Join the Party!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Who can resist those smiling tiki gods luring you to join the party?
Tiki art, tiki mugs, tiki shirts, tiki bars. When you add the word “tiki” to anything it just becomes more fun.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel are big fans of all things tiki. Growing up in SoCal, there were lots of tikis to see in shops and restaurants, on clothing, and more.
Classic Polynesian restaurants Don the Beachcomber, Trader Vic’s, The Islander, Kelbo’s and many others celebrated the tiki lifestyle with their island decor and exotic drinks.
Deified by the early Polynesians, it was thought that Tiki was the guardian of the entrance to the underworld. By the 1950s tikis were pop culture icons. With their smiling faces and gleaming eyes, they represented fun and adventure, beckoning us to an alternative lifestyle unburdened by convention.
Today the mysterious and mischievous Tiki is still part of the scene and showing no signs of letting up.
Tiki artist Doug Horne told SurfWriter Girls, “Tiki culture is alive and well! I think it’s still growing.”
Artist Josh Agle (better known as Shag) is a fan of the irrepressible tikis, too, and often includes them in his swinging, mid-century motifs.
To celebrate the tiki culture for yourself, why not check out one of the many tiki bars out there and feel the vibe? SurfWriter Girls came across this list of the Ten Best Tiki Bars in the World compiled by Critiki, a travel guide and historic archive of Polynesian Pop culture hotspots around the world. Nobody knows tiki better than the crew at Critiki.
To find your own little slice of tiki paradise, click: Tiki Ten
Then let the party begin!
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
Great articles Ladies!! Especially since our great sponsor “don the beachcomber-seal beach is now closed. 🙁
Tiki culture will go on! Thanks for sharing!!
Aloha