Today we chat with Randy Avon and Nani Maka! To listen, click here:
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/polynesianpop/episodes/2019-06-24T16_47_41-07_00
Hosted by Tim "Swanky" Glazner, author of Mai Kai: History and Mystery of the Iconic Tiki Restaurant, we recorded this episode from The Hukilau in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For this session we are joined by Randy Avon, son of Pualani Mossman, the "Face of Hawaii" in the 1930's who modeled for Matson's Navigation Company, starred in "Song of the Islands" and was the inspiration for the song "Lovely Hula Hands." And joining us on this episode is Nani Maka, one of the Mai Kai's original Mystery Girls, the lead dancer at Yankee Clipper's Polynesian Room, star of "Pagan Island" and model for Bunny Yeager. Hear their iconic and historic stories of the early days of the Mai Kai, Hawaii and the height of the Hapa Haole era including the time that Randy witnessed Elvis Presley being taught how to sing the Hawaiian Wedding Song for the movie Blue Hawaii! More about Randy Avon and Pualani Mossman Avon here: http://www.maikaihistory.com/2016/08/07/randy-avon-the-mossman-family/ http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/May/09/ln/FP605090353.html More about Nani Maka here: http://www.maikaihistory.com/2016/08/07/nani-maka-tropical-maiden/ Get your copy of Tim Glazner's book about the Mai Kai here: https://www.amazon.com/Mai-Kai-History-Mystery-Iconic-Restaurant/dp/0764351265/ To listen to previous episodes, click here: http://polynesianpop.podomatic.com