It was located at 6200 Gulf Blvd, St. Petersburg Beach, Florida.[1] The Hawaiian Inn was born in 1974. Prior to that, for the last 18 years, it was known as The Desert Resort. With the new management headed by Frank Cannova, the previous Western theme and name was replaced by a Polynesian one. The management corp, Hawaiian Inns of Florida Inc., had Cannova as major stock holder. Its vice-president and investor was Michael R. Triolo. The umbrella org of Hawaiian Inns of Florida Inc. was First-America Development Corp., Hollywood which owned also the Aquatarium.[2]
In November 1978, the inn suffered heavy damage due to a fire. In February 1979, Cannova sold the inn for around $2 million to Resort Inns of America which already owned a number of inns in the area.[3]
The Kon Tiki Supper ClubEdit
In 1975, Monday night would be family night at the Kon Tiki and had entertainment aimed at the young. There was also a floor show which had Polynesian acts performing native fire-knife dances and dancing hula girls.[4]
One of the Polynesian dancers at the inn would eventually be known as Marina the Fire-Eating Mermaid a.k.a. MeduSirena.[5]
The Aloha LoungeEdit
The Aloha lounge was located up a curving stairway. Acts would include Elvis impersonator Mr. Fatu, and The Maui Bandsmen.[6] Others would include Lenny Dee. Also Kuki and his Kandy Kompany would perform there.[7]
ActsEdit
Erni Benet
In December 1974, Hawaiian born Erni Benet was leading a trio in the Aloha lounge.[8][9]
Mr Fatu
During the 1970s, a star attraction at the inn was Samoan Elvis impersonator, Mr. Fatu who was referred to as the greatest Elvis impressionist of the day. [10][11] His 1976 album, Mr. Fatu Sings Elvis was recorded live at The Hawaiian Inn.[12] In December 1976, following a vacation, he was back ready to perform at the lounge again on the 5th of that month.[13] In August 1977, he was appearing at the Colonial Inn, backed by a nine-piece band called Coastal Connection.[14]
In November 1978, Johnny Charro, another singer with an Elvis edge and his backing band, The Johnny Charro Review were appearing at the Aloha Lounge having appeared since early October.[15][16]
Lenny Dee
In January 1978, Lenny Dee appeared at the Aloha Lounge, appearing Tuesday through to Saturday, 9:30pm and 11:30pm.[17] For a while Dee held a residency there.[18]
Other acts
One of the other acts to appear there was THE Loris Caines Harmonicon Band.[19]
ChangesEdit
In the March 15, 1979 edition of the Gulf Beach Independent an article stated that there would be thematic changes to the inn and one of the changes was the transformation of a Hawaiian styled beach bar to a German style trader beer garden. There were plans for an oom-pah-pah band as well.[20]
ReferencesEdit
^Tiki Road Trip: A Guide to Tiki Culture in North America By James Teitelbaum Florida Tiki Sites Permanently Closed
^St. Petersburg Times Wednesday September 11, 1974 13-A Business & Finance, Desert Ranch motel getting new look, name By Ron Yogman
^St. Petersburg Independent February 26, 1979 Hawaiian Inn Reported Sold
^The Ledger Tuesday Nov 18, 1975 To Dining and Entertainment, Hawaiian Inn: Exciting Resort in St. Pete Beach
^NBC 6 South Florida Mar 29, 2010 NiteTalk: MeduSirena Is Much More Than a Fire-Eating Mermaid by John Hood
^The Ledger Tuesday Nov 18, 1975 To Dining and Entertainment, Hawaiian Inn: Exciting Resort in St. Pete Beach
^The Evening Independent July 17, 1978 He's Dee-Lightful
^St. Petersberg Independent Monday, August 2, 1971 8-A Pete Tragos presents .. Erni Benet
^St. Petersburg Times Wednesday, December 4, 1974 Night Scene Hawaiian Inn Sets New Style On Beach
^Theorizing Self in Samoa: Emotions, Genders, and Sexualities By Jeannette Marie Mageo Page 40
^The Ledger Tuesday Nov 18, 1975 To Dining and Entertainment, Hawaiian Inn: Exciting Resort in St. Pete Beach
^The evening Independent Dec 1, 1976 8-B Entertainment
^The Evening Independent August 19, 1977 5-B Mr. Fatu And The Coastal Connection At Colonial Inn
^Gulf Beach Independent Thursday, October 5, 1978 Page 5 Entertainment, Masked In The Cloak Of Elvis - Dan Harris
^St. Petersburg Independent Thursday November 2, 1978 10-B
^St. Petersburg Times January 27, 1978 11-D Two Great Nite Club Shows In One Great Place!
