EXOTICA HISTORY TOUR |
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EXOTICA HISTORY TOUR is your essential guide to the venues of Exotica music that still exist within the Waikiki resort on the Hawaiian island of O’ahu. Exotica was developed as a music style that combined pseudo-Polynesian rhythms with referential instrumentation from the Hawaiian and Pacific Islands. This blended elements from environmental sounds, jazz arrangements, and romantic themes from famous films. Les Baxter, Martin Denny, and Arthur Lyman were true innovators and pioneers of Exotica music that was primarily produced during the nineteen-fifties and sixties. Waikiki has plenty of live lounges and hotel bars where musicians performed the cultural hybrid music that became known as Exotica. Legendary locations like The Shell Bar and Surf Room provided intimate venues where these musicians could experiment with Exotica music. Some still exist today and are awaiting to be discovered whenever you visit Waikiki. Most of the wonderful locations listed here are within walking distance along the Waikiki waterfront. Please view the map below and have fun exploring the exciting venues on our Exotica History Tour. |
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Location |
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This location listing covers the existing bars, lounges, and restaurants in Waikiki that have a special significance to Exotica music.
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The
Shell Bar Hilton Hawaiian Village, 2005 Kalia Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815 U.S.A.1-808-949-4321 https://www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com/ |
The Shell Bar at Hilton Hawaiian Village is the official birthplace of Exotica music. The Martin Denny Group were inspired by the natural sounds coming from bullfrogs near their outside pond. This exotic milieu provided the perfect backdrop to enhance and encourage their exciting music. Hilton Hawaiian Village now also provides contemporary Hawaiian music performed at Paradise Lounge, Tapa Bar, and Tropics Bar.
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Lewers Lounge
Halekulani Hotel, 2199 Kalia Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815-1988 U.S.A.1-808-923-2311 https://www.halekulani.com/ |
Lewers Lounge at Halekulani Hotel is an intimate club setting with live music nightly from resident musicians performing a variety of classical and contemporary jazz stylings. Lewers Lounge has a swanky cocktail bar atmosphere with smart resort wear as recommended attire. They request no t-shirts, shorts, or sandles. Halekulani Hotel is actually where Arthur Lyman got his start before joining the Martin Denny Group.
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Surf
Room Royal Hawaiian Hotel, 2259 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815 U.S.A.1-808-923-7311 https://www.royal-hawaiian.com/ |
Surf Room at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel is where many musicians performed Exotica music throughout the nineteen fifties and beyond. This oceanfront restaurant has a beautiful view of Waikiki Bay, and serves stylish fine-food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Alternatives include the Beachfront Café, perfect for light lunches and casual afternoon snacks just near the sundeck pool at the remarkable Royal Hawaiian Hotel.
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International
Market Place 2330 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815-4016 U.S.A.1-808-971-2080 https://www.internationalmarket placewaikiki.com/ |
International Market Place at Kalakaua Street was the former location of the legendary venues where Martin Denny got his start in Waikiki. These lost locations are The Dagger Bar, Don The Beachcomber’s, and Trader Vic’s, who all hosted performances from Exotica musicians. The original Tiki furniture and interior decor from these forgotten places was purchased and relocated to La Mariana Sailing Club.
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Waikiki
Elk’s Club Honolulu Lodge No. 616 BPOE, 2933 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815-4643 U.S.A.1-808-923-5722 https://www.elks616.org/ |
Waikiki Elk’s Club (aka Honolulu Lodge No. 616) is the location for a fraternal, charitable, and patriotic non-profit organization managed by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (B.P.O.E). Martin Denny was an Elk member and had his memorial service at the Waikiki Elk’s Club on March 12, 2005. Attendies were encouraged to arrive in aloha attire wearing something red. The ceremony was a celebration of the life of Martin Denny.
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La
Mariana Sailing Club 50 Sand Island Access Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815 U.S.A.1-808-848-2800 https://www.khnl.com/Global/ story.asp?S=1085992 |
La Mariana Sailing Club is Honolulu’s last true Tiki Bar. This treasured restaurant bar is hidden down a gravely road along the waterfront of the Keehi Lagoon. The best way of getting there is to travel forty-five minutes on the No. 19 Bus, get off at Sand Island Access Road, and walk down past the industrial park for fifteen minutes. You will see the sailing club sign on your right, and this remote oasis is highly recommended.
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Map |
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This map displays five venues that can be easily walked during an afternoon along the Waikiki waterfront.
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Photographs |
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These photographs were taken at various venues on our Exotica History Tour. Click on select images for a preview of that location:
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   Hilton Hawaiian Village & The Shell Bar. |
  Halekulani Hotel & Lewers Lounge. |
  International Market Place & Novelty Surfboard. |
 The Shell Bar. |
 Surf Room. |
 Surf Room. |
  Surf Room & Waikiki Elk’s Club. |
  La Mariana Sailing Club. |
  La Mariana Sailing Club. |
 La Mariana Sailing Club: Bar Lounge. |
 La Mariana Sailing Club: Papeete Lounge. |
 La Mariana Sailing Club: Lanai Lounge. |
Surfboard |
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Have you discovered the novelty surfboard in the International Market Place?
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 Justin St. Vincent, Xtreme Music |
 Dora, BungleToFantomas.com |
 Nadia, Dora’s friend |
References |
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This special feature was developed with kind support from Kevin Crossman at Kevdo.com, who developed the original Exotica History Tour in Waikiki 1999. Also many thanks to Yahoo! Maps and these helpful websites that assisted our music research:Exotica History Tour – Waikiki 1999: https://www.kevdo.com/exotica/waikiki.html Exotica! The Music Of Martin Denny: https://www.shellac.org/exotica/ LesBaxter.com: https://www.lesbaxter.com/ SpaceAgePop.com – Exotica: https://www.spaceagepop.com/whatis.htm#exotica SpaceAgePop.com – Martin Denny: https://www.spaceagepop.com/denny.htm The Many Moods Of Arthur Lyman: https://www.arthurlyman.com/ The Temple Of Martin Denny: https://www.chaoskitty.com/t_chaos/denny.html The Ultimate Martin Denny Interview By Dana Countryman: https://www.danacountryman.com/Denny/Denny1.html Vegas Vic’s Tiki Lounge: https://www.vegasvics.com/Additional Photo Credit: Justin St. Vincent
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