The Tiki Room

Hawaiian Tiki Statues

Today, most people are familiar with tiki statues and masks from a tiki bar or a tropical-themed resort. Tiki statues have become synonymous with a certain type of tropical ambience which became popular in the 1930s. The tiki craze lasted well into the 1960s, and even today there are tiki restaurants around the country. Today, tiki decor can be found nearly anywhere, including public buildings as well as private homes. Do you ever stop to think about where this unique style comes from?

As it turns out, the story behind tiki statues is long and complicated. Though America first caught onto the craze in the twentieth century, worldwide the history of tiki dates back thousands of years.This rich history includes elements of many distinct cultures from around the world. The ancient mythology of the tiki originates in stories from the native peoples of New Zealand, Hawaii, and Polynesia.

According to the legends of the Polynesian islands, Tiki was the first man, somewhat equivalent to Adam in Christian theology. It is thought that the idea originated in the Marquesas Islands before spreading elsewhere in the South Pacific. In this ancient culture, the word ‘tiki’ is also used to describe the spirit of a god or ancestor contained in a sculpture. The sculpture, which may be wooden or stone, is carved in their image. In Polynesia, tiki statues have been found dating back at least 3,500 years. This custom resulted in the popularity of tiki statues that today can be seen all over the world.

The story of tiki is perhaps best known from the mythology of Hawaii. In the ancient Hawaiian belief system, there are four major tiki gods and dozens of minor ones. Each has their own story and a particular likeness represented in tiki statues and masks. The four major tiki gods of Hawaii are Ku (the god of war), Lono (fertility and peace), Kane (light and life), and Kanaloa (the sea).

The mythology of the tiki is also tied to the moai statues on Easter Island. These enormous stone statues look much like the smaller counterparts found elsewhere in Polynesia, and are carved to resemble large human faces with oversized features. The moai are believed to represent ancestral spirits, although little is known of the ancient culture on Easter Island.

In New Zealand, Tiki refers not to the first man, but the god who created the first man. In New Zealand, statues are carved to represent gods and to house the gods’ spirits. The native peoples of New Zealand, known as Maori, wear hei-tiki pendants carved in the shape of a human figure. These pendants have a similar style to the tiki statues of Polynesia, and are worn as a type of good luck charm. Hei-tiki are a central part of Maori culture, and carry deep symbolic value.

Tikis are still a major part of the culture in many island locales. Today, because of the midcentury tiki craze, tiki statues can be found all over the world. In Polynesia, there are artists and sculptors who draw their inspiration from the tradition of tiki statue carving. In the United States, ‘tiki’ has become a blend of all of these ancient cultural forms.

The first tiki bars began to crop up in the years before World War II. After the War, the thousands of soldiers returning from the Pacific caused a tiki fad that would last well into the 1960s. The tiki bar is known for its tropical atmosphere, instantly transporting guests to a sandy beach as they sip on a fruity cocktail in a bamboo hut. Over the years, countless tiki bars have come and gone. Here is a countdown of the top 8 most famous tiki bars of all time:

8.) Kowloon of Saugus, MA is one of the largest tiki-themed restaurants in the country. The entrance is guarded by a 15-foot-tall carved tiki statue. Inside, you’ll find a room comprised of half a shooner, a volcano in motion, and a huge fountain. Each booth is built to resemble a tiki hut, and tiki masks adorn the walls, which are made of bamboo.

7.) Hala Kahiki in River Grove, IL. This dimly lit restaurant is known for its huge collection of tiki memorabilia. The kitschy gift shop accompanying the bar carries everything from tiki statues to shot glasses.

6.) Mai-Kai, a recreated Polynesian Village in Fort Lauderdale, FL, opened in 1956 complete with tiki torches and a thatched roof. The bar features over 50 specialty drinks. In addition to the cocktails, patrons enjoy the Islanders Revue, a show performed twice each night by Polynesian dancers.

5.) Forbidden Island in Alameda, CA. One of the most authentic-looking tiki bars still in operation, you will immediately get the feeling that you’re back in the tiki fad of the ’50s or ’60s, with this bar’s blowfish lamps, waterfall, and bamboo bars. Though it is a relatively new establishment, Forbidden Island has been recognized by tiki aficionados as providing one of the most authentically 1950′s tiki experiences.

