It’s our Murray family tradition on the last day of a trip to stop by a local place and get sandwiches to go for the plane ride home.
Last Sunday, we followed that tradition as we were heading home from Honolulu, and swung by Sunrise Shack in Ala Moana center for a “superfood” smoothie bowl, bullet coffee made with coconut oil and butter for energy, and a turkey sandwich.
It cost us a bit more to have our ride share driver wait for us while we picked up our to-go order, but we could have recouped that money ten times over by selling those delicious sandwiches to our hungry fellow travelers on the way home.
The Monday after our trip, we decided to extend the vibes of our trip even further by checking out the local branch of Sunrise Shack in Long Beach, which opened in mid-February. thought of a new way to extend it just a little longer and we went to
The Honolulu location of Sunrise Shack. (Photo by Jo Murray).
The Long Beach location of Sunrise Shack. (Photo by Jo Murray).
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The Honolulu location of Sunrise Shack. (Photo by Jo Murray).
Founded by professional surfers Alex, Travis, and Koa Smith (plus Koa Rothman), the brand grew out of the North Shore’s pre-surf fueling ritual: Clean, energy-dense food.
Here’s what Travis Smith, one of Sunrise Shack’s founders, had to say about expanding to Long Beach and doing business here.
Q: Why did you choose Long Beach as the first mainland location for Sunrise Shack?
A: “It came down to timing and opportunity. We had been looking for the right way to bring Sunrise Shack to the mainland, and when the right space opened up in Long Beach, everything lined up. A coastal, beach loving community felt like a natural fit for who we are, so we went for it.”
Q: What is the most popular item among Long Beach customers?:
A: “Our acai bowls have been the runaway favorite, right alongside our specialty coffee. People come for the bowl and end up staying for the whole experience.”
Q: Where do you see the company expanding from here?:
A: “We are growing thoughtfully across Southern California, with more mainland locations on the way. Wherever we go, the mission stays the same: clean, seed oil free food made with real ingredients, served with genuine aloha.”
Sunrise Shack is located at 4501 E. Carson St. and is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Tiki cruise
While in Hawaii, I also visited Crown and Skull — which is effectively Honolulu’s version of Long Beach’s Midnight Oil.
Here in Long Beach, we have wonderful tiki bars like Bamboo Club on Anaheim Street and Secret Island in downtown. And just this month, Long Beach added a new floating tiki bar to its rotation.
Tiki Fun Boats recently opened in Long Beach. (Photo courtesy of Ryan Ondeck).
Tiki Fun Boats recently opened in Long Beach. (Photo courtesy of Ryan Ondeck).
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Tiki Fun Boats recently opened in Long Beach. (Photo courtesy of Ryan Ondeck).
Tiki Fun Boats is a small, open-air tiki bar cruise that blends tropical décor, harbor views, and casual party energy. The photogenic charter offers a “mini-Polynesian getaway” experience without ever leaving the marina.
Here’s what Ryan Ondeck, the business’ owner, had to say about expanding to Long Beach.
Q: How did you get into the tiki boat business?
A: “I got into the tiki business three years ago when I bought the business, which was originally based out of Newport Beach, from the original owner. He was retiring from the business and I was one of his captains at the time, and we were able to work out a deal for me to buy the business. Since then we have been growing in popularity in Newport Beach and are excited to be expanding into Long Beach as well.”
Q: Tell me more about your background in marine industry
A: “I have been a captain for about six years now and have worked for various boat charter companies driving many different types of boats. I got my captain’s license while I was going to school at Cal State Long Beach. Being a captain was originally just supposed to be a fun weekend job, but luckily I was able to turn it into a full-time career and business.”
Q: How do people book a cruise? What are the costs?
A: “People can book our tiki cruises on our website. Prices start at $350 for a private two-hour cruise for a group of six people. We create the perfect relaxing and hassle-free boat rental experience on our tiki boat.
Each cruise comes with a licensed captain to drive the boat for you and show you all the best sights there are to see in Long Beach. All you need to do is show up with your favorite food and drinks and step aboard!”
Q: How is it doing business in Long Beach?
A: “We just opened at the beginning of July and doing business in Long Beach is great. It is a city that has so much to do and see, especially on the water. The atmosphere of the Long Beach coastline could not be a more perfect place to relax on a tiki cruise. Long Beach is the city that I grew up in and I am happy to be contributing to the marine and tourism economy of the city with my business.”
To learn more, check out Tiki Fun’s website at tikiboatlongbeach.com.
Tiki movie
Alex Lamb, one of the two filmmakers behind “The Donn of Tiki” and a Long Beach native, will be back in town in September for a screening of his film in Seal Beach. He is part of Surf Monkey Films, the production team behind the movie, and he appears throughout the film’s credits as director, writer, editor, and producer.
Alex Lamb, the visionary behind documentary film “The Donn of Tiki,” sets up for an interview. (Photo courtesy of Alex Lamb).
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Alex Lamb, the visionary behind documentary film “The Donn of Tiki,” sets up for an interview. (Photo courtesy of Alex Lamb).
Seal Beach’s Bay Theatre will host an event on Sunday, Sept. 13, featuring a screening of “The Donn of Tiki,” alongside a performance by the Tikiyaki Orchestra, and a Q&A with the filmmakers.
The event starts at 4 p.m. and general admission tickets start at about $40.
For tickets, go to thedonnoftiki.com/sealbeach.
Beer at Gelson’s
Gelson’s will be celebrating its 75th anniversary with a special deal for customers.
The Long Beach store located at Pacific Coast Highway and Second will be serving pints of Figueroa Mountain Mexican Lager for just 75 cents every Thursday from 5 p.m. to close. While those cheap pints are limited to just two per guest, the deal will continue every Thursday through Sept. 1.