Vanuatu is an island nation made up of 83 islands in the South Pacific.
Volcano is a rupture in the Earth's crust that allows hot molten rock (lava), ash, and gases to escape. The volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean form a horseshoe pattern around the region referred to as the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Tiki Farm
Tiki Gardens
Trader Vic
Tsunami
Typhoon
Rapa Nui see Easter Island.
Rarotonga
Reef
Sandwich Islands
Scorpion Bowl. During the heyday of the Tiki bar and the lounge scene it was common for Tiki establishments to serve large drinks that were meant to be shared. These were served in bowls with long straws. They were kind of like alcoholic fondue pots. The scorpion was one such drink and the three cornered bowl it was served in was called the 'scorpion bowl'.
Scorpion bowls from the collection of Khan Tiki Mon. On the left Orchids of Hawaii and on the right Otagiri Manufacturing Company.
Shrunken head
Solomon Islands
Stephen Crane
Taboo is a strong social prohibition against words or actions. The word originates from the Tongan word tabu. In the culture of the Tiki lounge patrons were offered the chance to "go native" and / or to violate moral and social "taboos".
Tahiti
Tapa is a Polynesian cloth made from Mulberry bark. Tapa was dyed ( the dye was usually black or rust brown ) with geometrical patterns. The patterns are usually in squares, each of which can contain patterns representing plants and fish. The patterns are repeated. Early Tapa was probably made in strips and hence Tapa can also mean border. Tapa is traditionally given as a gift for important events like weddings and funerals. Tapa is known by a number of local names:
Easter Island - Mahute
Fiji - Masi
Hawaii - Kapa
Samoa - Siapo
Tahiti - Tapa
Tonga - Ngatu
Thor Heyerdahl see Kon Tiki
Tiki, in Polynesian mythology, was the first man. A Tiki is a carved depiction of a Polynesian god. Tiki has come to refer to a style and a way of life that's also referred to as Polynesian Pop. After World War II America had a fascination with Hawaii and the tropical South Seas. This led to the creation of Polynesian themed restaurants. Tiki influenced art, architecture, food and drink, music, and clothing. Very little of this was genuine or authentic. Polynesian Pop and Tiki reached its' peak in the late 50s and early 60s. At this time almost every major city in America had a Polynesian themed restaurant. The drinks were rum based. A margarita is not Tiki. The musical style, pioneered by the likes of Les Baxter, Arthur Lyman, and Martin Denny, was called Exotica. Jimmy Buffett is not Tiki. All across America in the 1950s and 60s average people would put the lounge music on the HiFi and host cocktail parties. Tiki today is in part a retrospective look at adult social life from these days when Tiki was king. Tiki today is celebrated by collecting the relics of the past. These relics include Tiki mugs, swizzles, menus, matchbooks, and other ephemera. Tiki is celebrated by traveling to some of the sites that remain intact or to the ruins that remain from the early days of Tiki. Tiki also refers to the recent resurgence in interest in Tiki. There are new Tiki sites being built. There is new Tiki art being created. And there are musicians that make music in the Exotica style. The loud plastic Tikis from the Party Warehouse and similar party stores are not true Tiki and are in fact the antithesis to true Tikiphiles. Tiki does live on in the home bars built in the basements, the garages, and the backyards of believers across the country. Put on your Hawaiian shirt and take a retreat to one of these magical islands and travel to a little piece of paradise. You can escape from the mundane and from the stress and cares of daily life.
Tiki Bar is a bar with a Tiki in it. A Tiki is a carving in wood or stone that depicts a Polynesian god. More than that a Tiki Bar is a concept. It's a design style that attempts to bring fantasies of an idealised island existence to life. And specifically those imagined islands are in the South Pacific. Carribean island decor is different and not Tiki. A nautically themed bar is also not Tiki but a Tiki Bar can have elements that are nautical. So, what makes a good or great Tiki Bar from a design perspective? First, there should be lots of Tikis. Second, there should be no windows. You're trying to create the fantasy of an alternate reality and so windows that let in reality are really just a distraction. Third, you need Tiki artwork. Your windows to the idealised island existence, the fantasy you're trying to create, are the Tiki artwork. Fourth, you need greenery. You need lots and lots of plastic greenery.
