Blue Hawaii is perhaps one of the most well-known films to come out of the tiki craze that swept the nation during the 1950s and 1960s. This musical film set in Hawaii starred rock n' roll legend Elvis Presley. It was the first of three Elvis movies shot in Hawaii; the others were Girls! Girls! Girls! In 1962, followed by 1965's Paradise, Hawaiian Style. Blue Hawaii was his most successful film.

The storyline featured Presley as Chadwick Gates, a soldier who has recently returned to Hawaii, where he has been reunited with his girlfriend, his surfboard, and his friends. This scenario mirrors that of countless soldiers who returned from the islands in the aftermath of World War II, bringing the souvenirs of Polynesian culture that would spark the tiki fad. By the time this film was recorded, the tiki craze had affected every facet of American life, even its rock n' roll.

Much of the film Blue Hawaii was shot on-location, in the Coco Palms Resort of Kauai. Other scenes were shot in a volcanic crater near Waikiki known as Hanauma Bay. Many of the beach shots show Waikiki as it appeared in the early 1960s, further increasing the popularity of this island paradise on the mainland, where the tiki craze had already ignited an interest in all things Hawaii.

The soundtrack to the movie Blue Hawaii, which also carried the title of Blue Hawaii, is also one of the most popular Elvis albums, although some have said that it is inferior to his non-soundtrack albums. Still, the soundtrack spent 79 weeks on the Billboard Pop Albums chart, including an impressive 20 weeks at #1. In all, more than 2 million copies were sold, making it certified triple-platinum and Presley's top-selling album during his lifetime.

His fourteenth album, Presley's track listings for Blue Hawaii ranged from a remake of Bing Crosby's song "Blue Hawaii" to such Hawaiian-influenced tunes as "Rock-A-Hula Baby" and "Ku-u-ipo," which translates to 'Hawaiian Sweetheart.' The touches of Hawaiian music included a traditional song "Aloha 'Oe" and a Hawaiian Wedding Song from a 1926 operetta. Perhaps interestingly, none of the hits to be included on this 1961 album came out of the tiki craze that had started just a decade before, and which was still in full swing as Blue Hawaii was released. Still, the album did incorporate such Hawaiian sounds at the ukulele, a guitar-like instrument used in Hawaiian popular music for over a century. Today, his album remains very popular for luaus and tiki-influenced parties thanks to its mixture of 1960s rock n'roll and a Hawaiian influenced beat.

Both the movie and the album shone a light on the romantic Hawaiian culture that had inspired the tiki craze. It is known that Elvis Presley was a fan of Hawaiian-style music; remnants of this style can even be seen in several of his post-Blue Hawaii songs. During the 1950s and 1960s, the effects of the tiki craze and Hawaiian music were so profound that its influence even affected the archetypal American sound of Rock and Roll.

When you decorate your home as a beach house, every day will feel like a day at the beach. This is a very popular style for oceanside vacation homes, but it's an equally appropriate style for those who want to experience the relaxation of the beach while they're stuck in their landlocked home. If you love the sight of the surf and the sand, beach house décor is perfect for you! Every day of the year, your beachhouse décor will take you back to the lazy days of summer at the shore.

Think about how relaxing your home will become with just a few special touches. Enjoy a vacation year-round when you decorate with Hawaiian-made, nautical-inspired décor. Look to nature as your guide, decoratinh with a light color palette and natural fabrics. Think back to your last trip to the beach for inspiration when defining the essence of your beach house. Go for a natural look that will make your bright, tropical accessories really “pop.” Splashes of corals and reds inspired by the sunset will look great against ivory, tan, and sky blue backgrounds.

There are many different embellishments for the home that can make you imagine the warm breeze coming off the ocean. Anyone with a fondness for the beach can enjoy bringing a bit of the beach indoors with boat paddles, seashell décor, 'aloha' accessories, and of course, “gone fishing” signs. Choose motifs of sea shells, palm trees, tropical flowers, or even sea turtles and starfish for a classic beach look.

If you want a more exotic mood, you can even add tiki masks or other Polynesian-inspired styles. These accessories are the perfect way to decorate your home, inside and out, so that you'll immediately be transported to an island paradise the minute you get home. Indoor tiki statues are definitely a statement piece, and they'll make everyone who enters your home stop and take notice. These carved wooden sculptures will have an immediate affect on the mood of the room. They would look great standing next to your tiki bar, of course, but will even create an island paradise on their own, as the only piece of island-inspired décor in the room.

