Columbus, Ohio: Kahiki, Polynesian Restaurant (Gone)

Going to The Kahiki as a child was such a treat. That was back in the day when ladies had to wear either skirts or dresses and gentlemen had to wear coats and ties. When you walked in past the Tiki gods with the flames coming out of their heads you walked across a wooden foot bridge with running water on either side. It was dark. They used a black light to illuminate the stones and water. Then the large wooden doors opened and a hostess seated you. One of the drinks was carried out by a lady in a grass skirt. And if you had a birthday, the men and women in grass skirts and the men in loin cloths would come out and dance for you. Great food and fun times. They even had a gift shop. I still have one of the glasses that the Headhunter drink came in and skewers that the cherries came on from other drinks. And Tiki god salt & peppers!

Now the owners are selling frozen dishes from the restaurant and I can buy them here in Florida!! Ummm Good!

Confirmed: The Polynesian-themed Kahiki restaurant in Columbus, Ohio will be closed by August, the property converted for use for a Walgreen's drug store. Kahiki's owner promises to remove and store all the valuable Easter Island heads and other accouterments....

It was announced that the Kahiki -- Polynesian-themed restaurant -- is slated for demolishion beginning in August, 2000. The one of a kind Kahiki will be replaced by a Walgreen's Drug Store.

The Polynesian-themed Kahiki restaurant in Columbus, Ohio, may be sold by the owner. The new owners would likely demolish the giant Easter Island heads, cave entrance, and grass hut dining areas to make way for a Walgreens....

We stayed in Columbus, OH, again and we made it to the wonderful Kahiki restaurant, a Polynesian paradise with huge Easter Island heads in front. It was amazing as always. I've never seen anything in Tiki theme that even comes close to this place. We were downing booze drinks with names like "The Headhunter," "The Suffering Bastard," "The Erupting Volcano"(complete with dry ice eruption), and "The Zombie" seved in a skull-shaped glass. It is definitely worth getting to!