Tiki Central, and specifically the forums at Tiki Central, are a great way to learn more about Tiki and have some fun at the same time. Tiki Central is dedicated to discussions of, appreciation of, celebration of, and preservation of classic Tiki. You can check out Tiki Central by clicking the link below.
Pu Pu platter from the collection of Khan Tiki Mon.
Postcard from the collection of Khan Tiki Mon.
Melanesian refers to a region distinct from Polynesia and Micronesia. This is the region north and northeast of Australia. The region includes Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji.
Micronesian refers to a region in the Pacific Ocean. This is a region distinct from Polynesia. Micronesia is south of the Philippines. Micronesia includes the islands known as Micronesia, as well as Yap, Guam, Wake Island, and the Marshall Islands.
Moai
Monkey Pod is also known as the rain tree. It is a tall canopied tree. Monkey Pod is native to Peru and Brazil but was introduced to Hawaii. Monkey Pod wood is carved into bowls and trays, often in the shape of fish, turtles, shells, etc.
Moorea
Munktiki
A magazine ad for the Matson Line, circa 1958, from the collection of Khan Tiki Mon
Postcard circa 1940s from the collection of Khan Tiki Mon. "Matson Lines Luxury Liner Lurline: length 632 feet - speed 22 knots - gross tonnage 18,500 - accomodates 722 passengers, all in first class. One of the smartest, most beautifully appointed vessels afloat. Completely air-conditioned. Spacious and distinctively designed public rooms and staterooms. The finest in sea-travel luxury. Frequent sailings between San Francisco, Los Angeles and Honolulu."
Paperback book from the collection of Khan Tiki Mon.
Headhunter is someone who is involved in the practice of headhunting. Headhunting is the cultural practice of taking someone's head after killing him. Headhunting happened in Melanesia, Micronesia, Indonesia, and the Philippines prior to British or colonial rule. Human heads were sometimes prepared for display as shrunken heads. This was more often the case in Peru or Ecuador (the Jivaro clan was known for this), than in the South Pacific.
Hukilau was a way the Hawaiians fished. A large group would cast a net from shore and everyone would help pull it in. It was a communal event. Anyone that participated could have some of the fish caught. Hukilau is also the name of an annual Tiki event that takes place at the Mai Kai in Florida.
Hula is a dance that explains or comments on a chant or song. The song or chant is called a mele. Traditional female dancers wore a wrapped skirt and were topless. Traditional male dancers wore a loincloth.
Hurricane is a tropical cyclone. Also known as a typhoon. A hurricane is a storm with high winds and heavy rains. Hurricanes are tropical in location. They start at sea and when they reach land they quickly lose their power. They can be very devastating to coastal regions but lose strength and power with landfall. Inland regions are spared the fury of the winds but can be damaged by flooding from the heavy rains.
A hurricane is also a type of cocktail glassware. Made of glass and shaped like a hurricane lamp these glasses are generally used for frozen or blender drinks.
The hurricane cocktail is believed to have originated in New Orleans in the 1940s. A hurricane is made of rum, lime juice, and passion fruit syrup.
"Hurricane" was a movie from 1937 directed by John Ford and starring Dorothy Lamour. The movie was based on a book by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall. I haven't seen this film. The movie was remade in 1979. The Dino De Laurentiis pic starred Mia Farrow and Jason Robards. This one I did see. In fact I saw it at the movie theater during it's first release. The movie takes place in the 1920s. The new governor of Pago Pago, Jason Robards, and his daughter, Mia Farrow, come to stay on this island in the South Pacific. The daughter falls for the son of a Samoan chieftain. The movie was filmed in Bora Bora. The film has pretty much been universally trashed by the critics. What I remember the most was the sensual dances and the ritual "defloration" of a girl in a ceremony. I was on a date with a girl I had never even kissed yet and so it was kind of awkward and embarassing for me. That's how I remember it.
Indonesia is a nation in Southeast Asia made up of over 17,000 islands. Indonesia includes the provinces of Sumatra, Java, Papua, and the Lesser Sunda Islands (where Bali is located).