If your perfect beach house is really more of a lake house, take your cue from nautical designs, and decorate with the motifs of fish and sailboats. Driftwood is particularly popular for decorating a nautically-inspired room. Nautical décor will immediately bring to mind the sights and sounds of the coast, and is the perfect style for nearly every room of the home, from kids' rooms to kitchens and even the bathroom.

Decorating your beach-inspired home has almost no limits. There are many different ways to interpret the island lifestyle when decorating your home. Whether you're looking to make your home look like a Hawaiian beach paradise, or a Cape Cod getaway, the addition of just a few accessories will help you decorate your beachhouse in a stylish manner to bring a bit of the beach into your everyday life.

If you are planning a visit to O'ahu, Hawaii, and are in love with island culture, including all things Tiki, don't miss the opportunity to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center. This museum located on 42 acres of land opened in 1963 and is dedicated to displaying the local history and traditional culture from Hawaii as well as other islands in the Pacific Ocean.

PCC is owned by Bringham Young University-Hawaii, and many of the performers you'll see during your visit are student there. The center was founded after lu'au and hukilau gatherings held on the beach during the 1940s and 1950s to raise money to rebuild a local chapel that had burnt to the ground. A luau is a large Hawaiian feast, and hukilau is a traditional way of fishing. A popular song during this era, “The Hukilau Song” performed by Alfred Apaka, was actually written following a visit to one of these events.

The Center is also known as the originator of the 'shaka' sign, made by extending both the thumb and the little finger. Known worldwide as a Hawaiian symbol, it was created as a greeting by Hamana Kalili, a local leader who was missing three fingers on his right hand. Kalili provided nets that were used for the first hukilau event, which led to the founding of the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Today, the Polynesian Cultural Center is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the islands. During a visit to the Center, you can observe traditional activities performed by various cultures in the Pacific Ocean. Frequent luaus offer visitors the chance to sample Polynesian fare such as pork cooked in an underground oven. PCC is also the venue for the World Fire Knife Dance Competition, a unique annual event in which contestants dance with flaming swords. Other shows held at the Polynesian Cultural Center include the  Ha–Breath of Life, a show combining multiple  Polynesian cultures into one event. The largest Polynesian performance in the world, it features the traditional cultures from many different islands, including the Hula and other islands' songs and dances.

The setting of the PCC is known for its lagoon and canoe ride led by a tour guide. The lagoon is also the setting for the PCC “canoe pageant” known as Rainbows of Paradise. In this event, a parade of canoes showcases dances originating from each of the islands in Polynesia. During the autumn season, take a “haunted canoe ride” through the lagoon.

In addition to these events, which showcase a variety of Polynesian cultures, there are also events and exhibits for each of the major Polynesian islands and cultures. Re-created traditional villages are shown from the islands of Hawaii, Samoa, Aotearoa (the traditional name for New Zealand, home of the Maori people), Fiji, Tahiti, Tonga, and Marquesas. There is also an exhibit dedicated to Rapa Nui, or Easter Island, home of the giant stone heads known as Moai. Special events held yearly to celebrate the cultures of Polynesia include 'Christmas in Polynesia,' the Moanikeala Hula Festival, and Te Mahana Hiro?a O Tahiti, a Tahitian dance festival.

Fiji is a beautiful tropical paradise located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Because of its geography, this archipelago of over 300 islands has long been a crossroads for the meeting of many different island cultures, as well as a popular tourist destination. Fiji was part of an important trading route between various Pacific island cultures long before contact with Europeans. Over the centuries, a distinctly Fijian culture developed as a result of this rich mixture of cultures.

It is believed that the first settlers in Fiji came about 3,500 years ago from Southeast Asia, perhaps via Indonesia. Little is known of Fiji's early settlement, although archeological evidence shows that people had settled on the island somewhere between two and five thousand years ago. According to oral folklore, today's indigenous Fiji population was descended from Chief Lutunasobasoba, a Lapita chief and ancestor of modern-day Polynesians believed to have landed in Fiji. Some evidence suggests that the same Lapita group to settle in Fiji also came to Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga, and other Pacific islands.

