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Kona Kai, Kansas City, MO (restaurant) |
8FT Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 30, 2003
Posts: 1172
From: Kansas City, MO
|  Posted: 2009-02-17 9:13 pm Permalink
Name:Kona Kai
Type:restaurant
Street:Main at 45th Street
City:Kansas City
State:MO
Zip:
country:USA
Phone:816 753 7400
Status:defunct
Description:
Located in the Hilton Plaza Inn. This was one of two different locations the Kona Kai chain had in the Kansas City area. From their menu is this description: "An atmospheric Polynesian restaurant offering enticing exotic drinks to accompany its appetizing South Seas specialties.
Reservations suggested. Major credit cards accepted.
Hours: Luncheon Monday to Friday 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.;
Dinner 5:00 to 11:30 p.m., Friday to 12:30 a.m.; Saturday to 1:00 a.m.; Sunday 4:00 to 11:30 p.m. (Tel. 753-7400)
2ND LOCATION:
Name:Kona Kai
Type:restaurant
Street:8801 NW 112th Street
City:Kansas City
State:MO
Zip:64153
country:USA
Phone:816 891 8900
Status:defunct
[ This Message was edited by: 8FT Tiki 2012-01-26 17:49 ]
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8FT Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 30, 2003
Posts: 1172
From: Kansas City, MO
| Posted: 2009-02-17 9:57 pm Permalink
I have wanted to document this location ever since we acquired the 8ft palm carving below in 2003. It was created by Ed Crissman who worked for Oceanic Arts. According to Bob & LeRoy, this was carved in 1974 and was stock #139 in their old catalog. I am still looking for photos of the interior of the restaurant especially any which show the tiki in place there. Here it is restored and in it's current location in my home.
Next up is a 2 page menu from a K.C. fine dining guide circa 1980. This is not an actual menu like the ones handed to customers in the restaurant.
More items to come soon.
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Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 3925
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2009-02-18 10:07 am Permalink
So 8ft Tiki, how did you ever come up with your TC name?? Very cool to own such a great piece of Tiki history!
Here is a postcard I noticed on a post from Tikisgrl a while back. It shows a tiki at the entrance to the Kona Kai but not your tiki.
DC
[ This Message was edited by: Dustycajun 2009-02-18 22:38 ]
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8FT Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 30, 2003
Posts: 1172
From: Kansas City, MO
| Posted: 2009-02-19 5:06 pm Permalink
Thanks for posting that DC. I'm still looking for one of those postcards myself.
Here are some more photos. I try to find items that are marked specifically from the Kansas City location on Main St.
But I also have a few things that are just marked: KONA KAI. They may be from this location or from others such as Chicago or Philadelphia. Some things were surely available in all locations.
_________________
I once was lost..... but now I'm found.....
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squid
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 30, 2002
Posts: 1462 | Posted: 2009-06-16 01:29 am Permalink
Hey 8ft. Got anything new? I'm ready to relive some memories. 
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Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 3925
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2009-06-16 12:04 pm Permalink
Funny that a menu for this place has not showed up.
Here is another matchbook style from the Kansas City Kona Kai.
DC
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8FT Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 30, 2003
Posts: 1172
From: Kansas City, MO
| Posted: 2009-08-11 12:57 pm Permalink
I have been keepin' my eyes open for ANYTHING from the K.C. Kona Kai and here's a few things I have dug up:
Mugs for the Coffees, Grogs and Hot Buttered Rum.
This is a Beverage List with 4 pages of drinks but sadly no pictures.
The following ads and descriptions are from the pages of a Hotel-Motel greeters guide from November 1968.
Cover:
Full page ad for the Plaza Inn (the Kona Kai was located inside this Hotel).
I was really excited to find this little paragraph in there because it has an interior photo. Inside pictures just don't show up. Too bad this was so small and not in color.
Well that's it for now. The search goes on.
_________________
I once was lost.....but now I'm found.....
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Swanky
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 03, 2002
Posts: 4806
From: Hapa Haole Hideaway, TN
| Posted: 2009-08-12 09:10 am Permalink
I'd like to order a Virgin please...
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8FT Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 30, 2003
Posts: 1172
From: Kansas City, MO
| Posted: 2009-08-12 10:26 am Permalink
Well, uh... I will try to find one. But if I can, the price has gone up a bit.
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Swanky
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 03, 2002
Posts: 4806
From: Hapa Haole Hideaway, TN
| Posted: 2009-08-12 11:28 am Permalink
Well then, make it a Platinum Blonde in a bowl.
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8FT Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 30, 2003
Posts: 1172
From: Kansas City, MO
| Posted: 2009-10-17 6:02 pm Permalink
Just found a small ad for the Plaza Inn where the K.C. Kona Kai was located. This ad has an artists version aerial view of the hotel which is interesting to see. It mentions: "tropical drinks in the Canoe Bar" Dated 1972.
_________________
I once was lost.....but now I'm found.....
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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 1532
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 2009-10-17 6:36 pm Permalink
Great thread 8FT. Here's a couple of small items from my collection. A pepper shaker (wish I had the salt) and a matchbook.
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"Anyone who has ever seen them is thereafter haunted as if by a feverish dream" Karl Woermann
[ This Message was edited by: uncle trav 2009-10-17 18:39 ]
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Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 3925
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2010-01-23 6:03 pm Permalink
Some images of the food and drink menus from the Kona Kai in KC.
DC
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8FT Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 30, 2003
Posts: 1172
From: Kansas City, MO
| Posted: 2010-03-04 4:24 pm Permalink
Even in the deep cold of another Mid-western Winter, the search for interior photos of the 2 KC Kona Kai locations goes on....
But in the meanwhile,
I recently found a different magazine ad for the restaurants. It was in a souvenir program from the Starlight Theatre (a large outdoor theatre in Swope Park where concerts and Broadway shows have been performed for almost 60 years).
The ad is from 1977 and measures about 2 1/4" X 6".
Imagine my surprise and delight when I first glimpsed the artist rendition of our very own 8FT tiki !!! OK, I know it is just his head, but WOW was it ever cool to finally get a local confirmation of sorts that he was indeed in the Kona Kai.
Yeah, I'm pretty happy with this discovery. In fact I actually found 2 of the programs and the best part is that they were FREE. Now, if the ad is accurate, I think I need to go searching for a big moai or two that may still be in the area.
Thanks for dropping by for the latest update.
8FT Tiki
_________________
I once was lost.....but now I'm found.....
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Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 3925
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2011-12-09 11:37 pm Permalink
This little half-round Tiki popped up on ebay for a day or two then disappeared due to a seller withdrawl. Credited as follows:
A very rare redwood tiki totem pole made by oceanic arts of Whittier California in the 1960's for the kona Kai tiki bar in Kansas city! Fantastic rare piece! A piece of tiki history! Measures approx. 29.5" x 7 1/4" x 3" awesome piece! Lots of character!!!
Looks like it was for sale at an antique store, anybody here know who got it?
DC
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