Mai-Kai Calendar Girls
In an effort to turn blog posts to web pages, I have started with the Mai-Kai calendars. This also gives me a chance to share a bit of history along the way.
If you are interested in helping with this project, please email me. I do not have every calendar.
Check back for updates!
George Paoa Trio Live! LP
This is one of many, many records I picked up at thrift stores over the years. Back in 2004 I ripped it to the computer, at least the first side. Recently I was making new mixes for the Hideaway and included their “Hasegawa General Store” and every time it comes around, I crank it up. I just love it. Something about the sounds of forks hitting plates in the background just endears it to me.
George passed away in 2000. I am not sure when this was released. Some evidence on the web indicates 1992, but I am thinking earlier.
So, enjoy the piano bar in Hawaii, done as well as anyone. Live from the Maui Hilton Hotel on the beach at Kaanapali in the Lokelani Room.
Download here before it goes away!
Hula records Stereo HS-539
UPDATE: “ George Jr., entertains at The Royal Lahaina, Kaanapali every weekend.”
Hawaii Slides
Vintage Hawaii Slides
Vintage Hawaii Slides
Vintage Hawaii Slides
Vintage Hawaii Slides
Vintage Hawaii Slide of the Week – Queen’s Surf
This is a place I have seen a lot of ephemera from over the year, but not the actual place until now. The lettering on the trash can is a clue. It’s the Queen’s Surf.


I love these old pictures. The guy to the left in the black suit and skinny tie and a lei. They are so well dressed. Below we see a little of the interior roof. Very nice.

Vintage Hawaii Slide of the Week – Polynesian Cultural Center

A rather dull slide, but for the tiki freaks, I pulled out a couple of details.


Vintage Hawaii Slide of the Week
Here we see Mr. and Mrs. James V. Barry on vacation in Hawaii in 1964.

Fun was had. In about 150 slides from their trip, this may be the only one where she is smiling…
Vintage Hawaii Slide of the Week #2 – The Waikikian
![]()
Classic Poly Pop architecture. What’s the place to the right? Tahitian what?
Update: Of course Mimi has cool pics of the Waikikian and the Tahitian Lania on her site. Thanks to Dusty Cajun for this image and the tip.

Vintage Hawaii Slide of the Week #1 – For the Mixologists

Just your typical scene of Hawai in 1964. Men in suits and skinny ties and ladies in dresses. Waiting for dinner outside the Hilton Hawaiian Village Luau. But…
(more…)
United Airlines Hawaii Postcard

United Airlines has a great history with their flights to Hawaii. Not too long ago the flight staff wore aloha shirts and muu muus. Today, they serve Trader Vic’s Mai Tais on the flights. They still get it. This card I found today extolls the Hawaii that is not just a vacation, but “fullfillment of long-held expectations.”
Vintage Hawaii Slide of the Week – Kalua Pig
Vintage Okolehao – A Tasting
For those who have ventured very deep into Beachbum Berry’s books, you know there are some pretty scarce ingredients in there. You can spend a lot of time and money tracking them down. Some are easy enough to find, but it is often hard to afford $40 for a bottle of liqueur that you will use to make one cocktail you may not even like. Over time, you gather everything you need to make every drink in those books. Even Pimento Liqueur! But, there is one elusive ingredient: okolehau. It’s elusive for one simple reason, it has not been made in about 30 years.
The Bum offers some substitutes in his books, so you can still make the recipes. But it has always nagged at me. I wanted to know just how this stuff tasted.
I came across a tiny airline bottle of the vintage brew a couple of months ago and set it aside for a special occasion. When Basement Kahuna came to town, that was the time. BK is a supreme mixologist and has a fine collection of vintage intoxicants. He had never tasted oke either.
I poured us all a sip. Man! I was shocked! There is nothing in my bar like it! It has an incredible flavor. Woody, spicey, but not overpowering, warm. I love it! And I have no idea what would really replace it in a drink. Maybe some Licor 43… I just don’t know. But I really want them to get to making it again. I will order a lot and keep it in my bar all the time as an aperitif!


















