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KAHIKI Columbus, ohio tiki bar restaurant. Bill Sapp, the catalog |
tikiskip
Grand Member (6 years) 
Joined: Nov 26, 2005
Posts: 2085 |  Posted: 2007-08-25 2:37 pm Permalink
Here I give you Herman L. Leitwein.
Mr. Leitwein was the commercial contractor
who built the Kahiki.
He also built the Grass Shack, Top of the Isle,
And the Desert inn in Columbus Ohio.
As well as all of the Hustler clubs.
He had A LOT to say about the Kahiki.
We are going to meet in a few weeks
with another Kahiki worker with Mr. Leitwein.
Will let you know how that goes.
Man with bowl is Mr. Leitweins son Bill
He said this was a Kahiki bowl.
But I don't know.
[ This Message was edited by: tikiskip 2007-08-25 14:37 ]
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tikiskip
Grand Member (6 years)
Joined: Nov 26, 2005
Posts: 2085 | Posted: 2007-08-25 2:48 pm Permalink
Mr. Leitwein said that the fire fish were at one time made of plywood.
They were coated with resin.
So those may be out there somewhere.
He also stated that the Kahiki people DID go to the Mai Kai to
get/steal ideas.
Herman also talked about how the bamboo they got would pop like
a gun when it dried and split in the Kahiki.
Also that at least two snakes came out of that bamboo after
this happened.
[ This Message was edited by: tikiskip 2007-08-25 15:09 ]
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tikiskip
Grand Member (6 years)
Joined: Nov 26, 2005
Posts: 2085 | Posted: 2007-08-25 3:03 pm Permalink
Here is a younger Mr. Leitwein and his wife.
Mr. Leitweins wife passed away four years ago.
The photo is form the South Pacific Polynesian restaurant.
Also shown is the first mystery girl seen by the fireplace
with the old style painting.
Last is a Rose chemical co ad.
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Ratzaroony
Tiki Centralite
Joined: May 29, 2007
Posts: 72
From: Dublin, Ohio
| Posted: 2007-08-25 3:52 pm Permalink
Awesome! I love hearing these stories. As for the bowl, I have no clue. I've never seen it before.
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Ratzaroony
Tiki Centralite
Joined: May 29, 2007
Posts: 72
From: Dublin, Ohio
| Posted: 2007-08-25 6:22 pm Permalink
I did some searching and found that bowl on page 81 of Tiki Quest. It's from Trader Vic's. I guess it's possible the Kahiki used them as well.
[ This Message was edited by: Ratzaroony 2007-08-25 22:16 ]
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Jeff Central
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 23, 2002
Posts: 1528
From: Columbus, Ohio
| Posted: 2007-08-26 03:17 am Permalink
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tikiskip, your research continues to astound me!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for posting these wonderful pictures and stories.
Cheers and Mahalo,
Jeff
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tikiskip
Grand Member (6 years)
Joined: Nov 26, 2005
Posts: 2085 | Posted: 2007-08-26 09:55 am Permalink
Thanks Ratzaroony. This thread is for the youngsters like you
the most.
The Kahiki is gone, but people like you keep it alive by telling
others about it.
Who knows you may be the next Trader vic. Or you may inspire
someone else to be the next great thing in tiki.
Thanks Jeff see you soon.
That bowl does not have Trader Vic on it.
It is a Tepco bowl.
Sounds like these guys went all over the world looking for tiki
stuff and just brought it back to Columbus Ohio.
This may have been one of those things.
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Ratzaroony
Tiki Centralite
Joined: May 29, 2007
Posts: 72
From: Dublin, Ohio
| Posted: 2007-08-27 04:12 am Permalink
Ah okay, very cool 
Sorry about the misinformation. I got fooled by the designs. The Trader Vic's bowl (http://www.ooga-mooga.com/cgi-bin/all/mug.cgi?mode=view&mug_id=933&ind_mug_id=1881) seems to use the same design as the Tepco bowl (http://www.ooga-mooga.com/cgi-bin/all/mug.cgi?mode=view&mug_id=1713)
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tikiskip
Grand Member (6 years)
Joined: Nov 26, 2005
Posts: 2085 | Posted: 2007-08-27 6:40 pm Permalink
I think that is the same style bowl. It just does not have Trader Vic's on it.
Mr. Leitwein also told me that Majestic paint made a custom color, a color made just for the Kahiki.
It was called Kahiki brown. what else.
Don't know if that color is still around.
I think Porter paints bought Majestic.
Herman also said that the Kahiki used to have live palm trees everywhere
and tropical plants as well, all live!
They would last about one year then they would need to be replaced.
Mr Sapp once told me that a customer would always bug him to let him supply
the banana leaves they used at the Kahiki. (he had a large home garden)
Bill finally gave in and told him to ask Sondro for an order.
Well when Sondro said we need one TRUCK load a month the guy gave up.
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Ratzaroony
Tiki Centralite
Joined: May 29, 2007
Posts: 72
From: Dublin, Ohio
| Posted: 2007-08-27 7:08 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2007-08-27 18:40, tikiskip wrote:
I think that is the same style bowl. It just does not have Trader Vic's on it.
Mr. Leitwein also told me that Majestic paint made a custom color, a color made just for the Kahiki.
It was called Kahiki brown. what else.
Don't know if that color is still around.
I think Porter paints bought Majestic.
Herman also said that the Kahiki used to have live palm trees everywhere
and tropical plants as well, all live!
They would last about one year then they would need to be replaced.
Mr Sapp once told me that a customer would always bug him to let him supply
the banana leaves they used at the Kahiki. (he had a large home garden)
Bill finally gave in and told him to ask Sondro for an order.
Well when Sondro said we need one TRUCK load a month the guy gave up.
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That's awesome! I'll call Porter tomorrow and see if they still make it.
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Ratzaroony
Tiki Centralite
Joined: May 29, 2007
Posts: 72
From: Dublin, Ohio
| Posted: 2007-08-28 6:00 pm Permalink
I called, but they don't make it and don't even have a sample of what it looked like. The man I spoke to said they actually got rid of all the Majestic Paint color cards before he started working there, so it looks like Kahiki Brown may have been lost to history 
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Ratzaroony
Tiki Centralite
Joined: May 29, 2007
Posts: 72
From: Dublin, Ohio
| Posted: 2007-09-05 03:43 am Permalink
How common is this mug? I haven't seen it on ebay before...
[ This Message was edited by: Ratzaroony 2007-09-05 03:44 ]
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Jeff Central
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 23, 2002
Posts: 1528
From: Columbus, Ohio
| Posted: 2007-09-05 06:30 am Permalink
That is a pretty rare piece made by Hoffman Pottery.
It will not go cheap!
Cheers,
Jeff
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Ratzaroony
Tiki Centralite
Joined: May 29, 2007
Posts: 72
From: Dublin, Ohio
| Posted: 2007-09-05 08:28 am Permalink
Why are the coolest ones the hardest to find! 
I'm gonna try and bid on it, but I got a feeling I'm gonna lose
[ This Message was edited by: Ratzaroony 2007-09-05 08:30 ]
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tikiskip
Grand Member (6 years)
Joined: Nov 26, 2005
Posts: 2085 | Posted: 2007-09-05 10:18 am Permalink
I wonder if it was everywhere if we would still want it?
Here is a picture of the Kahiki before it opened.
See the construction trailers.
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