Tiki’s Grill & Bar was started by three friends from the University of Hawaii, who wanted to open a restaurant where they could hang out and bring their friends and family. The owners still live in Hawaii and spend most of their waking hours in or near the restaurant.

Tiki’s is committed to an industry-leading green partnership program, and is proactively working to reduce their impact on the environment through various initiatives, such as using local, sustainable ingredients whenever possible, donating excess food to Aloha Harvest and offering corn-based, biodegradable take-out containers. These efforts to minimize the restaurant’s footprint on the planet are a key component of Tiki's operating philosophy.