orlando – Tiki and wood carvings from Florida artist Lazaro Ninou (formerly Laz in Daytona). Also look for his carved ice and fruit creations made live in the Tiki Treasures Bazaar courtyard.
Madvintage – Vintage clothing, handmade wicker purses and Tiki-inspired accessories.
Mahalo Max – Custom lamps from Maxwell Shaw.
Miss Merry Mermaid – Fun, functional and funky accessories.
The Modern Historic – Vintage clothing, housewares and records.
Oceania – Textiles, small wood carvings, tapa cloth, pottery, paintings.
Outl1n3 Island – Hand-crafted Tiki mugs and artifacts made in Long Beach, Calif., by artist David Outl1n3.
Park Candy Island Supply – Apparel, accessories, barware and other oddities that blend the magic of theme parks, island life, and mid-century design.
The Shrunken Monkey – Rare and exotic artifacts.
Sugar and Bruno Tiki Treasures – Vintage home goods and groovy swag.
Taboo Relics – Ceramic mugs and lighting.
Tikiphile – Tiki and exotic-inspired ceramics including mugs, barware and decorative tiles.
Tiki Rancher – Custom bar builds, carved tikis and synthetic bamboo/thatch.
Tiki Tony – Whimsical tiki carvings, art and mugs made in a Southern California beach shack by artist “Tiki Tony” Murphy.
Tiki Visions – Tiki lamps; bamboo, rattan and wicker items; handmade Tiki accents and decor.
VooBoo Studios – Graphic artist and illustrator Robbie Whelan.
You’ll notice some familiar faces but also quite a few first-timers. A warm welcome goes out to Apocalyptiki, Castaway Grotto, Madvintage, Oceania, Park Candy Island Supply, Sugar and Bruno Tiki Treasures, and Tiki Rancher. And welcome back longtime vendor Tiki Tony for the first time since 2019.
Don’t miss: Laz in Orlando will attempt to set world record for the largest fruit and ice carving luau display in history. He usually carves at the west end of the courtyard near the Tiki Treasures Bazaar. In a Facebook post, he said he intends to carve from Friday morning to Saturday afternoon, so he shouldn’t be hard to find. Give Laz some encouragement and cheer him on.
THE MAI-KAI
As detailed at the top of this story, the return of the beloved restaurant in November after a four-year hiatus will restore The Hukilau to its full potential. From 2003 through 2019, the historic property was the heartbeat of the event, providing many attendees their very first exposure to what the heyday of Polynesian supper clubs was like.
For many past attendees, the memories are etched in our brains. From presentations by such Tiki luminaries as Sven Kirsten and Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, to live performances by a who’s who of Tiki and surf bands (Tikiyaki Orchestra, Ixtahuele, Los Straitjackets, The Surfrajettes), the Mai-Kai has been ground zero for the evolution of the modern Polynesian Pop revival. (Check out the links to our past coverage below.)
Attendees of this year’s event will have multiple opportunities to enjoy everything the Mai-Kai has to offer. The Wednesday night pre-party in the Molokai Bar will start with happy hour at 4 p.m. and feature live music and/or a DJ to be announced.
On Friday, the two dinner shows will be reserved exclusively for villagers. Passholders should have already received an email with instructions on how to reserve their spot to see the Polynesian Islander Revue with seatings at 5 and 8:30 p.m. Free bus transportation from the Beachcomber will be provided for South Seas passholders. For Aloha passholders, it’s $30 (space permitting). The Mai-Kai is less than 5 miles from the Beachcomber, so rideshare is always an option.
Friday’s main event will feature an extended happy hour from 4 until 8:30 p.m. and live music in both the Molokai and Bora Bora bars until midnight. Villagers (including Palm passholders) without reservations can enter the Mai-Kai after 9 p.m. It’s not too late to get in on the fun and buy your pass online now. You’ll receive access to book dinner reservations, with pricing arranged according to the Mai-Kai usual tiered system: $23 (standard), $28 (select), $33 (premium).
