The seeds of tiki were planted for me when I stepped foot in The Jungle Room at Graceland twenty some odd years ago and the same is true for Grey. Grey’s grandparents took him to Graceland when he was young and it made an impression on him. Grey came to Graceland as a fan of Elvis and after seeing The Jungle Room, he also became a fan of Witco! Grey’s home tiki bar is an homage to The King and Witco. It’s called King Kahuna Lounge and here is Grey’s story…
What is the tiki scene like where you live?
Grey- It’s definitely not as storied and steeped in tradition as the west coast meccas of LA or SF or other nationally recognized locales but being a mountain state, Coloradoans are very lucky to have an abundance of diverse places to enjoy tiki, aloha and ohana with like-minded folks.
We (Amy and I) live in Longmont, CO, just outside of Boulder and about 45 minutes from Denver. Just a couple of miles from our house, a fun tiki-based restaurant called Swaylo’s recently opened. There is a tropical bar in Boulder that makes particularly good drinks (including my favorite Mai Tai) called Jungle. Towards and in Denver we have Adrift, The Electric Cure, Hell or High Water, Ohana Room at Millers & Rossi, and the Tiki Room at the Arvada Tavern. There are other establishments that have the occasional tiki pop-up, some distilleries that make rum, and another couple of Tiki Bars further away such as Castaway Cove in Breckenridge and Shrunken Head in Colorado Springs. They all are a bit different and have their own take on tiki, but they all contribute to the tapestry of our tiki scene.
Outside of tiki bars, there are treasures to be found (on occasion) at flea markets, antiques stores, and swap meets. Back in the initial wave of Tiki, Denver was home to the more well-known tiki establishments such as Trader Vic’s, Don the Beachcomber and Tommy Wong’s Island restaurant. The Denver Tiki Tribe is a Facebook group that had over 780 members and has hosts an annual Rummage Sale, Home Bar Tours, and local tiki get togethers.
The Fraternal Order of Moai, better known as the FOM has also re-established a local chapter to promote its Core Values of Good Works, Fellowship, Spirit, Presence, Preservation, and Celebration (rum is usually involved).
What brought you into the tiki lifestyle and how long has it been part of your life?
Grey- I would say that I have been tiki adjacent for quite a while but not officially a tikiphile until just after Christmas of 2020. Over my many years, there were many small indications that the Tiki lifestyle would appeal to me:
- My earliest memories related to the Polynesian Pop lifestyle was several visits to Graceland with my grandparents almost 40 years ago. They loved Elvis’s gospel music and I was raised a fan of his movies and his other recordings. The appreciation of Elvis was something that we shared. The two favorite parts of the tour was the display of his jumpsuits and the Jungle Room (which is filled with Witco furniture).
- Before my junior year of high school, my family moved to Santa Barbara, California from Texas. My high school was only a couple of miles from the beach and I could find almost any excuse to spend time at the beach. Enjoying the ocean and the waves crashing on the shore with my toes in the sand will always be part of me and part of my soul. Besides enjoying the beach, my move to California exposed me to thrift store shopping, surfing, listening to punk music and much, much more.
- Not wanting to leave California, I went to college at UCLA. While some of my memories are just a blur, one of my fondest memories was our annual Tropical Madness party. I could be found in a grass skirt drinking rum and other mysterious punches while being surrounded by coeds in bikinis in my fraternity that had been transformed into a tropical oasis.
- We eventually moved to Colorado, and I started a job at Hewlett Packard. While you still had to dress up in slacks and the occasional tie, they introduced “casual Fridays”. I eventually took that to mean aloha shirts. Through the growing on-line retailer EBay, I was able to accumulate a pretty impressive collection of Tommy Bahama and Tori Richards shirts. Unfortunately, I have only a few remaining shirts from that period.
- My wife’s mother moved to Hawaii and we were fortunate to visit her a couple of times. One trip with our kids stands out, as everything went our way and was near if not perfect. We were definitely indoctrinated with the aloha spirit. For example:
- We had a private guide while kayaking and came across at least 14 sea turtles.
- We took a catamaran for a day long excursion with only eight passengers when it was meant for fifty. Dolphins swam along the boat while our kids were given free reign of the trampoline on the bow to be only a few feet away from the dolphins.
- Amy and I had a most wonderful romantic dinner at Mama’s Fish House on the water while the kids were with their grandmother.
- We also got to stay at the historic Hana-Maui Resort while exploring the Island.
- My mother picked up a cement Moai from a nursery many years ago because it reminded her of her travels. Regardless, when my wife (Amy)and I bought our house over twenty years ago (1997), I adopted/commandeered the statue and it has been proudly displayed in our yard ever since.
These and other encounters have allowed me to be exposed and see the appeal of Polynesian Pop, as well as the appeal of urban archaeology (of the American art, music and entertainment inspired by Oceanic, Caribbean and the Pacific). I just needed something to line up all the dominoes and push the first one over.
Can you give a little history of how it all came together?
