Latest articles on Royal Tiki

In reply to "Tiki is like Sushi"

james@CleverChaps.com (James Shaw) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:42:02 GMT

Having just read again this excellent blog post on Humu Kon Tiki, I was prompted to reply..

I enjoyed reading about your take on common Sushi and Tiki in The Way In Which Tiki Is Like Sushi - I kinda agree, but from my point of view it is very hard to be a seller of Tiki, even if Hawaiian-made and hard-carved, without feeling a little guilty.

With the plastic, sea-side souvenir-shop "tiki" it's easy to be critical - but when selling online no-one gets to see the guys out there carving the Tiki statues or totems. All you see is a website, and websites are..well it's hard to give a website "soul".

Maybe it's more possible with a personal blog - perhaps soul is another way of saying "personality" in this case - but websites selling Tiki as a business (yeah, not as a hobby) don't long survive if they give the impression of a "fun guy making Tiki".

Perhaps you are saying that there is no place for selling Tiki online, and that Tiki should remain a rare mystery for most people, only bought from remote villages. But I doubt that you're saying that. :)

Regardless, I'm going to keep trying to spread the Tiki word - and sell some cool stuff along the way. At least I can sleep easy knowing that there's no plastic or balsa wood "tiki" on my site. Hey, couldn't resist replying to this, keep up the good writing.

P.S. TikiSushi.com is still available..great domain if I could think of a use for it!

Tiki Must be Stopped!

james@CleverChaps.com (James Shaw) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 01:14:55 GMT

Haha, couldn't resist linking to this blog I saw yesterday - parental advisory as he says - House of Parsons' found a hilarious religious spoof against Tiki.. here's a taste, read the rest by clicking the image..

Still missing you Iz

james@CleverChaps.com (James Shaw) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:00:00 GMT

It's the anniversary of Iz's death today. Israel "Iz" Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole died 11 years ago but his music lives on.

You can't listen to the big guy singing with his ukulele without smiling and wishing you were back on the beach on O'ahu.

I was just watching 50 First Dates again last night and had forgotten that his famous Over the rainbow / What a wonderful world song was featured at the end. I've never seen a video of him singing it, but there's a good compilation featuring this song on YouTube.

Wikipedia has more links on Bruddah Iz.

Aloha pumehana.

The Sophisticated Misfit "Shag" on DVD

james@CleverChaps.com (James Shaw) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:08:52 GMT

Just found over at DVDTalk, a great review of this new DVD;

"The Sophisticated Misfit is a breezy hour-long tribute to lowbrow artist Josh Agle, better known as Shag, that's sure to please his fans. Composed of interviews with Agle in his Southern Californian mid-20th-century-modern ranch-style home filled with Polynesian pop décor, testimonials from his aloha-attired fans and collectors, interviews with his wife, parents and art school teacher, and plenty of his iconic lowbrow graphic art, The Sophisticated Misfit packs enough material to pleasantly fill its short runtime."

The Tiki Lizard

james@CleverChaps.com (James Shaw) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:08:21 GMT

Cute little lizards are common in GA - they are everywhere, usually bright green. However, I have a special lizard that lives in one of my palm tree tiki totems. Every morning as I walk into the office he darts around the back of the totem, but he normally lives in the tiki mouth!

Our guy is an Eastern Fence Lizard, apparently they like to live in tree stumps :)

Taking photos of him wasn't easy (he kept running away) but eventually I got some.

With the flash on in the last photo he really became clear. Sorry if I dazzled you though, Mr lizard.

Tiki Care - How to take care of your Tiki Statues, Totems and Masks

james@CleverChaps.com (James Shaw) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:54:08 GMT

Our best quality statues, totems and masks are hand-carved from Acacia wood, otherwise known by its Hawaiian name, Monkey Pod. Monkey pod became popular in the United States after the second world war when soldiers returned carrying souvenirs of tiki totems back to their families. To this day, we have many people tell us "I have a bowl just like that which my mother passed down to me years ago and we still use it today!"

Acacia is a dense, naturally resinous hardwood which (by it's very nature) resists penetration by water and will not stain. It also naturally repels insects. It is not necessary to oil the wood but if for some reason it appears to be drying out, you can use a non-toxic mineral oil like Tung Oil to restore the wood grain to its original beauty. Care is simple and easy: just hand wash with warm soapy water and air dry.

After carving we coat all our tiki products with Thompson's® Water Seal® clear coat which has a matt (not shiny) finish. This protects all of the items and can be reapplied annually if you want to maintain the perfect finish...

..but personally we prefer our Tiki art to remain outdoors and develop some character as it ages!

We also use Coco wood and Pine. As a guide, Acacia will last a lifetime (40+ years), Coco will last many years (20+ years) and Pine will last 5-10 years before showing any adverse signs of aging if left untreated. Insects are a problem in Coco and Pine, so location and insect-proofing is worth considering for the pine tiki masks for example.

Regardless of the materials used, fading from the sun's UV rays is to be expected, both the wood color and to the paint finishes if present. Pine in particular will last longer if out of direct rain because getting wet and then drying will eventually cause deep cracks. (For what it's worth, I don't even mind these deep cracks. I have yet to have a tiki fall apart from them!)

