Advance sales end Wednesday (Jan. 15) at 11:59 p.m., so don’t miss out. Weekend passes, priced at $225, may be available at the event if any remain. Day passes won’t be sold. Save $50 in advance when you order a standard pass ($175) online, which includes entry to the vendor hall; panels all weekend; live contests, bands and shows; live demos; the Big Uke Jam, Caftan Strut, Swizzle Swap, and more. Already sold out is the VIP pass, which includes entry to Thursday’s welcome party, early entry to the vending hall, a ticket to the Saturday night luau, a VIP swag bag, plus other VIP events.
What started as a bus tour of the city’s vibrant home Tiki bars in 2018 has evolved into a full-blown convention-style event in a city known for its pop-culture conventions. Like many of those fan-centric gatherings, Inuhele puts guests and VIPs into the same immersive fishbowl together. Like other Tiki conventions, the atmosphere is based on a shared love of Polyesian Pop art and culture.
The annual Swizzle Swap, as seen in 2023, is a staple at Inuhele. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
Inuhele has relocated to the Omni after one year at the Marriott Century Center and the past four years at the Atlanta Sheraton Downtown. Located in the heart of the Centennial Park District (built for the 1996 Olympics), the hotel is also adjacent to State Farm Arena and the Georgia World Congress Center. In addition to skyline views, guests can enjoy many nearby attractions (World of Coca Cola, Georgia Aquarium, Center for Civil and Human Rights, Center for Puppetry Arts). The pet-friendly hotel also boasts a heated pool, fitness center, plus three restaurants.
It’s just 1.3 miles to the Hilton Atlanta and its famous subterranean Trader Vic’s, est. 1976. One of the last remaining restaurants built during the lifetime of company founder Victor Bergeron, the vintage space is notable for its decor and artwork, which remain relatively unchanged after nearly 50 years.
• Venerable Trader Vic’s brand marks 90 years with a return to its roots
The Frigidaires from Atlanta will perform Saturday night at Trader Vic’s. (Official photo)
Check out our interview below with Jonathan Chaffin, who founded Inuhele with his wife, Allison. Together, they also run Horror In Clay, producing horror-themed Tiki mugs, barware, art, and accessories. The couple likes to keep the event very much a family-run passion project, and it shows. Their self-funded FlipKat Productions depends on ticket sales to pay for the event, along with a growing list of sponsors.
Event sponsors for 2025 include Trader Vic’s, Don the Beachcomber; The Bamboo Room Tiki Bar; Tiki Underground; The Luau Lads and Lark’s Head Rum; Spiribam (Chairman’s Reserve, Rhum J.M, Clement Rhum); Tandauy Rum; Bacardi (Bacardi Ocho, Santa Teresa 1796, Havana Club); Hilton Head Distillery; BG Reynolds Cocktail Syrups; Tip Top Cocktails, Fresca Mixed; Cerveza Pacifico beer; Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Co.; Black Lagoon Coffee; and Uke Republic.
Take 5 with Jonathan Chaffin
With minimal editing for space and clarity, here’s an insightful Q&A with the co-founder of Inuhele.
Jonathan Chaffin with Hurricane Hayward at Inuhele 2023. (Atomic Grog photos)
Question: This will be the sixth Inuhele weekender. How do you think the event and the Atlanta Tiki scene have evolved since the first event in 2019?
Annual retrospectives always include some bittersweet news alongside the happy achievements, and 2024 was no different. We sadly said farewell to some legends as well as a few beloved watering holes. But there was much to celebrate as new Tiki establishments opened and events were launched. The good certainly overshadowed the bad at the top of the list. Three major storylines dominated the year in Tiki, and we’re happy to report that 2025 promises to be even better for three iconic names that are poised for their biggest years in recent history. Related:The Year in Tiki 2024: A look back at the top events in photos, video Bonus cocktail recipe:The Dirty Banana by Mike “Jetsetter” Jones
1. (TIE) CLASSIC TIKI REBORN: The Mai-Kai reopens after $20M restoration, Don the Beachcomber brand resurrected in Florida
It was impossible to choose one of these two highly significant events as the top story of the year, so we’re declaring it a tie. The importance of both cannot be understated. When all is said and done, this may qualify as the top story of the decade. Imagine a future without the Mai-Kai, and Don the Beachcomber just a figure in books and movies.
