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The Fabulous Ilikai Hotel (Honolulu) |
thejab
Grand Member (first year) 
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 2986
From: Tradewinds Apartments, Alameda, CA
|  Posted: 2005-09-18 10:14 am Permalink
Jimbo - What a great idea! I will definitely look into staying there on my next visit. Thanks to "lunatics" like you there is hope that a little bit of the recent history of Waikiki will be preserved. With the reconstruction of the area around the Hawaiiana and Breakers Hotels I was worried there would be nothing from that era left.
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jimbo
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Jan 17, 2005
Posts: 30 | Posted: 2005-10-01 3:33 pm Permalink
here are a few pics of the place
_________________
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
Hunter S. Thompson R.I.P.
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 11097
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2005-10-02 08:32 am Permalink
Highrise Honululu alright. Though still cool, the ILIKAI can be viewed as the watershed between the old Waikiki and the new:
Built right next to the Waikikian with it's gardens and the Tahitian Lanai, it overshadowed that human scale-built hotel, and when the Hawaiian Village went highrise too, the poor Waikikian seemed anachronistic, wedged in between and literally over-shadowed by the highrise canyon sides of the the two towers.
I am conflicted about modernism and tend to side with Tom Wolfe in that when mass-housing demanded ever bigger buildings in the 60s, the architects where in their ivory towers, and only too willing to replace individual and unique design with generic boxes.
While the Waikikian and the original Hawaiian Village were pure "Hawaiian Eye", the Ilikai (with Jack Lord's suite) was all "Hawaii 5-0": Still cool, but more Multi-culti than Poly -Pop.
Like Paul Page sang: "...Tall Tiki towers, Hawaii is on the go." And it went, towards generic mass-tourism, away from it's roots.
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jimbo
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Jan 17, 2005
Posts: 30 | Posted: 2005-10-02 09:18 am Permalink
Different strokes for different folks Bro, and I dig Tom Wolfe too. But I love Mid-Century Modernism , and would not characterize it as "generic boxes".
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 11097
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2005-10-03 02:58 am Permalink
I love mid-century modern too. My publisher is on the forefront of the revival. If you read the BoT opening dedication, some of the most dedicated members of the Los Angeles modern committee and the Palm Springs modcom have been my best friends (and contributors to my research) for over a decade now.
I just steer more to the flamboyant Googie side of it, not the austere Neutra side. The whimsy of a jutting Armet and Davis roof line inspires me more than any glass box.
I am a fan of, and have met Julius Schulman numerous times, yet I am aware that his photos are a glamorization. Kind of what the BoT did with Tiki.
Which is a good thing, because the human animal needs idealization, and the idealism of the early modern achitects and designers like the Eames deserves rediscovery. Yet, let's not forget that there is a reason why the style fell out of favor, in later decades it was watered down, and misused as an excuse for cheap mass construction (and I am not saying that the Ilikai is an example of that)
I am mid-mod fan who is merely a little cautious of the unequivocal acknowledgment the mid century modern revival is giving to it all.
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Satan's Sin
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 13, 2004
Posts: 729
From: Imperial Beach, CA
| Posted: 2005-10-03 08:56 am Permalink
One might say that the "International Sytle" combined with a little American futurism gave birth to the midcentury style. And then it fairly quickly went to shit when it fell into the hands of hack architects and only-in-it-for-a-buck developers.
The clean lines and simplicity that are the hallmark of modernism translated all too readily into un-onamented boxes made of cheap materials, both in housing developments and commercial structures. These, I think, were the structures Tom Wolfe was talking about in that book of his, I know which one you mean, I read it ages ago, it was just a general slam against modernism in politics, writing and art. And I agreed with pretty much everything he said. For in the towns and cities in which I grew up, "modern" buildings were shabby and soulless, and "modern" homes -- of which there were a lot in Florida -- were choked to the gills with knicknacks and heavy furniture and looked horrible.