By the tenth century, the important Tu'i Tonga Empire in nearby Tonga brought Polynesian influences to Fiji, leaving an impact on the island's culture and language. Fijian culture was again impacted in the seventeenth century, when European explorers, missionaries, and whalers began to visit Fiji, although Europeans avoided the country for many years because the Tongans warned Europeans that Fiji was inhabited by dangerous cannibals. The first permanent European settlement on the archipelago is Levuka, founded in 1822. Soon after, Christian missionaries from Tahiti and Tonga began arriving in an attempt to convert the native Fijians to Christianity. The missionaries succeeded in converting several important Fijian chiefs.

During the nineteenth century, Fiji was the site of many battles between warring chiefs. This era was marked by several invasions and revolts. By the 1850s, Chief Cakobau had gained control of most of the islands. He had been converted to Christianity, and was largely influenced by connections with the western world. In 1858, he offered to cede the territory to the United Kingdom, in exchange for a payment of $40,000. However, the United Kingdom, realizing that Cakobau was not universally recognized as the King of Fiji, did not accept this proposal.  In the 1970s, members of Cakobau's government again offered the territory to Britain, and in 1874 Fiji became a British colony.

During this time as a British colony, Fiji was subjected to many stresses. In 1875, an outbreak of measles left a third of the country dead. Between 1879 and 1916, over 60,000 indentured laborers would arrive from India to work in large sugar mills. During World War II, Fiji was turned into a training base for Allied soldiers. Thousands of Fijians fought in the Solomon Islands during the war, where they became well-known for their knowledge of tropical jungles.

Until 1963, indigenous Fijians, as well as Indian laborers, were not enfranchised, and had no representation in the colonial government. One of the highest ranking Fijian chiefs, Ratu Sukana, promised to fight for Fijian independence, continuing to push for independence until his death in 1958. Like many islands in the Pacific, Fiji remained a British colony for many years, before finally gaining independence in 1970. However, Fiji's route to independence has not been a smooth one. Several coup attempts as recently as 2006 demonstrate continuing strife between native Fijians, Indians, Europeans and other groups.

The  ukulele, or uke, is a Hawaiian stringed instrument. This instrument was developed in the late nineteenth century in Hawaii, and was based on a small instrument similar to a guitar brought to the islands by immigrants from Portugal. In particular, three cabinet makers are credited as the inventors of the first ukulele. The Portugese immigrants were known to play folk songs on the dock, where native Hawaiians were impressed not only by the sweet sounds of the instrument, but also the fast fingers of the players. Roughly translated, the name “ukulele” means “jumping flea,” a reference to the action of the player's fingers.

The ukulele's quick rise in popularity has been credited in part to the ardent support of the instrument by King David Kalakaua, the last king of the Kingdom of Hawai'i. Serving from 1874 until 1891, he was in office when the first ukuleles were played in 1879 and 1880, and soon made them an integral part of royal performances. Several members of the Hawaiian royalty learned how to play this instrument; it also became popular with Hawaiians from all walks of life, including fishermen and taro farmers. Today, the ukelele is often associated with music from the Hawaiian islands due to its use in popular music originating there.

During the early and mid twentieth century, this exotic instrument also gained popularity on the mainland of the United States. This is due in part to the Panama Pacific International Exposition, which took place in San Francisco throughout 1915 and featured a guitar and ukulele band hailing from Hawaii. The popularity of this exhibit at the Expo launched a fad for Hawaiian-themed music on the mainland during the Jazz Age of the 1920s.

This enjoyment of all things Hawaii would continue following World War II and the resulting popularity of tiki culture. The ukulele fit right in with this midcentury fad. From the 1940s through the 1960s, over 9 million inexpensive plastic ukuleles were produced to satisfy the demand from Tiki aficionados. Today, the ukulele can be found in many musical styles around the world. It is particularly popular in Japan.

The ukulele is known as a relatively inexpensive and portable instrument, making it a favorite of amateur players since the 1920s. On the other end of the spectrum, some of the most valuable ukuleles, made from Hawaiian koa wood prized for its tone and attractive coloration, can cost thousands of dollars.

A subset of the guitar family, most ukuleles have four strings. The sounds emanating from a ukelele depends on its size and how it has been constructed. There are four common sizes of this instrument: baritone, tenor, concert, and soprano. The soprano, the smallest uke, is the original size. In Hawaii, it is  known as the “standard” ukulele. Athough traditional ukuleles have a body shaped like a figure eight, similar to the body of an acoustic guitar, there are also oval ukuleles (sometimes referred to as a 'pineapple' shape), boat paddle shaped bodies, and occasionally square bodies, which are often constructed from a wooden cigar box.