In mid-2021, we were still mired in the pandemic, the Mai-Kai had been closed for nearly a year and had yet to find new owners, and we had no clue that the historic Don the Beachcomber name had been acquired by a little-known restaurant group from Tampa.
By September of that year, the Mai-Kai was sold two a new ownership group, becoming the No. 2 story of the year. In 2022, the historic South Florida restaurant was in the midst of a multi-year, multimillion-dollar reimagination that grabbed the No. 5 slot. By 2023, Don the Beachcomber grabbed headlines (and the No. 2 top story) with an ambitious announcement of a revival of the brand by 23 Restaurant Services. The massive Mai-Kai renovation efforts, which we documented in great detail, was No. 4.
Don the Beachcomber in Madeira Beach was the first location to open as part of a planned national rollout of the iconic brand. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)
Which brings us to 2024, when both stories deservedly bolted to the top slot. Don the Beachcomber made news first, opening its first new restaurant Feb. 23 in Madeira Beach on Florida’s southern Gulf Coast. The full-service restaurant, located on the ground floor of the Cambria Hotel just blocks from the beach, was designed by Daniel “Tiki Diablo” Gallardo and a crew of artists and craftspeople. The cocktails are in the highly capable hands of beverage director Marie King.
• Previous coverage:Don the Beachcomber grand opening in Florida is a smashing success
In April, the team behind the ambitious brand re-launch took the stage at Tiki-a-Go-Go in Orlando to offer a sneak preview of new locations planned for Florida, plus a new “brand within a brand” called the Gantt Reserve Collection from Don the Beachcomber. These smaller, speakeasy-style venues will allow the company to more swiftly expand. While the next large restaurant – a flagship location just north of Disney World in Central Florida – isn’t expected until at least 2025, the company was able to turn the key on its first cocktail-centric bar just three months later.
• Previous coverage:Don the Beachcomber announces new bar concept, upcoming locations in Florida
Morgan’s Cove in Tampa is the first Gantt Reserve Collection bar from Don the Beachcomber. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)
Morgan’s Cove, featuring a whimsical seafaring design executed perfectly by Gallardo and his team, swung open its secret door on July 18 on downtown Tampa’s Morgan Street. The city’s long history of pirate lore makes the theme a perfect fit. King rose to the challenge with a menu of elevated classic cocktails and unique takes on Donn Beach’s vision.
• Previous coverage:Don the Beachcomber launches Morgan’s Cove speakeasy in Tampa
All that momentum came to a crashing halt in September. Hurricane Helene slammed the Gulf Coast, causing extensive damage to many homes and businesses, including Don the Beachcomber in Madeira Beach. The restaurant has not yet reopened, but an official statement in December promised a return in early 2025. We look forward to the reopening, along with other new Don the Beachcomber venues coming soon.
Meanwhile on Florida’s southeast coast just north of Fort Lauderdale, work was progressing on the Mai-Kai, built in 1956 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. It closed in late October 2020 after a roof collapse took out the 1970s-era kitchen and revealed an aging structure in need of a lot of TLC. And, it turns out, even more money and time than projected. Luckily, the new ownership group led by historic preservationist Bill Fuller of Miami’s Barlington Group has deep pockets and even more patience.
Far from your typical restaurant restoration, this project demanded a high level of expertise. Creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller rose to the challenge, joined by a team of artists and longtime manager Kern Mattei. The excitement level started to build in June, when guests of The Hukilau received exclusive tours of some of the newly restored areas, including the Molokai Bar and showroom.
