Your SoCal ‘Tiki’ Getaway Just a Hula Away

Wouldn’t a Polynesian escape be great about now? Visualize yourself sipping exotic rum drinks while sarong-clad dancers sway to the beat of drums. Flower leis, Tiki torches and white- sand beaches are all part of a “South Pacific state of mind.” If time and budget makes a trip to the islands impossible, don’t worry.  It can easily be your summer getaway, just a short drive away in Tiki-abundant Mission Bay and Shelter Island in San Diego.

 

Actually, not just San Diego but the entire state of California has been fixated on everything Polynesian for decades, from the distinctive architecture and wooden statues to lush waterfall gardens and blazing Tiki torches that all combine to take us away to island life.  In fact, in just about every SoCal coastal town you’ll find at least one hotel or bar with South Pacific island flair. Some of these favorite retro-cool Tiki spots still exist and have a renewed popularity.

San Diego—our own South Pacific

After WWII, American soldiers and sailors returned home from the South Pacific with photographs, art, souvenirs, music and more from these tropical islands, to the delight of the American public who romanticized exotic island cultures. As a burgeoning strategic Navy town on the Pacific, San Diego was a prime destination to celebrate and recreate Tiki culture, especially on the shores of the newly developed Mission Bay and Shelter Island where the city realized it could create an affordable, closer-to-home version of the islands.

San Diego’s surviving Polynesian-style buildings have been described as “fantastical” and “whimsical” representatives of the popular Polynesian lifestyle that includes lots more than architecture—really, everything from entertainment and music to clothing and cuisine. Whether you call it TikiPolynesian, Tiki Modern or, my favorite, Atomic Tiki, San Diego is an unexpected paradise for lovers of Tiki with abundant, nostalgic reminders still luring South Pacific dreamers to San Diego’s shorelines.  Plus, you can be a part of two annual celebrations that salute everything Polynesian in the upcoming months. Here are some of the area’s top Tiki-inspired destinations and events.

Dock, dine and stay on Shelter Island

Not really an island, Shelter Island was nicknamed “San Diego’s Hawaiian Isle.”  The one-plus acre, former sand bar was created in the 1930s and developed in the 1950s with hotels, restaurants and marinas that all reflected a Polynesian style.  Greeting you at the gateway to Shelter Island is Trader Mort’s Liquor Store, originally named the Hooch Hut, built around 1966. Mort’s is famous for its Tiki hut design with a lava rock veneer and a large tongue-wagging Tiki sculpture welcoming customers at the entrance.

Even before the Hooch Hut opened, The Bali Hai Restaurant that opened in the mid-50s on the island became well known as a “Tiki temple” that hosted luaus in its heyday.  Today, hand-carved Tiki idols like the iconic Mr. Bali Hai and Goof on the Roof, genuine Polynesian artifacts and tapa cloths adorn the popular restaurant, which got a make-over in 2010. Diners feast on Pacific Rim cuisine and island-strong Mai Tais against a spectacular backdrop of the San Diego Bay and the downtown skyline from the upstairs dining room.  If you arrive by boat, plan to “dock and dine.”  For those seeking a memento, souvenir Tiki mugs are available for purchase. (http://www.balihairestaurant.com/)

Humphrey’s Half Moon Inn & Suites, a landmark Tiki retreat built just a few years after Bali Hai, features a soaring lobby roof that extends outward like a giant Polynesian fishing canoe, complete with a traditional lantern at its bow. The tropical theme is complemented with lush gardens, swaying palms, koi ponds, splashing waterfalls and colorful parrots. Humphrey’s is famous for its Concerts by the Bay each spring through early fall. Summer is an ideal time to revel in this outdoor venue enmeshed in tropical beauty. Think about a package stay that includes a concert and dining in this South Pacific-style getaway. (http://www.halfmooninn.com/)

Mission Bay’s Tiki happenings

Cool breezes, tranquil waters and soft sand beaches attract recreational enthusiasts, as well as lovers of Tiki culture to Mission Bay. Along the three-mile oceanfront boardwalk, you’ll find funky surf shops, beach bars, restaurants and nightclubs, along with a variety of upscale resorts and family-friendly hotels scattered along the coast. A visit to Mission Beach’s iconic Belmont Park amusement park is a must. Take a ride on the Giant Dipper roller coaster or test your surfing skills at the Wave House and your putting skills at the new Tiki Town Adventure Golf, an island-themed 18-hole interactive mini golf course. Golfers encounter surprises at every hole, including an abandoned village of lost temples, Tiki idols and an erupting volcano

Opened in 1954, the Crowne Plaza San Diego (formerly the Hanalei Hotel) is a slice of paradise in the heart of bustling Mission Valley. The property has retained much of its island-themed luster from yesteryear, including Tikis, Polynesian art, a lava rock fountain, outrigger canoe and tropical pool area which makes it a perfect site for the annual Tiki Oasis convention. The largest and longest-running Tiki gathering in the world will be held each summer. Each year, about 3,500 attendees enjoy a Tiki art and fashion marketplace, “exotica” music, live entertainment, a classic car show, pool parties and more. This year’s theme is “Party on Monster Island”—a throwback to the 1950’s thriller movies such as “Godzilla” and “Creature from the Black Lagoon.” (http://www.tikioasis.com/) (http://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/san-diego/sancp/hoteldetail)

 

On the sparkling shores of Mission Bay, Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa recreates a South Pacific paradise with island-inspired architecture, tropical gardens, a massive rock fountain and a lobby with koi pond and parrots. A popular summer tradition is the Catamaran’s colorful Sunset Luaus with Polynesian food, music and dancers. Guests are greeted with leis and Mai Tais and feast on an all-you-can-eat buffet with entertainment by hula and fiery torch dancers. Luaus happen Fridays and Tuesdays through the end of summer. (https://www.catamaranresort.com/dining-entertainment/sunset-luaus)

About a mile from Mission Beach is The Dana on Mission Bay hotel with lots of Polynesian touches. Set amidst the lush palm-lined gardens of the hotel is a mighty Tiki warrior sculpture that greets visitors. Guests enjoy a Tiki hut-style Tropical Pool Bar with some fun libations for lounging poolside. (http://www.thedana.com/)

Real Tiki sleuths will want to take an island-style adventure tour. The two-hour Surf and Tiki Tour by Where You Want To Be Tours strolls past 20 Tiki statues in Pacific Beach and Mission Bay Aquatic Park in a fun, off-the-beaten-path journey.  (http://www.wheretours.com/tours)

Catch the rich island-inspired side of San Diego this Sept. 22-23 at the Annual Pacific Islander Festival that takes place at Ski Beach on Mission Bay. The celebration of the cultures, foods, crafts and customs of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia will “take” you directly to the islands—if only for a few hours. (http://www.pifasandiego.com/)