To summarize then, we recommend annual application of Tung Oil or Thompson's® Water Seal® on Tiki Masks and any totems not made from Acacia.

Exotic Tiki Culture

james@CleverChaps.com (James Shaw) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:02:00 GMT

Tiki culture first came into American consciousness in the 1930s, when Texas-born Ernest Raymond Beaumont-Gantt, who had journeyed throughout the South Pacific, opened Don the Beachcomber restaurant in Hollywood. The Polynesian-themed restaurant offered Cantonese cuisine and exotic rum concoctions in a tropical ambiance of blazing torches, leis and brightly colored fabrics.

Following the standard set by the Beachcomber, Trader Vic (Victor Bergeron) established his first Polynesian style restaurant in Oakland, which was to become a chain of restaurant worldwide. The popularity of Trader Vic restaurants peaked in the 50s and 60s, riding on the wave of the Tiki craze at the time, but the popularity of the restaurant chain eventually waned when Tiki lost its appeal to newer generations.

In recent years however, resurgent interest on Tiki culture also sparked interest on Tiki-themed restaurants and bars, as more young people come to appreciate the strong drinks and unique atmosphere of these places.

Another catalyst in the introduction and the eventual widespread acceptance of Tiki are the stories and souvenirs brought home by servicemen who fought in the Pacific during World War II. The fantastic stories about the exotic and magnificent islands inspired James Michener to write his book Tales of the South Pacific which won a Pulitzer Prize in 1948. A year later, the book was used as basis for the award-winning South Pacific musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein, which won a Pulitzer Prize and swept the Tony Awards. The musical in turn was the basis for the movie adaptation released in 1958.

Hawaiian statehood in 1959 brought about the golden era of Tiki popularity in the US. Americans love the exotic culture from the faraway islands that was romanticized in restaurants, bars, music, Broadway and Hollywood. Polynesian inspired design began to permeate many facets of American life, from home decorations to landscapes to architecture.

Now, having said all that, the question that comes to mind is: what exactly is Tiki culture? Are these just the mind-boggling drinks and exotic food? Tropical ambience brought by richly colored tapestries? The striking tiki statues, tiki masks and other collectibles that are just too irresistible for their fun value?

One definition of culture is that it consists of customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a social group that are transmitted from generation to generation. In short, it is the way of life of people in a given area that is uniquely their own. Thus, Polynesian culture from which Tiki is derived consists of the cultures of the South Pacific islands taken as a whole (though each island may have its own customs and beliefs that is quite different to the next island). Tiki culture, then, is an amalgam of the things that Westerners came to appreciate about the South Pacific islands: the friendly people, fascinating traditions and practices, lively music, imaginative artworks, practical architectural forms, exciting trinkets that are not only decorative but functional as well.

Unfortunately, it is very hard for Americans to transform their communities and homes into a tropical paradise like Hawaii symbolized by the Tiki culture. Thus, they settled for the next best thing - using tropical decor and Tiki artifacts to give them a feel of paradise. It is for this reason that Tiki totems are in high demand: a small tiki statue as a table centerpiece or a rather large one in the garden are not only great conversation pieces, but also transform rather drudge settings into something with more warmth and life.

Tiki Gods

james@CleverChaps.com (James Shaw) — Fri, 30 May 2008 23:37:19 GMT

Although Tiki culture was introduced to American consciousness in the 1930s, it was in 1959 when Hawaii was made the last state of the US that interest in Hawaiian and Polynesian culture became widespread. Tiki-themed restaurants, hut bars, artwork, music as well as every day things such as poles, mugs, masks, torches and knick-knacks surged in popularity. Tiki was thus integrated into the American way of life.

These days, we are seeing a rebirth of interest in Tiki as younger generations come to know about the exotic culture of the South Pacific that are symbolized by the eye-catching artifacts associated with Tiki traditions. This is a good opportunity to revisit the Tiki gods and myths surrounding them which ultimately are the basis of all things Tiki, to give a better understanding of Hawaiian and Polynesian culture.

The Four Tiki Gods in Hawaiian mythology

All over the South Pacific, ancient traditions woven into songs and stories speak of gods who had the strengths and weaknesses of men and controlled nature’s forces. The natives of Polynesian islands worship and fear these deities, for the good and bad things that the gods may inflict on them. In Hawaii, ancient creation myths usually highlight four great gods: Ku, Kanaloa, Kane and Lono.

Kane Milohai was the first god who came into being and is responsible for the creation of the universe. It is for this reason that Kane symbolizes life itself, as he is the progenitor of life in nature. Kane distributed to the other gods the domains in which they would rule: Kanaloa was assigned the seas, Ku was the guardian of the forests, and Lono was responsible for food plants. He created all the things found on earth and later created the Great Chief, the first man who was to rule the universe he created. Interestingly, the way the Great Chief was created had an uncanny resemblance to biblical accounts of the creation of Adam: the god fashioning a figure of a man from clay and afterwards breathing life into his creation.

