Polynesia Apartments
Canoga Park, CA
Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo

A tiki warrior gets plenty of wall space at the Polynesia Apartments in Canoga Park. Check out the large image on the facade, giving the building a face that’s hard to overlook. The script lettering adds another familiar touch from the days when an apartment’s name deserved something more interesting than a plain rectangular sign.

The entrance originally carried the theme a little farther, with patterned beams forming a decorative canopy. No towering A-frame needed here. Between the overhead designs and the warrior watching the street, the Polynesia had its own way of attracting a second look. Even the entrance beams got dressed for the occasion.

Polynesia Apartments
Canoga Park, CA
Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo

The combination of lettering, artwork, and patterned trim gave this Valley apartment stop quite a personality. The warrior took care of the big introduction, while the smaller details rewarded a closer look. Apparently a street number alone wasn’t going to do the job at this address.

UPDATE: The Polynesia continues as an apartment community on Variel Avenue. Historical accounts document the removal of the decorated entrance beams, while the large tiki image survived those changes. Some of the original tropical trimmings have disappeared, but that memorable face still connects the building to the Valley’s tiki apartment era. 10-26

Tiki Apartments
Redondo Beach, CA
Photo courtesy Scott Broadhurst

A tiki mask and some eye-catching lettering give the Tiki Apartments in Redondo Beach a proper introduction. Check out the script name on the wall, where a few sweeping letters do quite a bit of decorating. Appropriately called the Tiki, this apartment building makes its theme easy enough to figure out from the street. 11-10

There’s more to admire around the entrance, where wooden tikis add a few more faces to the gathering. Their carved expressions give visitors something to inspect on the way toward the apartments. Quite a collection of characters to welcome residents home, and none looks particularly interested in helping carry the groceries.

Tiki Apartments
Redondo Beach, CA
Photo courtesy Scott Broadhurst

The colorful tile accents give the facade another bit of sparkle. Along with the lettering and carvings, they show how much personality could be worked into an otherwise familiar apartment layout. Take a closer look at the details before heading down the road. This South Bay find has more going for it than a tropical name.

UPDATE: Built in 1959, the Tiki continues as an apartment community on Palos Verdes Boulevard. Tiki enthusiasts document its distinctive script sign and carvings around the frontage and pool courtyard. The combination keeps this longtime apartment stop on the tiki trail, with plenty to admire before ever reaching an apartment door. 10-26