4.) The Tonga Room in the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, CA. The Tonga Room was built around a swimming pool. This restaurant is said to have been one of Jimmy Buffet’s inspirations. The Tonga Room features a musical boat in the middle of the pool, tiki huts to transform the space into an island in the South Pacific, and an exotic menu reflecting Polynesian and Asian influences.

3.) Tiki-Ti, on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, opened in 1961. The founder, drink mixer Ray Buhen, has been credited with the invention of an impressive list of concoctions. Tiki-Ti is known for its huge array of tiki-themed cocktails. Today, Tiki-Ti remains a family-run bar, and patrons will find the son and grandson of the founder still mixing exotic tiki cocktails.

2.) Don the Beachcomber comes in a close second on our list. When it opened in 1933 in Los Angeles, it was the first-ever tiki bar. Known for its woven grass wall coverings and bamboo bars, Don the Beachcomber would soon become a popular chain of tiki-themed bars and restaurants. Owner Donn Beach has been credited as one of the founders of the tiki craze.

1.) Trader Vic’s is perhaps the most famous tiki bar of all time. Victor Bergeron, owner of Trader Vic’s, helped popularize the tiki craze in the 1930s and 1940s. Today, Trader Vic’s has locations around the world. The original location in Atlanta, GA is known for its unique tiki decor and drink specials, such as concoctions served in cauldrons or tiki mugs. Trader Vic is said to have invented the Mai Tai, today one of the world’s most popular tropical drinks.

Kon-Tiki

Since the very beginning of the tiki craze in the 1930s, tiki-related themes have figured prominently in dozens of popular movies. One of the earliest movies to feature a tiki theme was Hei Tiki, shot in 1935. A classic movie still popular among tiki aficionados, Hei Tiki features a mysterious neck pendant said to be a love charm. The hei tiki originates with the Maori of New Zealand, and is believed to be related to the tiki statues found in Polynesia.

Another well-known movie from this era is “Kon-Tiki.” This Norwegian documentary traces the Kon-Tiki expedition of Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl. In 1947, he journeyed from South America to Polynesia on a wooden raft to prove the theory that the islands could have been populated from the east, rather than from the west, as had been assumed. The movie received an Academy Award in 1951. To the present day, it is the only feature film from Norway to win an Academy Award.

Perhaps the most well-known movie to come out of the tiki craze is “Blue Hawaii.” Set in Hawaii, this musical film featured Elvis Presley. His most successful film, the plot featured a soldier returning to Hawaii, mirroring the experiences of thousands of young men who returned home following World War II with souveniers of the Pacific that would spark the tiki craze. The soundtrack to the movie topped the charts in its own right, with Hawaiian-influenced tunes like “Rock-a-Hula Baby” and “Ku-u-ipo” featuring the ukulele and other traditional Hawaiian sounds.

By the 1961 debut of “Blue Hawaii”, the tiki fad was in full swing on the mainland. Shot on location, mainly in Waikiki, this movie dramatically increased the popularity of the island paradise of Hawaii. Both “Blue Hawaii” and his later Hawaiian movie “Girl Happy” also feature scenes in tiki bars.

“Blue Hawaii” wasn’t the only tiki movie of the decade. 1963′s “Under the Yum-Yum Tree” featured Jack Lemmon as a bachelor whose apartment was filled with iconic tiki sculptures and Africana. His swanky bachelor pad is a classic example of tiki decorating from the 1950s and 1960s, or the height of the tiki craze.

Many movies coming out of this era featured scenes in tiki bars, which started popping up all over the country in the 1930s, and remained wildly popular well into the 1960s. The original “Oceans 11,” for example, features a scene with a tiki mask, and one of the characters asks “Remember those rum drinks we used to have at the Trader’s?” in reference to the Trader Vic’s chain of tiki restaurants. As for newer films featuring tiki, take a look at “Goodfellas,” released in 1990. This movie features a scene with Joe Pesci in a tiki bar named The Bamboo Lounge. Unfortunately, a few scenes later the tiki lounge is torched.

Whether you are a tiki aficionado or want to get a little inspiration for decorating your own tiki lounge, these popular tiki-themed movies are worth a watch! Grab a few friends, make some mai tais, and enjoy a tiki movie night.