Ernie Menehune
with Mr. & Mrs. cheeky half
An exciting opportunity: Ernie Menehune will be performing on Sunday, August 13 at the Kon Tiki Lounge in Tucson, from 5-7 p.m.
Ernie Menehune is the “Suntanned Hawaiian Irishman,” he was born and raised in Hawaii until he moved to the Mainland at the age of 25, in 1952. He initially settled in Los Angeles, but soon moved to the warmer climate of Arizona, where he eventually began singing there in nightclubs, and eventually developed his own Polynesian revue. He performed in a circuit that included Las Vegas, the Latitude 20 in Torrance, and multiple clubs in Arizona, and he was on the same bill as acts like Esquivel, Frank Sinatra, Harry Belafonte, Buddy Hackett (now THAT’s a show!), and Tom Jones. He and his troupe, which included his wife Beverly and her twin sister, performed thorughout the ’60s and ’70s, and stopped touring in the mid-’80s as their child entered kindergarten.
In recent years, Ernie Menehune had been performing at Ye Old Lantern in Tucson, until it closed a few months ago. Ernie has hosted the occasional luau at his home ranch, Menehune Village, just outside of Tucson. Now comes word that he will be performing at the Kon Tiki Lounge in Tucson, which will hopefully become a monthly engagement. The Kon Tiki Lounge is one of the best-preserved examples of midcentury Polynesian Pop, and is worth going out of your way to check out; a performance by Ernie Menehune (who by all accounts is simply a marvelous and warm fellow) makes it something truly not to be missed.
Seating will be limited, call (520) 323-7193 to make reservations.
- Kon Tiki Tuc. Az.-Ernie Menehune Dinner Show Aug. 13th RSVP now!!! [Tiki Central]
- Kon Tiki Lounge, Tucson [Critiki]
- Ernie Menehune (img heavy) [Tiki Central]
- Aloha Again, Naturally [Phoenix New Times]
August 18th, 2007 at 10:13 pm
I remember going to see Ernie Menehune when I was like 6 years old with my mom, sister and brother and man were those some really good times!
We used to drink our Shirley Temples and Roy Rogers drinks and were in absolute awe of Ernie, Beverly and all the performers. We were up late, way past our bedtime, but man, could they put on quite a show!
My dad and mom made friends with him and I hear he is quite a character even still. My dad was over with Ernie the other day and I happened to be calling him long distance, Ernie started singing in the background, had me really cracking up!
I wish I could go see another performance, but I am out of state.
I wish I could see one of his performances again, and…..
Thanks….Ernie…….”For the good times”
~Laura~