James Michener was an author. His writing career began during World War II. He was a naval historian and his assignment in the Solomon Islands led to his first novel "Tales of the South Pacific" for which he won the Pulitzer prize in 1948. The book was the basis for the Broadway and film musical "South Pacific". His interest in Polynesia and the South Pacific led to more books about the islands in the Pacific; "Return to Paradise", "Hawaii", and "Rascals in Paradise". Michener lived for a time in Hawaii and was an active participant in Hawaii's quest for statehood.
Postcard from the collection of Khan Tiki Mon.
My nephew Andrew at the Enchanted Tiki Room.
Enchanted Tiki Room. Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room opened in 1963 at Disneyland in Anaheim California. The attraction is an Hawaiian themed show with animatronic macaws, toucans, cockatoos, singing orchids, tiki drummers, and other assorted tropical birds. A similar attraction was opened in Disneyworld in Florida in 1971.
Sign outside of the Swimming Hall of Fame
Exhibit inside the Swimming Hall of fame.
Arthur Lyman played the vibraphone. He was one of the original members of Martin Denny's band but left to form his own group. He did a lot to make Exotica music as popular as it was. His recording of "Yellow Bird" reached #4 on the Billboard charts.
Atoll is a special class of island. Most of the world's atolls are located in the Pacific. An atoll has an organic reef. The coral reef acts as a barrier. Most atolls were probably formed as volcanic islands sunk.
Bali is an Indonesian island. It is a popular tourist destination known for it's white sand beaches in the south and black sand beaches to the north. The island is surrounded by coral reefs. Bali is famous for the artwork made there including sculptures.
Beachbum Berry aka Jeff Berry is the author of "Beachbum Berry's Grog Log" and "Beachbum Berry's Intoxica" which are two must haves for the library of anyone wanting to create, or recreate, Tiki drinks.
Bora Bora is an island in French Polynesia. When the U.S. entered the Pacific Theater in World War II a base was established on Bora Bora. The U.S. occupation of Bora Bora was never contested and the island never saw any fighting. Many of the U.S. servicemen fell in love with the island, some so much so that they had to be forcibly removed at war's end. Bora Bora is a tourist destination famed for its' crystal clear lagoon and for the high end resorts.
Aloha in the Hawaiian language is used for hello and goodbye. It means peace, love, and affection.
Aloha Shirt was a term born in the 1930s. Shirts made from brightly colored and patterned fabrics were made and marketed to tourists in Hawaii and were called Aloha shirts. The shirts became a huge hit stateside after World War II. The Aloha shirts exported to the states were known as Hawaiian shirts. The shirts made in Hawaii and worn by residents tend to be more muted than those worn by tourists or those worn stateside. Some shirts are made with the pattern inside and are called reverse print shirts. Sometimes it is mistakenly assumed these shirts are being worn inside out. The reverse print shirts appear more muted and I think one of the design intents is for the shirt to look older and faded. You can buy a new shirt and it has the immediate appearance of being lived in and not so touristy. The shirts intended more for the locals in Hawaii are more likely to have traditional patterns, tapa, on them than those intended for the states.
Archipelago is a cluster of islands. Archipelagoes are often volcanic and are located along ocean ridges. Three modern states that are mostly archipelagoes are New Zealand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
khan tiki mon's handy glossary
What does that mean?
Pu Pu platter is a tray with an assortment of meat and seafood appetizers. An average Pu Pu platter could have eggrolls, spare ribs, chicken wings, fried wontons, fried shrimp, skewered beef (beefstick), etc. The tray itself is usually a lazy susan with compartments and with a mini hibachi in the center. The Pu Pu platter was brought to the mainland from Hawaii by the likes of Trader Vic and Don the Beachcomber. The Pu Pu platter has been adopted by Chinese restaurants and today most Chinese restaurants will offer some kind of Pu Pu platter. My first exposure to the Pu Pu platter was at Soo Lin's Chinese restaurant in Syracuse NY. As a child my parents would take us to Soo Lin's on special occasions. I was totally captivated by the blue flames flickering through the top of the mini hibachi in the center of the platter. And I loved the spareribs.