I guess what changed it all for me was visiting the desert out here in California, and especially noticing how the beautiful midcentry homes in the desert went as natrually together with a stark vista as does ice cream with cake. And seeing the interiors decorated in an appropriately simple style. That, and visiting some of the great midcentury structures in New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia -- buildings that did not stint on the materials, were quite sumptuous in fact, designed by talented men and built by craftsmen, and about as different from their hack knockoffs as are the living from the dead.
It's truly wonderful that these buildings have come back into style. And I think you could even argue that these buildings are more popular and respected than when they were first built. I wish Neutra and Eames and all those guys had lived to see this day.
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aquarj
Grand Member (8 years) 
Joined: Apr 02, 2002
Posts: 1074
From: SF bay area, CA
| Posted: 2005-10-03 7:05 pm Permalink
About modernist design...
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| in later decades it was watered down, and misused as an excuse for cheap mass construction |
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Could the same thing be said about tiki too?
Bad modernism and bad tiki can't scare me away from being a fan of the "good" forms of both. Strictly subjective speaking of course when it comes to good and bad though.
-Randy
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jimbo
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Jan 17, 2005
Posts: 30 | Posted: 2005-10-04 5:54 pm Permalink
I dunno, it seems unfair to attribute the downward spiral of architecture to Mid-Century Modernsim. The McMansions of today are abominations whether faux tudor, faux spanish or faux whatever. And there was certainly a lot of great MCM stuff still being built in the early sixties. IMHO right around the time of the Kennedy assassination(11-22-63, almost the exact moment of the Ilikai opening), there seems to have been a sea change in our culture which has eventually led us to the corporate/mini-mall/fast food/lowest common denomiator cultural wasteland we find ourselves in today. Maybe this is a reason so many people with art in their souls are drawn to tiki culture, MMM, etc. Not out of some sort of nostalgia, but rather as a legitimate reaction to what our society has become. Whatever happened to aesthetics? So many things have changed for the worse. The complete changeover from neon to plastic signage alone is depressing. And how did the great automobiles of the late fifties/early sixties devolve into mundane cars of today? Some folks would even deal with the inconveniences of driving a 1962 classic every day rather than endure a 2005 genericmobile(not to name names). 1963 was the dawn of fast food & restaurant franchising which over the next decades would wipe out the independents and litter the landscape with BurgerkingsMcDonaldsTacoBellsArbysadnauseum. I recently drove thru 7 states, and it sure wasn't what Jack Kerouac & Neal Cassidy experienced. Never saw a diner or a Googie, just hundreds of mind numbing identical plastic fast food outlets. Horrible. Back in the day a dinner out might be at a Tiki Palace or a classy steak joint. Where do most people go now? TGI Fridays? 1959 Les Pauls and '63 Stratocasters are regarded as the best ever. Many musicians consider the blackface Fenders('63 to '67) as the sweetest sounding amps of all time. And whatever happened to independent book and record stores?.......Sorry for the rant. I am going to make a MaiTai now. Here's to all the Tiki People and Modernists. Mahalo
Hawaii International Center 1964 (site of Jimi Hendrix's last US concert)
_________________
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
Hunter S. Thompson R.I.P.