^The Evening Independent July 17, 1978 He's Dee-Lightful
^The evening Independent Dec 1, 1976 8-B Entertainment
^Gulf Beach Independent March 15, 1979 Page 5 Hawaiian Inn: From Beach Bar To Beer Garden
External linksEdit
Tiki Central discussion - Hawaiian Inn, St. Petersburg, FL (hotel)
August 29, 2023
hawaiian, located, petersburg, beach, florida, formerlythe, desert, resortindustryhospitalityfounderfrank, cannovakey, peoplefrank, cannova, michael, triolo, contents, background, tiki, supper, club, aloha, lounge, acts, changes, references, external, linksbac. The Hawaiian Inn was an inn located in St Petersburg Beach Florida The Hawaiian InnFormerlyThe Desert ResortIndustryHospitalityFounderFrank S CannovaKey peopleFrank Cannova Michael R Triolo Contents 1 Background 2 The Kon Tiki Supper Club 3 The Aloha Lounge 3 1 Acts 4 Changes 5 References 6 External linksBackground EditIt was located at 6200 Gulf Blvd St Petersburg Beach Florida 1 The Hawaiian Inn was born in 1974 Prior to that for the last 18 years it was known as The Desert Resort With the new management headed by Frank Cannova the previous Western theme and name was replaced by a Polynesian one The management corp Hawaiian Inns of Florida Inc had Cannova as major stock holder Its vice president and investor was Michael R Triolo The umbrella org of Hawaiian Inns of Florida Inc was First America Development Corp Hollywood which owned also the Aquatarium 2 In November 1978 the inn suffered heavy damage due to a fire In February 1979 Cannova sold the inn for around 2 million to Resort Inns of America which already owned a number of inns in the area 3 The Kon Tiki Supper Club EditIn 1975 Monday night would be family night at the Kon Tiki and had entertainment aimed at the young There was also a floor show which had Polynesian acts performing native fire knife dances and dancing hula girls 4 One of the Polynesian dancers at the inn would eventually be known as Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid a k a MeduSirena 5 The Aloha Lounge EditThe Aloha lounge was located up a curving stairway Acts would include Elvis impersonator Mr Fatu and The Maui Bandsmen 6 Others would include Lenny Dee Also Kuki and his Kandy Kompany would perform there 7 Acts Edit Erni BenetIn December 1974 Hawaiian born Erni Benet was leading a trio in the Aloha lounge 8 9 Mr FatuDuring the 1970s a star attraction at the inn was Samoan Elvis impersonator Mr Fatu who was referred to as the greatest Elvis impressionist of the day 10 11 His 1976 album Mr Fatu Sings Elvis was recorded live at The Hawaiian Inn 12 In December 1976 following a vacation he was back ready to perform at the lounge again on the 5th of that month 13 In August 1977 he was appearing at the Colonial Inn backed by a nine piece band called Coastal Connection 14 Johnny CharroIn November 1978 Johnny Charro another singer with an Elvis edge and his backing band The Johnny Charro Review were appearing at the Aloha Lounge having appeared since early October 15 16 Lenny DeeIn January 1978 Lenny Dee appeared at the Aloha Lounge appearing Tuesday through to Saturday 9 30pm and 11 30pm 17 For a while Dee held a residency there 18 Other actsOne of the other acts to appear there was THE Loris Caines Harmonicon Band 19 Changes EditIn the March 15 1979 edition of the Gulf Beach Independent an article stated that there would be thematic changes to the inn and one of the changes was the transformation of a Hawaiian styled beach bar to a German style trader beer garden There were plans for an oom pah pah band as well 20 References Edit Tiki Road Trip A Guide to Tiki Culture in North America By James Teitelbaum Florida Tiki Sites Permanently Closed St Petersburg Times Wednesday September 11 1974 13 A Business amp Finance Desert Ranch motel getting new look name By Ron Yogman St Petersburg Independent February 26 1979 Hawaiian Inn Reported Sold The Ledger Tuesday Nov 18 1975 To Dining and Entertainment Hawaiian Inn Exciting Resort in St Pete Beach NBC 6 South Florida Mar 29 2010 NiteTalk MeduSirena Is Much More Than a Fire Eating Mermaid by John Hood The Ledger Tuesday Nov 18 1975 To Dining and Entertainment Hawaiian Inn Exciting Resort in St Pete Beach The Evening Independent July 17 1978 He s Dee Lightful St Petersberg Independent Monday August 2 1971 8 A Pete Tragos presents Erni Benet St Petersburg Times Wednesday December 4 1974 Night Scene Hawaiian Inn Sets New Style On Beach Theorizing Self in Samoa Emotions Genders and Sexualities By Jeannette Marie Mageo Page 40 The Ledger Tuesday Nov 18 1975 To Dining and Entertainment Hawaiian Inn Exciting Resort in St Pete Beach Discogs Mr Fatu Mr Fatu Sings Elvis The evening Independent Dec 1 1976 8 B Entertainment The Evening Independent August 19 1977 5 B Mr Fatu And The Coastal Connection At Colonial Inn Gulf Beach Independent Thursday October 5 1978 Page 5 Entertainment Masked In The Cloak Of Elvis Dan Harris St Petersburg Independent Thursday November 2 1978 10 B St Petersburg Times January 27 1978 11 D Two Great Nite Club Shows In One Great Place The Evening Independent July 17 1978 He s Dee Lightful The evening Independent Dec 1 1976 8 B Entertainment Gulf Beach Independent March 15 1979 Page 5 Hawaiian Inn From Beach Bar To Beer GardenExternal links EditTiki Central discussion Hawaiian Inn St Petersburg FL hotel Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Hawaiian Inn amp oldid 1144925959, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