The name Ku means "to stand" and "to strike", which is why the deity named Ku was the god of war in Hawaii. His name was usually combined with descriptive native words that give specific attributes, as in Ku-ka-ili-moku meaning "Ku-the-seizer-of-land". He can be Ku-of-the-deep-forest, Ku-of-the-undergrowth, Ku-adzing-out-the-canoe, and many more. But it is his attribute as Ku-with-the-maggot-dropping-mouth that makes ancient natives tremble in fear at the mention of his name – as Ku is the only major deity for which human sacrifices were made during rituals.

Lono is identified with rain and plants as the god of fertility. He is also a deity for music, and peace, and it is in his honor that the great annual Makahiki festival was held. During the festival period from October through February, excessive work and war was taboo. It is a season for merry-making, games, paying taxes and ironically, planning the next war.

Hawaiian traditions suggest that Lono sometimes manifests into a human form and returns to the islands by canoe, which is why the coming of Captain James Cook in the 18th century was associated by some as a return of the god.

In many chants, Kane is paired with the god Kanaloa, the god of the sea who is symbolized with the squid. The two deities were seen as complementary powers, representing wild (Kanaloa) and taming (Kane) powers in nature. Erroneous interpretations of Kanaloa being an evil force and Kane the good one were most likely the handiwork of European missionaries trying to refashion the four major deities into the Christian mold of Trinity plus Satan. The paired invocation and devotion to both deities simply don’t fit the typecasting of Kanaloa as an evil force. In fact, in some Polynesian islands, the god Tangaroa (the equivalent of the Hawaiian Kanaloa) was considered as the sole creator of the universe.

There are many more minor deities and supernatural heroes in Hawaii and elsewhere in Polynesia for which legends and myths abound: Hina, the goddess wife of Ku, was seen to represent the universal woman; Pele, the main figure in stories on the creation of the Hawaiian islands; Haumea, the mother of Pele who was regarded the patroness of childbirth; and even Kamehameha, the historical figure who was instrumental in putting the islands of Hawaii under one rule.

KAILUA TIKI TOTEM 8" - NATURAL HIBISCUS

james@CleverChaps.com (James Shaw) — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 22:52:50 GMT

Latest articles on Royal Tiki

In reply to "Tiki is like Sushi"

Tiki Must be Stopped!

Still missing you Iz

The Sophisticated Misfit "Shag" on DVD

The Tiki Lizard

Tiki Care - How to take care of your Tiki Statues, Totems and Masks

Exotic Tiki Culture

Tiki Gods

The Four Tiki Gods in Hawaiian mythology

KAILUA TIKI TOTEM 8" - NATURAL HIBISCUS

KAILUA TIKI TOTEM 8" - NATURAL HIBISCUS

MAKAHA TIKI TOTEM 8" - NATURAL HIBISCUS - HAWAIIAN TROPICAL ACCENT

MAKAHA TIKI TOTEM 8" - NATURAL HIBISCUS - HAWAIIAN TROPICAL ACCENT

OAHU TIKI TOTEM 8" - NATURAL HIBISCUS - PINEAPPLE TROPICAL ACCENT

OAHU TIKI TOTEM 8" - NATURAL HIBISCUS - PINEAPPLE TROPICAL ACCENT

OAHU TIKI TOTEM 8" - BROWN - PINEAPPLE TROPICAL ACCENT

OAHU TIKI TOTEM 8" - BROWN - PINEAPPLE TROPICAL ACCENT

LOVE TIKI TOTEM 8" - NATURAL HIBISCUS

LOVE TIKI TOTEM 8" - NATURAL HIBISCUS

Stained Tiki Ku 39" Statue

Stained Tiki Ku 39" Statue

Carved Tiki Totem 26" Ku Tiki in Natural Acacia

Carved Tiki Totem 26" Ku Tiki in Natural Acacia

Tiki Mask Ocean Tiki God 18"

Tiki Mask Ocean Tiki God 18"

HURRICANE TIKI TOTEM 8" - NATURAL HIBISCUS

HURRICANE TIKI TOTEM 8" - NATURAL HIBISCUS

MAORI TIKI TOTEM 8" - NATURAL HIBISCUS

MAORI TIKI TOTEM 8" - NATURAL HIBISCUS

Carved Tiki Totem 26" Ocean Tiki in Natural Acacia

Carved Tiki Totem 26" Ocean Tiki in Natural Acacia

Stacked Tiki Ku & Kanaloa 51" Statue

Stacked Tiki Ku & Kanaloa 51" Statue

Stacked Tiki Ki & Kanaloa 26" Statue

Stacked Tiki Ki & Kanaloa 26" Statue

Tiki Ku 39" Statue

Tiki Ku 39" Statue

Carved Tiki Totem 39" Love Tiki in Natural Acacia

Carved Tiki Totem 39" Love Tiki in Natural Acacia

Carved Tiki Totem 63" Love Tiki in Natural Acacia

Carved Tiki Totem 63" Love Tiki in Natural Acacia

Tiki Totem 63" Love Tiki in Stained Acacia

Tiki Totem 63" Love Tiki in Stained Acacia