Aku Aku Polynesian, Las Vegas, Ladies Cotton Tee

Venue History

The Aku Aku Polynesian Restaurant opened its doors on January 29, 1960, as a bold departure from the standard Strip dining experience—an immersive, tiki-themed dining destination within the Stardust Resort & Casino. From its inception, Aku Aku threw its visitors into a tropical fantasy: the entrance was flanked by massive Moai-style statues carved by noted artist Eli Hedley, signaling a dramatic switch from casino alley to lush, Polynesian escape. Inside, the décor featured thatch-style roofing, faux lava rock, tropical foliage, bamboo detailing and a winding bridge enhanced the destination feel. Visitors entered feeling as though they’d left Las Vegas and stepped onto a South Pacific atoll. The menu at Aku Aku leaned into the exotic: tropical cocktails, seafood dishes, ribs, egg rolls, and the novelty of Polynesian cuisine built for the era’s fascination with Tiki culture. One dated menu lists “Lotus Blossom Dinner – dwarf Japanese shrimp cocktail, breast of young Cantonese duckling … Far Islands mandarins.” Shortly after opening, however, the restaurant encountered a setback—a fire in the attic area just days in that forced a brief closure to address smoke damage. The restaurant reopened several weeks later and continued to draw crowds. Over the next two decades, Aku Aku became a beloved fixture of the Stardust—both as a themed restaurant and as a social hub within a Strip resort known for its showgirls and spectacle. But by 1980, the Polynesian dining wave had peaked, and Aku Aku closed its doors, ending a 20-year run that captured a distinct moment of Las Vegas design and dining ideology. Although the physical space and décor no longer exist, the memory of Aku Aku lives on in vintage menus, Moai sculptures (one remains at Sunset Park in Las Vegas) and the legacy of themed dining on Las Vegas Boulevard. For collectors, enthusiasts of Tiki culture, and those exploring the layered history of Las Vegas resorts, Aku Aku is a memorable example of how mid-century resorts extended their entertainment beyond slots and showrooms into immersive dining escapes.