• Previous coverage:Inside the Molokai Bar and tour of the Mai-Kai restoration
The Mai-Kai showroom comes back to life during the grand reopening on Nov. 21. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
With a fall reopening in sight, hiring began in August, including performers for a rebooted version of the Polynesian Islander Revue, the oldest continually-running authentic South Seas stage show in the United States (including Hawaii). In September, Cory Starr (formerly of Tiki Tatsu-Ya in Austin and Three Dots and a Dash in Chicago) was named beverage director, overseeing one of Tiki’s most storied bar programs.
• Previous coverage:Mai-Kai welcomes Cory Starr as new chief mixologist
Even the parking lot received a creative makeover. Designed by the architects at Orlando’s Perry-Becker Design, whose resume includes Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, the arrival experience became totally immersive with new waterfalls, lush foliage and a simulated volcanic caldera. The old porte-cochère was reimagined into the Bora Bora Bar with outdoor seating and another layer of story-telling for guests to enjoy.
The Mai-Kai’s outdoor Tiki garden reopened for the 68th anniversary on Dec. 28. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
The Mai-Kai has been open every day since regular service began Nov. 26, including a 68th anniversary celebration on Dec. 28. The building and grounds look fantastic, but the $20 million project is far from complete. The expansive Tiki garden reopened for the anniversary, and several rear dining rooms are still being renovated. Allsmiller has more tricks up his sleeve as his work continues in 2025, but don’t hesitate to make a pilgrimage to Tiki’s mecca, a Polynesian paradise that defied the odds and returned bigger and better than ever in 2024.
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.
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2. THE DONN OF TIKI: Fans flock to premieres, boost film’s profile
The godfather of Tiki, Don the Beachcomber (aka Donn Beach), finally got his due in 2024 with the long-awaited public debut of The Donn of Tiki on the film festival circuit in April. By the end of the year, it had made the rounds at more than a half-dozen events and garnered numerous awards. In September, Kickstarter contributors were able to screen the movie at home.
Save these dates now and make plans for a full year of major events across the world of Tiki culture. We’ll also keep you posted on many worldwide gatherings for fans of rum, lowbrow and mid-century modern art, surf and rockabilly music, plus some Disney events and anything of general interest to the Tiki community.
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. NEW:2024 anniversary, New Year’s Eve photos & video
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.
The Mai-Kai shortly after its Dec. 28, 1956, opening in a reimagined vintage postcard image. This 4-by-6-inch card, suitable for framing, is among the 15 Mai-Kai Classics postcards available in the restaurant gift shop. (Official photo)
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.
The allure of the Mystery Girl is part of the mystique of the Mystery Drink. Myrna Weber (left) was a Playboy playmate of the month in August 1958.
1958 – The original Molokai Bar is built on the north side of the main building, creating a new lounge for the crowds arriving for dinner. Two iconic features are added: Sarong-clad serving girls and the Mystery Drink served by the Mystery Girl.
This year has been significant for the Tiki and Polynesian Pop scene in the Sunshine State for both its ups and downs. Luckily, the high points have been more plentiful than the lows with 2024 marked by the arrival of the first new Don the Beachcomber restaurant in decades, the debut of the Tiki-a-Go-Go event, and the triumphant return of the Mai-Kai. NEW:Iconic restaurants revived: Don the Beachcomber, Mai-Kai, Trader Vic’s are top Tiki stories of 2024
The calm before the storms: The Don the Beachcomber crew, including Justin Peterson (left) and Marie King (right), at Tiki-a-Go-Go in Orlando in April 2024. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
But in true Tiki fashion, there’s always a little bittersweet that goes into any potent cocktail. In this historic year, that meant a tumultuous hurricane season that wreaked havoc on the Gulf Coast, leading to the temporary closing of Don the Beachcomber in Madeira Beach, and heavy damage elsewhere.
But resilience is a hallmark of the southernmost mainland state, and we’re happy to report that this year’s hurricane season did not deliver a knockout punch. To the contrary, many of those affected by the storms have emerged stronger than ever, poised for an even more memorable 2025.
