1. Bali Ha'i (also: Bali Hai)

Name of a fictional island featured in the short story 'Fo' Dolla'', from James Michener book Tales of the South Pacific, and popularized in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific.

In both the book and musical, Bali Ha'i is a mysterious, mountainous tropical island. However, Bali Ha'i is not just an island, it is an ideal of the a tropical paradise. In South Pacific, Bloody Mary says that Bali Ha'i is emblematic of that special island that we are all looking for, which is our own paradise.

According to his autobiography, Michener came across the name during World War Two. Michener was looking for Japanese troops on Mono Island in the Solomons. He entered a small, impoverished village with a handful of residents and a single pig. Written on a cardboard sign attached to a tree was the word 'Bali-ha'i'. Michener wrote down the name because he liked the sound of it.

2. Bali Ha'i

Name of a song for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific.

The song was written by Richard Rodgers as the score for the the production, while a variation with lyrics was sung by the character Bloody Mary.

3. Bali Hai

Name of a restaurant in San Diego, California.

The Bali Hai was originally named 'The Hut', and opened in 1953 as a subsidiary of Christian's Hut of Newport Beach, California. The Hut was renamed Bali Hai in 1955 when it was purchased by Tom Ham.

The Bali Hai is one of a cluster of Tiki-oriented facilities built on Shelter Island. The main dining area of the Bali Hai is an unusual two-level, circular structure that has stunning views of San Diego Bay. The northern end of the building has a more traditional A-framed roof.

During the heyday of Tiki, the Bali Hai hosted a live lounge show featuring Arthur Lyman. Renovations over the years have stripped the Bali Hai of much of the Polynesian trappings, although the restaurant recently stated "[T]he Bali Hai is making changes to accommodate a new generation of Tiki lovers, and to provide people with a great restaurant / meeting place / watering hole wherein they can reminisce about the bygone Tiki era and discuss the future of Tiki things to come!"

Two distinct icons may be found at the Bali Hai. The first is The Goof, the bust of an odd-looking character that is located atop the circular section of the restaurant. The other icon is Mr. Bali Hai. Mr. Bali Hai is a wooden headhunter-like figure located at the front entrance of the facility. This figure was recently restored to its original appearance by Tiki conservationists. The image of Mr. Bali Hai was lent to a unique tiki mug with a lid. Original versions of the mug are popular pieces in tiki mug collections, and Tiki Farm manufactures modern replicas.


Updated June 28, 2004