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Bora Boris
Mr. Unreasonable
Joined: Mar 25, 2005
Posts: 2568
From: Boogie Wonderland
| Posted: 2009-09-19 10:30 am Permalink
The Ilikai Swizzle ~
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tikiyaki
Grand Member (7 years) 
Joined: May 18, 2004
Posts: 2706
From: The Exotic Port of REDONDO BEACH, CA
| Posted: 2009-09-19 11:12 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2005-10-04 17:54, jimbo wrote:
I dunno, it seems unfair to attribute the downward spiral of architecture to Mid-Century Modernsim. The McMansions of today are abominations whether faux tudor, faux spanish or faux whatever. And there was certainly a lot of great MCM stuff still being built in the early sixties. IMHO right around the time of the Kennedy assassination(11-22-63, almost the exact moment of the Ilikai opening), there seems to have been a sea change in our culture which has eventually led us to the corporate/mini-mall/fast food/lowest common denomiator cultural wasteland we find ourselves in today. Maybe this is a reason so many people with art in their souls are drawn to tiki culture, MMM, etc. Not out of some sort of nostalgia, but rather as a legitimate reaction to what our society has become. Whatever happened to aesthetics? So many things have changed for the worse. The complete changeover from neon to plastic signage alone is depressing. And how did the great automobiles of the late fifties/early sixties devolve into mundane cars of today? Some folks would even deal with the inconveniences of driving a 1962 classic every day rather than endure a 2005 genericmobile(not to name names). 1963 was the dawn of fast food & restaurant franchising which over the next decades would wipe out the independents and litter the landscape with BurgerkingsMcDonaldsTacoBellsArbysadnauseum. I recently drove thru 7 states, and it sure wasn't what Jack Kerouac & Neal Cassidy experienced. Never saw a diner or a Googie, just hundreds of mind numbing identical plastic fast food outlets. Horrible. Back in the day a dinner out might be at a Tiki Palace or a classy steak joint. Where do most people go now? TGI Fridays? 1959 Les Pauls and '63 Stratocasters are regarded as the best ever. Many musicians consider the blackface Fenders('63 to '67) as the sweetest sounding amps of all time. And whatever happened to independent book and record stores?.......Sorry for the rant. I am going to make a MaiTai now. Here's to all the Tiki People and Modernists. Mahalo
Hawaii International Center 1964 (site of Jimi Hendrix's last US concert)
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Jimbo, I feel your pain, and agree wholeheartedly with your points....no "but" either.
Especially the part about signage. Sad.
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http://www.tikiyakiorchestra.com
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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 1760
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 2009-09-19 2:33 pm Permalink
See this post also for some more info.
http://www.tikiroom.com/tikicentral/bb/viewtopic.php?topic=33104&forum=16&14
_________________
"Anyone who has ever seen them is thereafter haunted as if by a feverish dream" Karl Woermann
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Bora Boris
Mr. Unreasonable
Joined: Mar 25, 2005
Posts: 2568
From: Boogie Wonderland
| Posted: 2012-01-05 7:36 pm Permalink
I found this match box recently, it's dinged up but I like it.
Maybe the Steak House with Geisha Servers thread needs to be started and also the concept needs to be brought back to the restaurant world. 
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aquarj
Grand Member (8 years)
Joined: Apr 02, 2002
Posts: 1074
From: SF bay area, CA
| Posted: 2012-01-05 8:47 pm Permalink
Nice matchbook - I'm all for advancing the concept of the steakhouse with geisha (and maiko) servers.
Since some of the image links in this thread have shrunk to thumbnails, here's some 2010 pics, even if they're not as fun as the vintage ones. I could swear I posted these somewhere else, so apologies if these are repeats...
They still use that great lettering in the lobby
Looking over the current pool area back toward the Hawaiian Village towers.
And maybe we should link to the separate thread for the Canoe House in the Ilikai. Great menu posted by DC, and some Hawaii Five-O screenshots in there from naugatiki, like this...
Quote:
| On 2011-10-03 16:16, naugatiki wrote:
Enter McGarrett with those green ceramic designs on the bamboo door.
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And if we wanna be even more thorough, this post has some ~1972 images of the Ilikai pool area, taken as screenshots from another Hawaii Five-O episode. The foreground action is a little distracting though, like this...
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-Randy
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howlinowl
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 20, 2008
Posts: 125
From: Port Saint Lucie, FL
| Posted: 2014-02-24 08:48 am Permalink
Cruisin' through the Honolulu Magazine website...came across this:
http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Honolulu-Magazine/February-2014/Waikikis-Ilikai-Hotel-and-Suites-Turns-50/
howlinowl
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