Kahiki Supper Club
1960-2000

The Kahiki was demolished in November 2000 to make way for a new Walgreen's store. The Columbus Dispatch quoted Walgreen's spokesman Michael Polzin: "Walgreen's has a policy against destroying historic buildings... The company just doesn't think the Kahiki makes the cut. This building is unusual, but it's not very old."

The Kahiki Supper Club is listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

Kahiki Significance

The Kahiki was an intact example of a mid-twentieth century cultural icon, the Polynesian restaurant. Built in 1960-61, it represented the heightened interest in Polynesia following World War II. Entertainment and leisure activities focusing on or derived from the South Seas were especially popular during the 1950s and early 1960s. Movies and television shows featured the Polynesian setting, while hula hoops, luaus, surfing, and beach music allowed people from coast to coast to celebrate the South Seas culture. Hawaii's statehood in 1959 also contributed to the overall fascination with Polynesia. Polynesian restaurants were a natural outgrowth of this larger popular culture phenomenon.

The Kahiki embodied the architectural traits associated with the Polynesian restaurant genre. Standard elements of the Polynesian decor included tiki fountains, nautical objects, tropical plants, island inspired statuary, grass huts, and colorful paintings. The Kahiki was significant for employing these elements as well as being an individually designed building. Most other Polynesian restaurants were included within traditional buildings.

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