What is Tiki?

This "article" is kind of a work-in-progress. I'll very likely revise and fine-tune this with the goal of adding it to TheTikiBarIsOpen.com. Not sure if it will be a blog, a lifestyle feature, on our home page or in the about-us section.

I felt the need to write this because of a couple of comments I've seen where some folks get frustrated over how the the tiki pop culture of the 1950s was so distinct while today the things have become a bit blurred. The nostalgic side of some folks seems to drive an implied hatred or at least a resistance to the more modern island lifestyle people seek today.

To many, true Tiki is defined strictly as the American craze of the 1950s that was heavily Polynesian inspired. To others, Tiki is an icon that represents all things tropical. The original Tiki craze is a great nostalgic moment in America. I'm glad to see it never quite ended. I'm very glad to see the resurgence it has today. Many are very dedicated and passionate about the pure tiki lifestyle. To others, today's definition of Tiki encompasses more than what it did in the 1950s. Really, the root of what we have always loved and sought is the island lifestyle. The desire for island lifestyle is what inspired and drove the original Tiki movement in the first place. At the same time as Tiki we saw the surf craze in California, a poplulation boom in Florida and a free Cuba was THE hot vacation spot. This goes to show that there have been several tropically-inspired culture movements... some occurred in different eras, some occurred simultaneously. All had an influence on the other at some point in time. 1950s Cuba, the Caribbean, the South Seas, etc.. It doesn't matter. They all represent escapism... a place to relax and just enjoy life. Ironically, the differences between each and the lines that are blurred between them tend to cause the very debate I mention above.

Look... here's the bottom line: Tiki is really all about using your imagination to create an island lifestyle. Tiki actually really didn't have a strict Polynesian historical or cultural background. The look and feel of tiki was certainly Polynesian inspired. The presentation of the drinks were Polynesian inspired. The drinks themselves, most containing rums, actually makes them more Caribbean inspired. In fact, the founding father of tiki pop, Donn Beach, was from New Orleans an often made trips to the Caribbean. These trips were his inspiration for his Donn the Beachcomber bar and for the drinks he concocted. It is why rum became the standard ingredient in tiki drinks. The music became a blend of true Hawaiian music and American Standards and even Rock n Roll as artists from Bing Crosby to Elvis joined in on the movement. Today, you'll even hear steel drums incorporated into native Hawaiian artist's works.

That's what Tiki was... everything about tiki pop was man-made. It didn't have alot of real culture behind it. It had some, but most didn't know what it was. We were just fascinated and looking for escape from Suburbia.

So... the true spirit of Tiki is really about what I call the tropical melting pot... take anything tropical as your inspiration, blend them together, then relax, enjoy and escape. This is how the original Tiki movement happened in the first place.

Any island lifestyle is a good lifestyle. So, we should embrace it all, appreciate it all and not criticize a thing.