The Great American Tiki Culture

In Maori and Marquesan culture "Tiki" refers to the first man, creator of first man or God of the artists. According to Central Eastern Polynesian Culture "Tiki" denotes large wood human-like carvings. However, In the United States of America "Tiki" is most often associated with this latter definition of wooden human-like carvings. "Tiki Culture" or the "Tiki Movement", is 20th century eclectic, decorative style largely derived from and influenced by Polynesian, Asian and other "Exotic" non-western cultures. This style does indeed derive it's name from a Tiki carving and or Tiki the first man.


19th Centruay Maori Tiki Carvings - Image via wikicommons

The roots of the American "Tiki Culture" design aesthetic can be traced back to writings of explorer Captain James Cook's describing his visits to the South Seas. He found uncorrupted (by westerners), scantily clad natives such as Hula Girls existing and thriving in a virtual paradise. These writings, as well as other visits and tall tales of the far East provided the initial framework in which an idealized, exotic and romantic picture of Polynesia began to emerge in the minds of Westerners and Americans in particular. The awareness of the exotic and idealized South Seas , "Tiki Culture" and the Hawaiian styled music craze in particular grew in the United States during the annexation of Hawaii in 1898 and continued to grow through the early 1900's into the 1920's.


Zombie Village Oakland Menu - Image Via http://blog.humuhumu.com

These developments all formed the base from which "Tiki" design would come to thrive in America. Restaurants and bars especially in trendy Hollywood, began to incorporate Polynesian themed elements into their design. A plethora of cane furniture, shrunken heads, thatched wall treatments, colorful exotic flowers, fake palm trees, paintings, spears, torches and of course the obligatory wooden Tiki carvings began to appear throughout California bars and restaurants.


Bali Hai Restaurant in New Orleans circa 1950's - Image via Wikicommons

In post prohibition America Cailfornia, Don The Beachcombers was founded by Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt in 1934. Mr. Gantt's had a talent for concocting Mr. Gantt was born in Texas and in the 1920's spent time traveling around the world, including islands of the South Pacific and Carribean. Mr. Gantt, Don The Beachcomber's propreitor had a tremendous talent for inventing rum drinks. Don the Beachcomber's served beautifully presented drinks in fresh fruit or zombie styled mugs with paper umbrellas, such as the Mai Tai, Tahitian Rum Punch, the Zombie and the Navy Grog. Many of these drinks were first concocted by Mr. Gantt personally.


Tiki Drinks - Zombie

These exotic themed drinks were oddly complimented at Don the Beachcomber's tables with typical Chinese Cantonese dishes such as sweet and sour chicken, egg rolls and Lo mien as well as some Americanized Polynesian cuisine. Don the Beachcomber's is purported to have served the first Pu Pu platter as well. Don the Beachcomber's was decorated to the hilt with Polynesian themed items such as nets, wrecked boats, cane furniture, and other tropical nicknacks.These establishment featured a unique atmosphere based on "Exotic" asisan culture. The design objects, interior finishes, food and drinks, although historically and culturally inaccurate are nonetheless Americanized versions of Polynesian and Asian culture. The design aesthetic and cuisine of "Tiki Culture" remains, uniquely American, beautiful and fun.


Don The Beachcomber's Interior - Image via www.petergreenberg.com

The mix of Chinese cuisine, Polynesian themed drinks and a tropical atmosphere were a hit. Several other Tiki Bar restaurants sprung up including the famous Trader Vic's. Both Trader Vic's and Don the Beachcomber's flourished in post World War II suburban America catering to returning war veterans, many of whom had seen action in the tropical island's of the Pacific Theatre. Both restaurants expanded into nationwide chains, fed in part by the thriving post World War II American economy and a generation of escapist minded Americans clad in Hawaiian shirts. "Tiki Culture" sprawled from restaurants and bars into Casinos, Hotels, Homes and of course poolside. The movement reached an apex in the late 1950's and early 1960's as Hawaii was admitted as a State to the Union.


Tiki Cuisine - Pupu Platter

As all good things must come to end, the popularity of "Tiki Culture" waned in the 1960's and was out of style by the 1970's. The "Tiki Culture" became old and tired. Many of the great Tiki establishments closed and American's tore down their backyard Tiki huts and hung their Hawaiian shirts in the closet for good. In the 1990's a "Tiki Culture" revival began in America as people became nostalgic for all thing Polynesian. "Tiki Culture" is underway ans still going strong, spearheaded by Sven A. Kirsten's wonderful book The Book of Tiki and a new generation of Americans discovering and rediscovering the exotic "Tiki Culture".