5-4280 Kuhio Hwy, Princeville, Kauai, Hi. 96722
Tel: (808) 431-4242
Hours: 11:00a to 12:00A daily, Happy hours 3:00p to 5:00
Anyone familiar with 70’s rock has heard of Todd Rundgren. Todd vacationed in all the islands regularly. If you’ve ever been to the Hawaiian islands then you know that each island is different. Todd liked the Coco Palms Resort on Kauai. Coco Palms was made famous by the 1961 movie Blue Hawaii which starred Elvis Presley.
Blue Hawaiian trailer: https://youtu.be/qf-KSYbBRfQ.
The Coco Palms Resort was where all the stars vacationed after Blue Hawaii was released.
In September of 1992, hurricane Iniki (iniki is Hawaiian for strong and piercing wind) hit Kauai with winds reaching up to 143 mph. There was tremendous devastation to Kauai. Hotel roofs and walls were torn apart. Months later, resorts still weren’t ready to accept vacationers. When Rundgren, family and friends went to vacation at the Coco Palms Resort they had to rent a condo instead. With the destruction to buildings being extremely bad, Rundgren felt that was the best opportunity to purchase. He purchased some land in Princeville which is located in the northern part of Kauai. For the first couple of years Rundgren would camp under the stars with family and friends a couple of times a year. Eventually he would figure out and have his dream home built.
In 2013 Todd’s wife Michelle resurrected Iniki. Only this time in the form of a tiki bar.
Located on the northern part of Kauai in Princeville is Michelle Rundgren’s tiki bar creation. It’s not visible from the street so look for the Princeville Shopping Center.
View of the open bar as soon as you enter. Beautiful multi figure tiki’s greet patron’s as they enter.
Turning right and looking back at the interior design of the bar.
Hand carved tiki’s adorn the establishment throughout.
Eclectic art everywhere that doesn’t jump out and scream authentic tiki to me. I’ll call it Iniki funk!
Venturing to the dining area and looking back towards the bar.
We chose a table out on the patio so we could people watch while refueling with some spirits.
The website store only lists hats, shirts and hoodies for sale. Once we arrived and I inquired about tiki mugs I was pointed towards these misfits that were looking for trouble, waiting for you to fill them up with spirits that could possibly get you into trouble. The green one on the left was designed by Thor for Tiki Iniki and produced by Tiki Farm in 2017. I snagged the last one.
This tiki mug is of the Tiki Iniki logo in 3D.
If I remember correctly, the spiritual Iniki funk blended at 143 mph then poured into various tiki mugs have caused my memory to lapse. Now that memory serves me right this mug was designed by Doug Horne.
If you know his style, the menu’s were also designed by Doug Horne.
After all was served and drank, the staff was friendly, attentive and we had a good time. We didn’t indulge in any of the cuisine as we had made a pit stop at another tiki bar on the way to Princeville. Even though we didn’t order any food a quick browse from the menu and Tripadvisor restaurant review address listed at the top of this blog will have you salivating. In true ohana style, Iniki purchases as much of the food for it’s menu locally. The next time we visit the garden island, which will be back sooner than the next hurricane, we will be sure to experience the Hawaiian influenced menu.
Mahalo
Tiki Republic 