Oceania is a geographical region in the Pacific consisting of numerous Islands ( usually Australia is included ). The three parts of Oceania are Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.
Oceanic Arts
Ohana means family in Hawaiian. Ohana refers to an extended family unit that includes family and friends.
OMC see Otagiri Manufacturing Company
Orchids of Hawaii
Otagiri Manufacturing Company
Outrigger
Pago Pago
Pele, in Hawaiian myth, is goddess of fire and volcanoes. She is a violent and jealous goddess. She was banished from Tahiti and traveled with her brother, a shark god, to Hawaii. There is an urban legend that says anyone removing lava from the Hawaiian Islands is cursed by Pele.
PMP
Polynesian refers to a region in the Pacific. The region is triangular with Hawaii, New Zealand, and Easter Island as the points. Included in the region are Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands, and French Polynesia.
Kukailimoku (Ku) in Hawaiian mythology is the god of war. Ku was one of the four great gods along with Kane, Lono, and Kanaloa. Ku was a feather god and the protector of Kamehameha.
Lagoon is a body of water seperated from the deeper ocean by a shallow or exposed sandbank or coral reef. The enlosed body of shallow water behind a barrier reef or enclosed by an atoll is a lagoon.
Leilani
Les Baxter was one of the most important musicians and composers in the musical genre we call "Exotica". Les Baxter's album "Ritual of the Savage" is one of the most important and influential albums in the history of Exotica. The album, with it's tribal rhythms, set the course for the music that would follow.
Mexican cinema card circa 1950(s) from the collection of Khan Tiki Mon.
Kona Kai in Polynesian mythology is the home or final resting place of the original Tiki god creator.
Kon Tiki was the name of the raft that Thor Heyerdahl and his 5 man crew sailed from Peru to the Polynesian island Raroia. The 1947 voyage lasted 101 days and the book about the expedition was a best-seller. The documentary movie won an Oscar in 1951. Today the science behind Thor Heyerdahl's experiment is discounted as pseudo-science but the adventure at the time had captured the world's attention.
The Trader Vic's Kava bowl is one of the most sought after Tiki artifacts. Above is a Tiki Farm reproduction from the collection of Khan Tiki Mon.
Exotica is a musical genre. It's usually considered a sub-genre of Lounge music. Exotica was popular from the mid 50s to the late 1960s. The music was meant to convey the mystical, mythical, and exotic flavor of what people idealized the South Seas of Oceania to be. The music was the soundtrack for the Tiki bar experience.
Fiji is an island nation in the South Pacific between Tonga and Vanuatu. The Republic of Fiji is made up of over 300 islands. During British rule many Indian contract laborers were brought to Fiji and they settled there. There has been political trouble resulting in several coups during recent years. The conflicts are based in part on the differences between the native Fijians, who are largely of Polynesian and Melanesian ethnicity and overwhelmingly christian, and the Indo-Fijians that are predominately Hindu.
Hale is Hawaiian for house.
Haole in the Hawaiian language means foreigner. Further it has come to refer to caucasian or "white" people and blondes in particular. It is often a derogatory racial epithet. It is not always a derogatory term, it depends on the context.
Hawaii is the 50th state of the United States of America. Hawaii achieved statehood in 1959. Hawaii is made up of 8 main islands. These are Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Maui, and Hawaii. The last is often referred to as the "Big Island". All of the Hawaiian Islands were formad as the result of volcanic activity.
DaGa, aka DaGa Hawaii, aka DaGa Restaurant Ware, aka Polynesian Pottery is a manufacturer of Tiki mugs. The company was founded by Dan Coscina and Gary Nelson.
Duke Kahanamoku is considered the father of modern surfing in the
Coco Joes catalog.
City of Refuge. Honaunau, Big Island of Hawaii. These ancient Hawaiian idols are located in the fascinating City of Refuge, an area which shows how effectively the ancient Hawaiians used their island's resources of stone and wood. The Refuge was handsomely restored by the U.S. National Park Service in 1969. Postcard from the collection of Khan Tiki mon.