Once you've built your tiki bar, it's time to stock it with the perfect accessories. Whether your bar is indoors or out, tiki-themed bar accessories provide the perfect finishing touch. Your beautiful tiki bar shouldn't be stocked with plain glasses; likewise, how can you throw a tiki party without the perfect accessories?

Many proud owners of tiki bars take their cue from tiki restaurants of decades past. At chains like Trader Vic's and Don The Beachcomber's, tropically-themed drinks were famously served in imaginative drinkware, ranging from flaming drinks in "cauldrons" to fruity concoctions in tiki mask-inspired ceramic mugs. Other popular tiki motifs replicated in the form of drinkware include cups molded to look like coconut shells and volcanoes. In popular tiki restaurants, such drinkware was often reserved for customers who ordered  a special "secret" concoction or a flaming drink.

The original mugs from these restaurants, as well as styles inspired by them, have long been a favorite among tiki fans. In addition to tiki relics from the craze of the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, tiki mugs are still being produced today.  In fact, many tiki aficionados collect colorful vintage tiki mugs even if they don't have an appropriately tiki-themed bar in which to display them. These mugs are great to display, but even better to keep at your bar to serve tropical drinks, as they were meant to be used.

In order to serve appropriate drinks from your tiki bar, you'll need the right ingredients. The Mai Tai is a classic tropical drink; it was even invented in a tiki bar during the height of the tiki craze. Although iced drinks are typically associated with tiki bars, there are also plenty of flaming hot drinks that were invented in tiki bars. Tiki drinks typically include fruit juice, pineapple slices, and rum, but there are plenty of other imaginative ways to incorporate tiki inspiration in the drinks you serve. There's even a new "Voodoo Tiki" Tequila inspired by island life. Although this tequila is made in Mexico, not Polynesia, it is purportedly aged in barrels carved from wooden tikis.

No matter what type of drink you like to sip while sitting at a tiki bar, you can find the perfect tiki-inspired barware in which to serve it. In addition to the classic mugs and cauldrons, there are also tiki shot glasses, bottle openers, drink stirrers, and even high ball glasses and decanters. Don't forget to top each tropical drink with a paper umbrela. These fun, novel styles of tiki barware add the perfect ambience to your bar, and are also popular collectibles.

To continue the tiki ambience, play exotic-sounding tiki music from Martin Denny, Les Baxter, or Arthur Lyman, and light a few tiki toches outdoors. Other popular tiki items, such as masks and statues, can help you continue the tiki bar style through the rest of your home. Whether you use them everyday or save them for your summer tiki parties, they are sure to be a hit with any crowd.

The popular Tiki artist Les Baxter was actually born in Texas in 1922. In his teens, Baxter joined several dance bands as a saxophonist. A product of the Big Band era, in his early years Baxter focused on jazz and popular music. After studying as a pianist, he then turned to arranging and conducting, working on several early Nat King Cole hits. After arranging several popular hits, Baxter then turned to concept albums mixing popular beats with exotic sounds, a genre in which he would work for more than three decades.

In 1947 and 1948 Les began his foray into exotic musical sounds when working on Music Out Of the Moon, a smash hit still considered a masterpiece in the 'musical futurism' niche. This breakout album was written for the theramin, an early electronic instrument known for a high-pitched wail. Arranging this other-worldly album launched Baxter into the world of exotica. The success of this album touched everything that Baxter would do from that point on. Soon after this album was released, Baxter began working with Yma Sumac, one of the first true exotica singers. She is known for her abilities to imitate a volcano, an exotic bird, and other playful sounds. Les arranged her debut album before moving on to other work in the exotica genre.

Baxter's 1951 album, his first true foray into all-original exotica, was named “Le Sacre Du Sauvage” or “Ritual of the Savage,” and featured the hits “Jungle River Boat,” “The Ritual,” and “Quiet Village.” Many have recognized this album as the record after which exotica became a true genre in its own right. Many of his later exotica albums, such as “African Jazz” and “Jungle Jazz,” mixed new exotica sounds with the traditional jazz from Baxter's early musical past. In the 1990s, he was celebrated alongside Martin Denny and Arthur Lyman as one of the originators of what had become the “exotica” music genre.