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season was an extremely active and devastating one, reportedly the second-costliest on record with more than $220 billion in damage. Three hurricanes made landfall in Florida: Debby (Aug. 5), Helene (Sept. 26), and Milton (Oct. 10). The category 1 Debby brought heavy rain, flooding and widespread power outages to Florida’s Big Bend, but it was just a hint at what was still to come.
Three hurricanes made landfall in Florida in 2024.
The category 4 Helene caused widespread damage from the Gulf Coast to North Carolina. It was the deadliest hurricane to affect the continental U.S. since Katrina in 2005, with more than 150 deaths. In Florida, the storm cut a path of destruction from Naples and Fort Myers through Sarasota, Tampa and all the way to Tallahassee.
The category 3 Milton brought significant damage with a destructive storm surge resulting in many homes and businesses damaged. Milton’s impact still lingers with debris clean-ups across Central Florida and residents near bodies of water still dealing with flooding, according to Orlando’s WESH 2.
Hurricanes Helene and Milton both severely impacted Florida’s Gulf Coast and beyond.
Our deepest condolences to everyone impacted by this year’s calamitous tropical weather, especially those who lost loved ones. This story is intended as snapshot of how several of Florida’s most high-profile Tiki establishments were impacted and how they pulled through in a time of crisis.
As my story in the current issue of Exotica Moderne shows, we’re all looking forward to a fresh start in 2025 as we build a bigger and better Tiki community. Check our Tiki Times guide for the latest event announcements and follow our continuing coverage on the blog all year.
Updated Jan. 19, 2025 NOTE: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.
A view of the Mai-Kai’s outdoor Tiki gardens from the Lanai. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward / Jan. 10, 2025)
January 2025 update: Tiki gardens and new dining options opening as Mai-Kai menus get a refreshNEW
Posted Jan. 19
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.
Seating in the Lanai in the rear Tiki gardens at the Mai-Kai is now open for dinner service. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward / Jan. 16, 2025)
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.
The Mai-Kai’s old Chinese oven room is now a multi-purpose space that will soon also serve as a museum of Mai-Kai history. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward / Jan. 16, 2025)
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.
The old bricks that were used to construct the Mai-Kai’s Chinese ovens (pictured in 2016) are now stacked in the old kitchen space (Jan. 16 photo), awaiting phase two of the restoration project. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)
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.
Mai-Kai Beef (wok-charred filet mignon with peppers and sweet onions, finished in a Singapore pepper sauce and served with steamed rice), one the signature dishes at the historic South Florida restaurant. (Photo by Jim Neumayer / Jan. 3, 2025)
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.
The menu for the Molokai and Bora Bora bars at the Mai-Kai, updated for 2025. Click for larger image. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward / Jan. 3, 2025)
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.
As November approaches and most of the country starts to buckle down for the winter, South Florida’s thoughts turn to … RUM, of course. More specifically, the Miami Rum Festival in Coral Gables, which celebrates the world’s most diverse spirit with three days of seminars and tasting events that target everyone from newbies to high-end enthusiasts, to industry professionals.
But the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival is the grand daddy of them all in the hottest of the rum hotbeds, launched in 2009 by longtime rum collectors and enthusiasts Robin and Robert Burr, author of Rob’s Rum Guide. This year’s gathering will be fifth at the historic Coral Gables Woman’s Club and the 15th overall.
Rum giant Bacardi, which has its American headquarters in Miami, regularly sends representatives to the Miami Rum Festival. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward / Nov. 12, 2023)
“South Florida is the number one rum market in the world and its only fitting that we present Miami Rum Fest as the best rum tasting program in the United States once a year in this location,” Robert Burr is quoted as saying. “Its also a chance for the international rum community to come together, from the islands of the Caribbean and the Americas to Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and beyond.”