After The Hukilau wraps up at the Beachcomber on Sunday morning, the festivities move to the Mai-Kai for a full day and evening of entertainment. The restaurant opens at noon, and villagers can gather in both bars for special pop-ups by visiting bartenders all day. Happy hour runs until 7 p.m., and the Molokai will feature three sets of instrumental surf from Skinny Jimmy Stingray and his band.
The long day will start with history tours by Tim “Swanky” Glazner, author of Mai-Kai: History and Mystery of the Iconic Tiki Restaurant, and end with an informal evening party in the Mai-Kai’s outdoor gardens.
Note that while Friday is blocked out for The Hukilau, Mai-Kai dinner reservations are available for all the other dates via the online booking system at Maikai.com. For more info on booking a general reservation and other questions about the restaurant, check out The Atomic Grog’s FAQ.
Previous coverage: Mai-Kai set to host multiple events during The Hukilau
If you’re a newbie or visiting the Mai-Kai for the first time since the restoration, you’re in for a treat. Check out the videos on our YouTube channel and the related links below for our extensive coverage.
• Official sites: MaiKai.com | Facebook | Instagram
Mai-Kai coverage on The Atomic Grog
• Latest news and exclusive coverage of the Mai-Kai reopening
• Mai-Kai bar and cocktail news, reviews and exclusive insights
• Paradise Reimagined: Deep Inside the Mai-Kai Restoration
• Mai-Kai timeline, 1956-2024: Iconic restaurant marks 68 years of Polynesian Pop history
• Mai-Kai Restoration & Reopening: Full story and photo archive
THE BEACHCOMBER
While you’re not required to stay at the host hotel, a room at the Beachcomber Resort & Club will put you in the heart of the action during The Hukilau, not to mention steps away from private access to the expansive beach right on the Atlantic Ocean. The resort is not large, so all rooms are a short walk from all the activities and the resort’s two pools.
After you secure a multi-day pass, call (954) 941-7830 to book a room for The Hukilau. Go to TheHukilau.com for more info. Rooms start at $275 plus tax (including resort fee). There are seven room categories between $275 and $454.
With less than 150 rooms, the Beachcomber is a cozy boutique hotel with rooms spread across several buildings, many with pool and ocean views. The largest building is nine stories and features balconies overlooking the main pool that hosts daily parties and live music. Because of its size, The Hukilau is able to take over the entire hotel for the weekend.
This is not a convention hotel, so the bazaar and other events are set up under a large tent in the grassy courtyard. Small bungalows host sponsors and room parties, and there are several outdoor huts near the beach that host seminars, bands and other events. The end result is a Tiki paradise unlike any other.
PREVIOUS HUKILAU HOST VENUES
The Hukilau 2025 will be the 23rd live event and 24th overall (2020 was a virtual event thanks to COVID). It’s No. 22 for South Florida after the inaugural year in Atlanta. The only event that has had a longer run is Tiki Oasis in San Diego, celebrate its 25th year in August. He’s a rundown of all The Hukilau host venues:
2025 – Beachcomber Resort & Club (Pompano Beach) and the Mai-Kai (Fort Lauderdale)
2024 – Beachcomber Resort & Club
2023 – Beachcomber Resort & Club
2022 – Beachcomber Resort & Club
2021 – Beachcomber Resort & Club
2020 – Virtual event at the Mai-Kai
2019 – Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina (Fort Lauderdale) and the Mai-Kai
2018 – Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina and the Mai-Kai
2017 – Hyatt Regency Pier 66 and the Mai-Kai
2016 – Hyatt Regency Pier 66 and the Mai-Kai
2015 – Hyatt Regency Pier 66 and the Mai-Kai
2014 – Bahia Mar Beach Resort (Fort Lauderdale Beach) and the Mai-Kai
