It’s tiki time.
Bringing a mysterious and enchantingly immersive bar to exotic life in Honolulu’s historic ‘hood
Lurking in the depths of Honolulu is Hawaii's newest immersive tiki experience, Skull & Crown Trading Co. Working closely with visionary owners Noa Laporga and Angelina Khan—creators of Oahu’s famous Haunted Plantation attraction—I helped lend my design skills to conjure the enchanting world of a century old Trader and his collection of curiosities and libations. Behind every small detail lies much more than meets the eye in this dazzling array of provisions, oddities and craft cocktails. We were adamant that this escape from the outside world look, feel and act differently than a typical caricature of tiki. Inside you’ll find a unique lair that is inspired by an old world mystique rooted in Honolulu's rich (and very real) Chinatown history and its ports of call.
We created a playful "Skull Island" design that alludes to the fact that everything in the bar may not be exactly as it appears when you peek beneath the surface. The bar's main attraction, the mermaid, was created in LA's Blackbox FX studio by some of the most talented artists in the effects industry: it was sculpted by the great Joey Orosco, molded by the talented Ben Ploughman, and painted by the legendary Tim Gore. She is truly a sight to behold and provided so much underwater inspiration. And while the nighttime brings with it booming thunderstorms and other magical happenings inside the bar, there's another hidden gem out back: an intimate private courtyard with lush greenery, tropical palms, a koi pond and fire pit.
If you look closely inside the bar, you'll notice several versions of these (fake) past logos, perhaps worn through and distressed from the hands of time. We wanted to show a deep feeling of history in a subtle way that nodded respectfully back to generations past but was still evolving into what it could become.
Aloha! The usual suspects are all invited to the party: Mai Tai glassware, classic tiki drinks like the Zombie, rum float Dole Whips, and even some fun themed swizzle sticks. I'm so thankful to be a part of S&C’s history and proud to have worked alongside owners Noa and Angelina to play a small part in bringing such a special place to life.