The participating brands are carefully curated by the Burrs, reflecting both their interests in the global variety but also boutique and local producers who may not yet be major players. The website lists 68 different brands, and you can expect most to bring multiple expressions of their rum to the grand tasting, set for 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10. If you buy a VIP ticket, you get early entry at 12:30.
If you want to dive deeper into the history and techniques used to create today’s finest rums, be sure to check out the seminars on Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Marriott. One ticket allows you access to all three, including Tiki Evolution: The Historic Rums and Iconic Cocktails of The Mai-Kai, which I’ll have the pleasure of presenting along with Kern Mattei and Cory Starr, the longtime manager and new beverage director at the Fort Lauderdale restaurant (est. 1956).
While I’ve attended and covered the festival for the blog nearly every year (see links below), this will be The Atomic Grog’s first seminar and our first time participating since the memorable Zombie Jamboree cocktail competition hosted by Jeff “Beachbum” Berry in 2011. We hope to see you there!
Robert and Robin Burr (center) with their staff at the 2019 Rum Renaissance Festival. (Photo by Miles Maximillian Vrahimis)
Following is a rundown on what you can expect at the 2024 festival.
Saturday’s seminars
The Miami Rum Festival has always offered a wide array of seminars and expert master classes for its participants. In recent years, these educational opportunities have been held on the event’s first day at the Marriott Courtyard Coral Gables, less than a mile from the tasting venue at the Coral Gables Woman’s Club.
That’s not to say the seminars don’t involve tasting rums. To the contrary, many of the intimate events have featured numerous samples of rare and exclusive spirits. The all-inclusive ticket ($79) also includes food and refreshments served during the breaks between seminars. Seating is limited, so advance reservations are encouraged. Get your seminar ticket now.
The revival of the iconic Don the Beachcomber brand has entered a new chapter with the opening of the first Gantt Reserve Collection bar in downtown Tampa. A sneak preview of the Morgan’s Cove speakeasy was held July 13, with the official public opening announced July 18. The hidden door swings open daily at 4 p.m.
Another large restaurant – considered to be the brand’s flagship – is in the works for Hamlin, near Disney World in Central Florida. This ambitious, ground-up buildout is not expected to be finished until next summer. Other restaurant locations are planned, but in an effort to expand the brand in a quicker (and less costly) manner, 23 Restaurant Services announced a creative new “brand within a brand” concept in April.
* Previous coverage: Don the Beachcomber announces new bar concept, three upcoming locations in Florida
The revival of the Don the Beachcomber restaurant concept was kicked off in Madeira Beach in February 2024 by 23 Restaurant Services. (Official photos)
Gantt Reserve Collection bars will be much smaller, concentrating on elevated cocktails and immersive decor. The themes will vary based on location, but all will try to maintain the high standards established by Donn Beach (born Ernest Raymond Gantt), when he created the world’s first Tiki bar as a speakeasy in 1932.
Indeed, it didn’t take long to get Morgan’s Cove up and running in just three months after the announcement. There are many reasons for this, which we’ll detail below. The next Gantt Reserve Collection bar won’t be open until early 2025.
Marc Brown (left), the 23 Restaurant Services president, welcomes designer Daniel “Tiki Diablo” Gallardo to the sneak preview party on July 13. Gallardo and his team created a spectacularly immersive space. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)
We were privileged to attend a sneak preview of the Tampa bar on July 13. Mahalo to Brown and his team for the exquisite hospitality. Following is a comprehensive recap.
Imagine the Olympics without a closing ceremony. The Super Bowl without a halftime show. The equivalent in the Tiki world is The Hukilau without The Mai-Kai, which has been the unfortunate “new normal” amid the historic South Florida restaurant’s ongoing restoration project in the wake of its closing in late 2020 due to a severe back-of-house roof collapse.