Coco Joe's. Coco Joe was a maker of resin souvenirs sold in Hawaii. The company is now out of business. The Coco Joe's black resin pieces were made from lava. The lava was pulverized and mixed in with the resin. After I started collecting the Coco Joe's black resin placques and figurines made with lava I read somewhere that it's very bad luck to remove lava from the Hawaiian Islands. The curse of Pele. My whole life I've never been lucky and misfortune has always seemed to know where I live. I can't honestly report that I feel anymore unlucky now that I have these lava pieces in my possession
Kilauea Volcano. Big Island of Hawaii. Postcard from the collection of Kon Tiki Mon.
Volcano Bowl. During the heyday of the Tikibar scene it was common for Tikibars to serve communal drinks. One such drink was the Volcano. The bowl it was served in was called the Volcano bowl. The bowl had a raised center, resembling the top of a Volcano, and this reservoir was filled with 151 or overproof rum which was set ablaze. The drink was served with flames and with long straws and typically served four or more people.
Wahine is the Hawaiian and Maori word for woman. Also, a female surfer.
Westwood was a Tiki mug manufacturer. Their products had distinctive geometric patterns and are easy to identify and they are pretty easy to find.
Westwood Tiki mug from the collection of Khan Tiki Mon.
Witco (Western International Trading Company)
CD from the collection of Khan Tiki Mon
Lono in Hawaiian mythology is one of four gods (with Ku, Kane, and Kanaloa) that existed before the world. Lono was a fertility god and the god of peace.
Mahalo
Makemake is the supreme god of Easter Island (Rapa Nui). He is the leader of the bird cult. Makemake causes plants and animals to grow.
Maori
Marquesas
Martin Denny was one of the most successful of the Exotica musicians. In fact his 1957 album "Exotica" gave a name to the musical style. What started as a joke, the band doing bird calls, became a signature and drove the single "Quiet Village" to the #2 spot on the Billboard charts in 1959. The album "Exotica" reached #1.
Matson Line. Captain William Matson with a schooner ship started a shipping service from California to Hawaii in 1882. This grew into a shipping and passenger service. Matson Lines provided passenger service from California to Hawaii from the 1930s to 1976. The Matson shipping company still exists but as freight only. During the 'heydays' of the company they operated 3 cruise ships that sailed between California, Hawaii, and destinations that included New Zealand and Australia.
Kahili were feathered standards that showed status for Hawaiian royalty.
Kahuna is a Hawaiian word. One meaning is an expert in a profession. The word gained widespread recognition after the 1959 movie "Gidget" when the character played by Cliff Robertson, the leader of a surfing group, was called the 'Big Kahuna'.
Kamehameha
Coco Joe's resin figurine representing King Kamehameha from the collection of Khan Tiki Mon.
Kanaloa in Hawaiian mythology is the god of the underworld. Kanaloa is most often represented as an octopus or as a squid.
Kane in Hawaiian mythology was the father of all men.
Kava refers to both the plant and the drink made from it. Kava is used for religious, social, and medicinal purposes throughout Polynesian culture. Kava causes relaxed muscles, a sense of well-being and euphoria, and sleepiness. Users often report vivid dreams after consumption. Kava extracts are marketed as herbal remedies for stress and anxiety.
Eugene Henri Paul Gauguin had been a post-impressionist painter. Late in life he became dissatisfied with his lack of recognition and his financial problems. He sailed for the South Seas to escape European civilisation. The paintings he did in Tahiti paved the way for the style that would be called primitivism. He lived out his life in the Marquesas.
Vintage postcard from the collection of Khan Tiki Mon. "Enchanted Tiki Room. An entirely new medium of three-dimensional entertainment called Audio-Animatronics. Each bird, flower and wooden Tiki statue is given man-like characteristics - voice and movement."
Easter Island is also known as Rapa Nui in Tahitian. It is an island in the Pacific Ocean that is most famous for the large stone sculptures known as Moai. The island is owned by Chile. The first European visit to the island was on Easter Sunday and hence the name.
Edward Leetag was an American artist who lived in Moorea. He was as famous for his exploits as he was for his paintings. He slept with many of his Tahitian models, who he painted nude on black velvet. He was known for drinking, carousing, and fighting in local bars. He died in a motorcycle crash in the early 1950s. He is kind of a modern day Gauguin.