Les Baxter is perhaps most well-known for his Jungle exotica. This genre, when compared to tiki exotica, includes more natural or jungle-inspired sounds; it is mainly a Hollywood creation stemming from its use in Tarzan and similar movies. During the 1960s and 1970s, Baxter was a well-known name in the movie industry, where he worked on multiple movie soundtracks in the Jungle exotica category as well as musicals and other movie genres. Throughout the 1960s, Baxter worked on soundtracks for more than a hundred movies.

In addition to movies, Baxter composed many songs for television, including the theme for the TV show Lassie, and also worked with Abbott and Costello and Bob Hope as a music director. Later, Baxter would compose music for theme parks. Baxter was invited to have his compositions performed by the Los Angeles Composer's Guild in 1994, considered a great honor. In all, Baxter released over 60 albums spanning a career of nearly 50 years, earning him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His music has even been sampled by P. Diddy and The Beastie Boys. If you are hosting a tiki party, a Les Baxter album is a must-have. This unusual blend of music is sure to add to the fun and relaxing atmosphere. Les Baxter passed away in 1996 at the age of 73.

When most people imagine Easter Island, they immediately think of the Moai. Moai are immense human figures carved from rock between the years of 1250 and 1500 on Easter Island, a Polynesian island several hundred miles off the coast of Chile.

Many myths and legends are attached to ancient Polynesian cultures, including the Easter Island Moai culture as well as the tiki gods found elsewhere in Polynesia. Many apply the term 'Tiki' to any carved human figures originating in Polynesia. In fact, the Moai are often referred to as the “Easter Island Tikis” because of the stylistic similarities between these figures and the tiki found elsewhere in Polynesia.

As found in America, popular Tiki culture combines elements that are actually found in distinct cultures, including Hawaiian, Polynesian, Maori from New Zealand, and the culture of Easter Islande. Many do not realize that tiki culture has such varied roots. In the United States, these distinct cultures have been blended into popular tiki culture. However, upon visiting the islands themselves, the differences become apparent.

The oversized heads of the Moai are often confused with the tiki gods from elsewhere in Polynesia due to their minimalist style. Both Moai and Tiki carvings portray human faces or humanoid forms, often with a very small body if one is carved at all. Like the tiki figures, the Moai have relatively flat faces and very large and elongated heads when compared to their bodies. Similarly to popular tiki imagery, the Moai on Easter Island have large, broad noses.

Carved wooden and stone statues were created all over Polynesia as far back as 1500 BC. Over time, the style became varied between the different islands of the region. This, perhaps, accounts for the minor stylistic differences between the Moai figures of New Zealand and tiki carvings found on other islands.

There are certainly many superficial similarities between the two types of carvings, but what about the symbolism? On many islands, the Tiki myth is connected to a legend about the first man. Later, tiki statues became representations not only of this first man, but also other spiritual symbols, such as tiki gods. Moai statues represent the living faces of powerful former chiefs, ancestral spirits, and mythological beings. It has been argued that Moai statues, carved in the shape of gods, served to house the gods' spirits. Many find similarities between the legends behind the creation of Moai monolithic heads and that of Tiki statues.

This popular tourist attractions are considered a remarkable feat, similar to the pyramids in Egypt. The tallest moai on the island, known as Paro, measures over 30 feet tall and weighs 75 tons. It is believed that there were once over 900 of these large statues. Today, groups of the Moai still exist in several locations around the island. Many are found on Polynesian ceremonial sites known as Marae. Throughout the Polynesian world, both moai and tiki traditions evolved at these Marae sites. Both tiki and Moai statues were used to mark the boundaries of sacred sites. One such place on Easter Island, known as Rapa Nui, is the location of a famous example of Moai stone figures set in a ring.

Today, Polynesian and tribal tattoos are a popular expression of style and fashion. Known for complex patterns and stark black lines, contemporary tribal tattoos often blend traditional patterns from several cultures to form a distinctive design. This ancient art form has found new life among tattoo enthusiasts in modern times.

Many of the cultures in Polynesia traditionally tattoo the skin. The Maori people in New Zealand, for example, have been tattooing patterns and symbols for over a thousand years. In this Polynesian culture, spiral lines were created on the human body, particularly the face, using a bone chisel. Because the process of tattooing was very painful, Maori tattoos were understood as signs of courage and a right of passage. To the Maori people, tattooing is considered a sacred event. The application of these curving patterns was accompanied by traditional flute music, chanting, and other cultural elements. The tattoos themselves, known as Ta moko, symbolized tribal identity, family ranking, ancestry, and social status. If you are not Maori but want a tribal tattoo, be sure to choose a design that does not signify special attributes to the Maori people.