2013 – Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel (aka Yankee Clipper) and the Mai-Kai
2012 – Best Western Oceanside Inn and Bahia Cabana Beach Resort (Fort Lauderdale Beach), and the Mai-Kai
2011 – Bahia Mar, Bahia Cabana and the Mai-Kai
2010 – Bahia Mar, Bahia Cabana and the Mai-Kai
2009 – Bahia Cabana and the Mai-Kai
2008 – Yankee Clipper, Bahia Cabana and the Mai-Kai
2007 – Yankee Clipper, Bahia Cabana and the Mai-Kai
2006 – Yankee Clipper and the Mai-Kai
2005 – Bahia Mar and the Mai-Kai
2004 – Bahia Mar, Bahia Cabana and the Mai-Kai
2003 – Holiday Inn (Fort Lauderdale Beach) and the Mai-Kai
2002 – Atlanta Hilton and Trader Vic’s
Most frequent host hotels
7 – Bahia Cabana (2004, 2007-2012)
5 – Beachcomber (2021-2025)
5 – Pier 66 (2015-2019)
5 – Bahia Mar (2004-2004, 2010-2011, 2014)
4 – Yankee Clipper (2006-2008, 2013)
HUKILAU 2024 RECAPS
The Hukilau highlights: Photos and memories from 2024 Tiki weekender
Live coverage, photos and video from social media
MORE UPCOMING EVENTS
UPDATES: The Tiki Times: Exclusive events guide
Check the calendar for all of the major happenings around the world, from Tiki weekenders to rum festivals to marketplaces and music fests.
MAI-KAI UPDATES
Mai-Kai grand reopening and ongoing coverage
Latest news, photos and video coverage of the return of the historic landmark in South Florida.
Mai-Kai bar and cocktail news, reviews and exclusive insights
Get official updates and deep details as beverage director Cory Starr resurrects the storied bar program.
Mai-Kai grand reopening: Answers to frequently asked questions
Check out our handy guide featuring all the basics you need to know to plan your next trip to the South Florida landmark.
RELATED ATOMIC GROG COVERAGE
Live coverage: Photos and video from Tiki-a-Go-Go in Orlando
Polynesian Pop enthusiasts from around the world flocked to the Sunshine State for three days of retro-themed festivities, along with a healthy dose of educational entertainment.
Florida Tiki weathers an unwelcome 2024 hurricane season, poised for promising 2025
Many of those affected by the storms have emerged stronger than ever. Don the Beachcomber brand is down but not out.
MORE ON THE MAI-KAI
Paradise Reimagined: Deep Inside the Mai-Kai Restoration
Attendees at Inuhele 2025 in Atlanta enjoyed an exclusive look at the reimagination and revival of the historic restaurant during a special multimedia presentation featuring photos, video and inside tips. Check out slideshow highlights, plus two walk-through videos with creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller.
Mai-Kai timeline, 1956-2024: Iconic restaurant marks 68 years of Polynesian Pop history
As guests celebrate the $20 million restoration and reopening, take a look back at key dates and events over the rich history of the South Florida restaurant.
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.
THE HUKILAU PAST COVERAGE
2023
The Hukilau highlights: Photos and memories from Tiki weekender
The 21st annual event featured four days of nonstop music, cocktails and education on modern and historic Polynesian Pop at the oceanfront Beachcomber Resort in South Florida.
MORE: The Hukilau 2023 live coverage, photos and video from social media
* Full 2023 coverage
2022
The Hukilau 2022: Daily recap, photos and video
The 20th Tiki weekender featured four days of live music, educational seminars, cocktails and rum tastings, plus lots more.
* The Mai-Kai’s new owner reveals renovation plans during The Hukilau
* Full 2022 coverage
PREVIOUS YEARS
- 2021: Daily recap, photos and video | Zombie party is final challenge | Full coverage
- 2020: Virtual events honor The Hukilau, help those in need
- 2019: 10 highlights and photos | Social media recap | Full coverage
- 2018 social media recap | More highlights
- 2017 daily recaps, news, photos and video | More highlights
- More recaps: 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2002-2008