Flames dance across darkened stages as hula dancers sway to ancient rhythms. After four years of silence, Mai-Kai‘s legendary Polynesian dinner show has returned to Fort Lauderdale. This marks the triumphant reopening of one of America’s last surviving tiki palaces.
A Cultural Time Capsule Restored
Bob and Jack Thornton’s 1956 vision transformed Oakland Park cow pastures into an immersive South Pacific experience. While other restaurants of the era served questionable culinary experiments, the Thorntons focused on authentic Polynesian flavors that would define tiki dining for decades. The project required $350,000—the most expensive restaurant construction of its era. Within twelve months, Mai-Kai earned over $1 million. This established the venue as Florida’s premier exotic dining destination…