Having a waterfall in your tiki room is cool.
Having water falling into your tiki room from a clogged drain upstairs, not so cool.
But for Christian and Ge’Nelle, it makes for a good story of how they came up with the name of their tiki bar, The Liki Tiki Honu Hale. Here is their story …
What is the tiki scene like where you live?
Christian- Nothing within a very close distance, everything is at least a half hour plus Lyft ride away, but it is getting better. Being in Orange County California, we are close to Disneyland and Trader Sam’s, always a stop before going into the park, sometimes we don’t even make it, and once we had to get a hotel room to sleep off the night. Strongwater is our newest tiki bar, but still an expensive ride away. Hoping for something here in South Orange County. When we lived in San Clemente, I had dreams of opening up a tiki bar named Santiki, hence my Instagram handle @santikisurf.
What brought you into the ‘Tiki lifestyle” and how long has it been part of your life?
Christian- Growing up as a kid, we always went on family vacations to Hawaii so I have always had an interest in the Polynesian Culture and the tiki lifestyle is a fun expression of it. The first experience I had with tiki was at the Trader Vic’s in Hawaii at the International Marketplace, although I was way too young to drink, but with my parents, I’m sure I was allowed a taste or two. So, tiki has always been in my blood.
Can you give a little history of how it all came together?
Christian- We started the bar in an offshoot alcove in our living room while living in San Clemente. It started with just rattan wine storage unit and some rum. Next came a 1963 Packard Bell Console Stereo so we could listen to some Hawaiian or exotic vinyl. While shopping at an antique store in San Juan Capistrano, my wife came across a 1940-50’s rattan bar with original floral backcloth fabric front that was on sale for half off because the seller was closing his space. She made an offer for half of the asking price, and a week later, it was ours.
Any story behind the name of your bar?
Christian- The Liki Tiki Honu Hale is the result of an unexpected event that occurred just a few weeks after we moved into our new house, the selling point was a lower level room, with a wet bar and bathroom, that my wife said could be the tiki room. A few weeks after moving in, we had a drain clog upstairs and when the plumbers can out to try and troubleshoot, by turning on all the water upstairs, I noticed that water was pouring out of a light fixture into the tiki room, that’s the Liki Tiki portion, The Honu Hale comes from my love of sea turtles, so much so that I have a green sea turtle tattoo.
What is your favorite Tiki drink?
Christian- I am a huge fan of the Three Dots and a Dash, almost always have one, where ever we go, and it’s something I can make at home. I just love the complexity of the flavors. My newest drink has been the Gantt’s Awakening from Brian Rechenmacher, it’s an amazing drink!!!! And then there is the world-famous Ray’s Mistake from the Tiki Ti, someone has to know the recipe, other than the Buhens.
What is your favorite Tiki bar? Not including your own!
Christian- I really love Trader Sam’s. We have become good friends with a number of the bartenders and they treat us like family. Their off-menu drinks are insane, especially Melissa and Ramon’s, and we have met so many nice people there. I am friends with another ex-skipper, Ash, who is now at Strongwater, and makes excellent drinks as well. Being a Disney bar, Trader Sam’s has all the showmanship and quality you’d expect, and surprisingly, decent prices.
If distance wasn’t an issue, it would be the Tiki Ti in Los Angeles. And I really want to visit the Mai Kai in Florida.
Outside of great drinks, what do you think are essential elements in creating the perfect Tiki environment?
Christian- I think it’s all about the environment. Tiki bars were created to transport you to another place, it’s all about the escape, from whatever you are trying to escape from. The surroundings elicit feelings and sensations that you don’t get every day, unless you have your own, bar. With the current situation, our bar has been a nice refuge from all the crap that is going on in the world today, and it doesn’t require a drink, but it’s nice to be able to have one and not have to worry about driving.
What does the future hold for you and your home tiki bar?
Christian- I see the bar as an ever-evolving entity, there will always be additions to make it better. I am looking for a curio cabinet to fill a corner area, a spot for more mugs and other decorations, and to free up shelf space behind my bar for more rum. Our bar has a slider that goes out to our pool, I’d like to somehow make that into a rain and thunder wall like at the Enchanted Tiki Room. I am going to continue perfecting my drinks and enjoying our home bar with family and friends.
Anything else you would like to add?
Christian- We had the pleasure of celebrating my 50th birthday here, with drinks flowing from the bar, I batched up some Mai Tai’s and Lapu Lapu’s, the Royal Hawaiian version from Laguna Beach, and was able to dispense them from my keezer with the help of Damien Montanile, so that I could drink up a storm and enjoy the surprise entertainment that my wife booked, the Hula Girls.