Hawaiian tribal tattoos are known as Kakau. Traditionally, this body art is used for adornment, a symbol of mourning, or a personal talisman to protect the wearer. Typical Hawaiian designs include tropical flowers, lizards, turtles, and dolphins. Armband designs have long accompanied Hawaiian tattoo art. Both tribal armbands and pictorial tattoos are very popular designs today.

Tattoos from Samoa, known as Tatau, tend to cover a large area of the body with complex abstract patterns and motifs. These tattoos are applied to show cultural pride and identify family lineage and social status.

Rapa nui tattoos (from the culture on Easter Island) take the form of special symbols in vivid designs. In this Polynesian culture, it was believed that bold tattoos make the skin sacred, creating a pathway for communication with the gods. The Easter Island culture is perhaps best known for Moai, monolithic stone heads. These Moai may be considered one part of tiki mythology, and are often represented in modern Polynesian tattoo designs.

Today, Tiki tattoo designs are very popular. Each of the Tiki gods, stylized as a human figure, carries a different symbolism. Although rarely used in traditional Polynesian tattoos, the Tiki god or Tiki statue has evolved into a popular design in the Western world. In fact, it is one of the most common Polynesian-inspired tattoos found in the Western world.

Traditional Polynesian tattoo designs are described as either 'Etua,' with a strong religious or spiritual meaning, or 'Enata,' to describe social identity or status. Many symbols are found in Polynesian tattoo designs from the various islands. For example, sharks and shark teeth represent protection, while turtles are a symbol of long life and fertility. Shells are a symbol of prosperity, as they were once used as a traditional form of currency.

Tiki and Polynesian tattoos are very impressive works of art, often carrying great symbolism for the wearer. These beautiful designs, combining abstract lines with beautiful figural themes, have an ageless appeal and striking appearance. When seeking the perfect Polynesian tattoo design, be sure to take into account the special symbolism of each one.

This morning we received the following email from a new customer who allowed us to share it here!

Received today wow your fast  "Awesome totems they are like bookends to my Tropical Hawaiian Get Away" Thank you so very much I highly recommend you to anyone that's looking for that extra touch. I will order again I have attached photos as they look in their new home. LOVE THEM!!!
Terry & Jackie Curtin

It is the dream of many couples to hold a beach wedding. Whether you plan to actually have the ceremony or reception at the beach, or simply want to incorporate a beach theme into your indoor wedding, all of your wedding details should be chosen to reflect the beach. This very romantic way to get married can be very simple or very elaborate, though beach weddings often take on a casual, lighthearted, and fun mood.

To create the perfect ambiance, start with your wedding décor. There are many different directions you can go with beach themed décor. Do you want a nautical theme, or a tropical island theme? What about a classic beachside resort style, or a fun and unusual tiki theme? No matter which beach-related theme you pick, the perfect décor can bring the theme to life, whether you're holding the ceremony on the beachfront or indoors, away from the coast.

Your choice of theme will impact not only the type of décor you choose, but also the overall color scheme. For example, a tropical island theme will incorporate red, orange, and other vibrant hues, while a classic nautical wedding will rely on white and navy blue. Colors for a traditional beachside wedding, meanwhile, include sky blue, vibrant green, and a sandy white.

A beach wedding gives you plenty of room for creativity. Incorporate lots of natural materials into the décor. Seashells are a must, no matter what style of beach wedding you have chosen. Versatile beach décor pieces give you plenty of choices whether you're going for an indoor tiki-themed wedding or plan to say your vows at sunset in the sand. Tiki torches are a great way to light up the beach for parties that last until after sunset. If you're holding your wedding at the beach, you won't need too many decorations, but a few well-placed accent pieces can really highlight your theme.

Because flowers like the orchid and hibiscus play so heavily into Hawaiian and island culture, they would be the perfect choice for your bridesmaids to carry down the aisle. These fragrant tropical flowers will also be the perfect way to decorate each table at the reception.

When planning a beach wedding, there are other considerations besides décor. Think about the season as well as the time of day. It goes without saying that you want sunny blue skies on your wedding day. A morning wedding means that the beach will probably be quieter, though many couples prefer to take their vows at sunset for the beautiful view. You may also want to construct “tiki hut” style shelters for your guests using bamboo, grass skirts, and other natural and tiki-inspired materials. These will provide both shade and a rain shelter, as well as the perfect place to serve drinks or food.