A view of The Mai-Kai from Federal Highway before the tour groups arrived on June 7. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
For 17 years, the elaborately themed Polynesian palace was the centerpiece of the annual gathering of Tiki enthusiasts from around the world. It hosted a spectacular main event that filled the entire 600-capacity venue to the brim with Hukilau attendees for two performances of the Polynesian Islander Revue in the main dining rooms, plus bands such as Los Straitjackets and Tikiyaki Orchestra performing all night in the Molokai Bar and Tahiti dining room. Related:The Mai-Kai through the eyes of The Hukilau villagers (2021)
There were also annual pre- and post-event parties, memorable symposiums, movie screenings, and lots more. Even when there was nothing scheduled, you couldn’t keep The Hukilau passholders, affectionately known as “villagers,” away from The Mai-Kai during its popular nightly happy hour in the bar.
For many villagers, the Molokai Bar is the space they remember the most, which made this year’s event even more special. Following a cocktail party held outside under the porte-cochère during the first post-pandemic Hukilau in September 2021, there have been no opportunities for guests to visit amid the massive reimagination of the 2.7-acre property in Oakland Park.
In 2024, the timing was right. Hukilau organizer Richard Oneslager (part of the investment team backing the $15 million in renovations) made good on his promise that villagers would return to The Mai-Kai this year. Multi-day passholders were given access to exclusive tours on June 7 that allowed them to get a peek inside many of the finished spaces, starting in the beloved Molokai. A full reopening is expected in late summer to early fall.
Mai-Kai creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller and artist Scott “Flounder” Scheidly (left) enjoy The Hukilau festivities at the Beachcomber Resort on June 6. Artist Tom Fowner, who is also working on the restoration efforts, makes a hat from palm leaves while vending in the Tiki Treasures Bazaar on June 8. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)
Large busses transported around 50 villagers at a time from The Hukilau headquarters at the oceanfront Beachcomber Resort in Pompano Beach. Throughout the day, four groups made the 5-mile pilgrimage, meaning several hundred got the chance to look behind the curtain and meet the manager and two of the creatives deeply immersed in the project.
The tours were led by 30-year general manager Kern Mattei, creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller, artist Scott “Flounder” Scheidly, and this writer (Hurricane Hayward of The Atomic Grog). The groups were organized by another 30-year veteran, Mai-Kai sales and marketing director Pia Dahlquist, who was handling the planning and logistics for The Hukilau
Our previous story covered the highlights of the experience enjoyed by the villagers, which included complimentary cocktails and a rare chance to pick up Mai-Kai merchandise. In this story, we’ll go into more detail on exactly what we saw during the tours, along with additional exclusive photos of the Molokai Bar.
What villagers didn’t see was all the work that went into the preparations before they arrived. During the week before the Friday event, The Mai-Kai renovation crew (which also includes artist Tom Fowner) was joined by Hukilau volunteers who helped them get the tour sites cleaned up and looking shipshape.
Rich Allsmiller helps restore one of the model ships displayed throughout the nautical themed areas of The Mai-Kai. Click for larger image. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward, Marina Anderson / Official Mai-Kai photo)
Speaking of ships, when it came time to restore some of the scale models that adorn the Molokai Bar, Allsmiller turned to an expert close to home. His dad, Rich Allsmiller, briefly joined the crew to lend his expertise as a world-class model builder. (In April, the Allsmiller boys discussed this topic in a presentation on the iconic Nautilus from the film 20,000 Leagues Under the Seaat Tiki-a-Go-Go.)
Mattei and his team also had to plan the tour logistics well in advance, coordinating with Dahlquist. They came up with a flawless plan that allowed each of the four busloads to have roughly 2 hours at the restaurant, including smaller 20-minute guided tours.
There was a lot to see, and the villagers were eager to do as much as possible. Here’s an overview of what each busload experienced.
Artist Derek Yaniger and some of the official mugs at Inuhele 2023. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)
The annual Swizzle Swap, as seen in 2023, is a staple at Inuhele. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
The Frigidaires from Atlanta will perform Saturday night at Trader Vic’s. (Official photo)
Jonathan Chaffin with Hurricane Hayward at Inuhele 2023. (Atomic Grog photos)
