Kanaloa is a god symbolized by the squid or the octopus…
Situated in Chris and Cathy’s backyard is Kanaloa’s Demise. The theme of their bar is all things octopus. You will find, pantings, lamps and other amphoral related to the might sea dweller, the octopus. Want to learn more about octopuses, or should I say octopi? Want to learn more about how this incredible nautical theme bar came to be? Keep reading…
What is the tiki scene like where you live?
Chris- Living in the PNW there is a small handful of bars, but my understanding is that in this area the real scene is home tiki bars, mostly converted rooms or patios, although with our weather, a patio has its own challenges.
What brought you into the tiki lifestyle and how long has it been part of your life?
Chris- it was a trip in 2019 to the San Francisco area. I received an invite to do a tiki bar run there. I didn’t really know what that meant but it sounded fun. Kym and Cheryl Wells took the reins on this trip and we followed them to about dozen places over a long weekend. It was from them I heard about the idea of a home tiki bars in the NW. It was an idea I dwelled on for bit until it came together.
Can you give a little history of how it all came together?
Chris- Having been on that San Francisco trip, I was dwelling on the idea, but I do not have a spare room in my house. Moving on into the first half of 2020 a few ideas merged. We had spent the previous summer enjoying our patio under one of those pop up 10×10 “tent” covers. We liked the idea of making it more permanent. My 50th birthday bash plans were scrubbed due to covid, which freed up some funding. Also, the whole coved experience and social distancing left me with a desire to have a fun place for people to start gathering again and still distance a bit. The outdoor Tiki Bar idea started to come together. I contacted Kym again to give the run down on “does and don’ts”.
The timing was right, as he was helping with the “tiki” estate sale of Paul Hupp, aka “Mambo”. I am very honored to have acquired a few great pieces there and let them live on in a new location for others to enjoy.
My wife Cathy and I moved ahead with getting a larger, permanent patio cover from Costco, which we promptly had to change the color of. Tan did not work. I torched every single board and stained them with dark mahogany and added rope accents. I like the look of a lashed together, post and beam structure, something along the lines of Disney’s Aulani resort. I think it’s a look that blends well for the PNW and Pacific rim tropical styles.
The final piece of the puzzle, theming was something else I dwelled on until I was inspired on a trip to Leavenworth, WA. Looking through shops and the art booths, I saw 2 things, an octopus anatomy poster that spoke to me and a fabulous black octopus print that cemented the idea.
It felt like the perfect blend for the PNW and Pacific Islands. I talked to the artists and commissioned an Octopus painting that includes some tiki statues to be the centerpiece behind the bar. The bar name would come later. The awesome artists is in her 7th summer there. Her name is McKenna Sosnowska.
Any story behind the name of your bar?
Chris-The name started simply as The Octopus. (I would like to add I had this in spring, before the Seattle Kraken had picked their kraken mascot in July 2020 and before Inside passage revealed Kiki in June 2021)
The name evolved thanks to one of our first guests (each guest seems to leave a little touch of themselves on the place, which is perfect, as it was meant as a gathering place). While they were here, he searched Polynesian words for Octopus and came across Kanaloa. It could not have been more perfect, Kanaloa was one of the big gods, but he led a rebellion because the gods were not allowed to drink. He lost and was cast into the depths of the see and is now depicted as an octopus/squid.
The bar is now aptly named Kanaloa’s Demise.
I think this really brings it together. Real Polynesian history/culture, as was where Tiki bars emerged with G.I.s bringing it back home from the South Pacific, represented by an Octopus god who wants to drink….lol…perfect.
What is your favorite Tiki drink?
Chris- Jet Pilot, it captured the flavors, spices and strength that says tiki is way more are fruity tropical slushy drinks
Cathy (my wife) – Needs more research, always more research
What is your favorite Tiki bar? Not including your own!
Chris-Not Fair, each seems to have its own unique style. I do have one and for an interesting reason, but I feel more research is required.
Outside of great drinks, what do you think are essential elements in creating the perfect Tiki environment?
Chris-A good story and theme that need to be somewhat cohesive. Something somewhat immersive so you can escape to someplace exotic for a while. And fire, always fire, flaming drinks, torches!
What does the future hold for you and your home tiki bar?
Chris- At this point. more detailing. One day I don’t have enough Tiki carvings, the next, not enough Octopi. ( I haven’t even touched on trying to incorporate our love of Disney Tiki and how we are working on an Enchanted TIki Room “overlay”/enclosure for the rainy winter months)
Anything else you would like to add?
Chris- Yes, two things.
First, the real roots of our bar go back almost 10 years. It all really started with a conversation with a co-worker who wanted to make his work shop look like an old airplane workshop. It had never occurred to me to “theme” my garage/workshop. The gears started turning. I came up the idea of a distillery. I did some copper pipe work and started collecting unique rum bottles. Getting deep into rum exploration, led us to Rumba in Seattle. It’s only right to give them much credit. They have some great and knowledgeable staff, along with an incredible selection of rums to explore flavors and profiles. (Which we did a lot, even completed their world rum map).
The other thing I’d like to add, is that this has been an eye opening journey. A reminder that there are a thousand million great, fun, interesting things to do and experience in this world, and you don’t even know what they are. Collect tiki mugs? Collect vintage tiki shirts by awesome artists? Tiki Goth? Who knew? What other great things are out there that you have no idea about? It really can be a great world.