Grey- During the pandemic, we started stocking our home bar (a couple of shelves in the kitchen) and trying different craft cocktails once, twice or three times a week. I have always been a beer or wine guy and I wanted to find my hard alcohol of choice and/or a signature drink. We were working our way through several craft cocktail books when Amy’s half-brother got me the Smuggler’s Cove book for Christmas. Amy also got me some tiki mugs, paper drink umbrella’s and some good rum to start in on a new set of recipes. After investing in a lot more rum and other ingredients, we starting enjoying the exotic cocktails from the book.
Fast forward just a month or so later, as we were lying in bed one lazy morning, I asked Amy what she thought about turning a little bit of our little-used basement space into to a Tiki bar. She has always been open to my harebrained ideas, so she agreed (little did she or even I knew what we were getting into). At about the same time, the company I had worked at for the last 10 years was being purchase by a very large corporation. I was given the opportunity to help transition the day to day operations in exchange for a severance and stay bonus. The transition happened quicker than anticipated so my responsibilities dwindled down to an hour or two a day. Therefore, I had the time and some financial freedom (I was allotted a budget by Amy that I quickly went beyond) to dedicate to building the bar. All I knew was that I wanted our Tiki bar/lounge to incorporate Elvis, Witco, and our fond memories of Hawaii.
Any story behind the name of your bar?
Grey- When I got the approval to build our bar, I knew that it had to be a place that the King of Rock’n’Roll would want to hang out. I also knew that it needed to center around a Witco bar and have a Velvet Elvis hanging behind it. Previously, I was an Assistant Scout Leader in my son’s Boy Scout Troop and the adults formed a Patrol and we went by the name of the Big Kahunas. We had a Patrol flag of a Moai riding a wave that I had designed and painted that now reside in the Lounge. So, I married the two, and ended up with King Kahuna Lounge.
What is your favorite Tiki drink?
Grey- There is always a good chance that when I visit a new bar, I order a Mai Tai. However, the drink that I find most enjoyable after a few drinks is a Mai Kai Swizzle. I usually don’t gravitate to sweeter drinks but the orange and mango juice combined with a touch of sour, topped with a Jamaican rum can’t be beat. It is also pretty darn cool to break out an authentic Caribbean swizzle stick to mix the drink.
What is your favorite Tiki bar? Not including your own!
Grey- I have been lucky to visit over 50 Tiki bars across the United States (soon to be 60ish as we have an upcoming trip planned to San Francisco). I would say the best time that I have had at a Tiki bar would be the Tiki Ti in Hollywood. I was the first in line (30 minutes before opening at 4:00) and upon opening, I took a strategic seat at the bar just inside the front door. I was able to talk to Mike Sr. over the course of the evening since he was working the door just a couple of feet away. I also made some acquaintances that I am still in contact with and I also got to hear stories from a few regulars that have their names/cards on the ceiling. I enjoyed myself immensely and had more than a few drinks. The first time I looked at my watch it was 11:30pm, over seven hours after entering this Tiki institution.
There are a few others that I can’t wait to visit again such as Max’s, Hale Pele, Hala Kahiki, Undertow, …
Outside of great drinks, what do you think are essential elements in creating the perfect Tiki environment?
Grey-I have been to plenty of tiki bars that have had mediocre drinks that I would go back to again and again because they get the other parts right. However, a tasty exotic cocktail also makes up for a lot of missing several tiki bar requirements. Obviously, an immersive environment with art and other crafts that are transportive and brilliantly curated is very important. I gravitate to places with flotsam and jetsam, tiki poles, carvings and masks, bamboo/rattan furniture, and traditional/historical carvings. The space should be dimly lit and feel intimate with exotic, surf or closely related music setting the mood. Well educated and friendly staff is key to the experience.
In building my space, I often referred to the Circle of Tiki by Sven and tried to follow his guidance in what elements to include and roughly at what percentages. Since the Donn Beach, Trader Vic and others interpreted their tropical paradises as they saw fit, I am okay with those that venture outside and beyond the circle. However, I really like the old school vibe and traditions of the classic place that have bridges into the space, water features, and traditional oceanic art and lamps.
What does the future hold for you and your home tiki bar?
Grey- Like most if not all people that have a Tiki bar, it is never quite done. I explain to visitors that it is a lot like painting the Golden Gate Bridge, an ongoing project… By the time you get to one end, it is time start all over again. That being said, I am always on the look-out for a special vintage piece (Witco Globe, Orchids of Hawaii lamp or something that has a story) and I would like to add some layers, especially to the ceiling. I do tell my wife that the remaining work/improvements is up to my own labor but you also never know what you might find. While I have a few smaller projects in mind, I do want to try my hand at making a handful of lamps, carving a few masks and perhaps making a Tiki or two.
Anything else you would like to add?
Grey- While I spend time down in the Lounge reading, trying to learn the Ukulele, or just contemplating life, I say that the Lounge is meant to be shared. Therefore, if you find yourself in the Denver/Boulder area, reach out via IG (@king_kahuna_lounge) and I will be happy to show you the bar, make you a drink, and share my bit of my paradise.
