Mai Kai Owners

Bob Thornton

There in the background is the image of Robert Thornton, the man who was the sole owner of the Mai Kai for a long time. His spirit still guides the current owners.

Swanky, Dave Levy and Kiliki

This is Dave Levy. He is one of the 3 owners of the Mai Kai. We got to meet him on Tuesday when we arrived. Unfortunately he was leaving on a fishing trip to one of the Keys that he had been planning for a long time and did not get to experience Hukilau. But he is a big fan of what we were doing. We talked with him for a long time and he told us great stories of his time on the island and playing in a band there instead of studying in school. Then one day while he was on stage he saw Bob Thornton (his Dad) standing there and he knew it was time to go back to Florida! He gave us great detail about the food. How this meat comes from this country because it's no good from that country anymore, etc. He told us of the great expense they go to to keep the dances correct. Mrs. Thornton will decide to do a certain dance that is pre-hula and taught in Rarotanga. So she flies there and goes to a master and they pray to the gods for permission to teach and perform this dance. If the gods say 'yes', they can do it. And she learns and we see it at the Mai Kai. Very expensive, but it must be done this way. The costumes he says, are all real. The grass skirts, the ornaments, everything is real. It is expensive, but the details matter. A great guy. We wish we could have spent more time with him.

Mrs. Mirielle Thornton

Mrs. Thornton was a dancer at the Mai Kai, and Bob Thornton fired her for not being in good enough shape. She wrapped herself in plastic and ran on the beach and got back in shape and on board at the Mai Kai. She also became Bob's wife. She took over the choreography, costumes and music at the Mai Kai a long time ago and does it to this day. She believes very strongly in the island traditions. She learns her dances from the few masters in the Polynesian world, and brings them to us at the Mai Kai. The show is new every year. She is a very truly vibrant and alive and beautiful person.

Kulani Gelardi

Kulani is the third owner of the Mai Kai, and Mirielle's daughter. She is much more of a behind the scenes person, and handles much of the accounting for the business.