When the wedding is over, don't forget to commemorate your special day in the home you share. A tiki statue or beach-themed sign is the perfect way to remind yourselves of your wedding day. It would also be fitting to display your wedding photo in a beach-themed frame.

Theme restaurants are known for their exaggerated décor and atmosphere. In a theme restaurant, the overall “concept” influences everything from the architecture to the food. Even the music and the drinks are carefully planned to support the feel of the restaurant. Many theme restaurants attract diners based solely on the theme itself. Though the food may take a backseat to the theme, many theme restaurants are also known for their unique and creative takes on traditional menu items.

The first theme restaurants are believed to have opened in the 1910s and 1920s. One of the first examples is Bernstein's Fish Grotto, which opened in San Francisco in 1912 with an entrance created to look like the Nina, one of Columbus' ships. Theme restaurants of the 1910s and 1920s were seen as isolated oddities, however, not an overall trend in restaurant style. Los Angeles was long known as the center of the theme restaurant movement; the city was home to Ye Bull Pen Inn, which opened in 1920 with a dining room divided into stalls and rough, unfinished wood panels for the walls and ceiling. Several other restaurants of this era in downtown Los Angeles were built to look like prisons or ships. What set theme restaurants apart, however, was not only the outward appearance, but also the creatively themed ambience found inside.

Over the years, several restaurant entrepreneurs have been named the father of the theme restaurant. One of these is Victor Bergeron of the famous Trader Vic's chain of tiki restaurants. Another is Don the Beachomber's, a tiki chain founded in 1934. Both restaurants served standard Asian fare with a unique tiki twist. Both are characteristic of the larger theme restaurant movement, in which the restaurant is not just about food, but about atmosphere and providing an escape from everyday life.

Another famous purveyor of theme restaurants is David Tallichet, who began in the 1960s to decorate restaurants with various themes, from Polynesian island resorts to French farmhouses to New England fishing villages. Most of his restaurants were located in Southern California, including the Proud Bird restaurant at the Los Angeles airport, where diners could listen to control-tower messages through headphones.  Though theme restaurants had certainly been around long before the 1960s, most notably in the tiki craze that began in the 1930s, Tallichet is noted for popularizing the concept through his use of a wide range of themes.

Today, there are theme restaurants for dozens of themes. Some of the more popular are Medieval Times restaurants and other castle-themed enterprises, many of which offer nightly jousting contests or other shows, and the Rainforest Cafe chain, known for its tropical rainforest décor which often includes a show aquarium in the middle of the restaurant. Several other popular theme restaurant chains include the Hard Rock Cafe featuring rock music memorabilia and Planet Hollywood, known for its collection of movie memorabilia. Though these are among the most well-known themes, there are certainly others, ranging from commonplace to quite unusual, such as “das Klo” (“the toilet”) in Germany or “The Safe House,” a spy-themed restaurant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

If you are hosting a tiki party, then you are undoubtedly in search of some tiki music. This style of music, which can make listeners feel as though they are on a tropical island, began as part of the tiki craze in the 1940s and 1950s. A style known as “exotica” or “exotic lounge music,” this style fits in perfectly with hula girls, tiki statues, and other symbols of tiki culture. It was often played at the most popular tiki bars and restaurants of the 1950s and 1960s. One of the most popular tiki artists, whose work is still quite popular today, is Martin Denny.

The use of the name “exotica” to represent tiki music actually comes from an album created by Martin Denny in 1947. He has even been described as the father of exotic music, and according to many, his songs best represent this genre, a fusion of jazz and jungle with a Caribbean drum beat.

Like many tiki artists, Denny was not born on a Polynesian or Hawaiian island as his music would suggest. He was actually born in 1911 in New York, though he was raised in Los Angeles. In his early years, Denny studied classical piano. Later he would tour South America with an orchestra, where he first became fascinated by the Latin rhythms that would later make their way into his music. During these early years, he also developed a large collection of ethnic instruments from cultures worldwide, which he would use both in recordings and in his live performances.

Denny is particularly well-known for songs written to celebrate tiki culture, as well as re-recordings of popular songs with the incorporation of his unusual tropical style. Often these songs incorporated not only exotic instruments, but also bird calls and even frogs croaking.

Like many involved in the tiki craze, he served with United States Armed Forces during World War II. Upon his return, he immediately resumed his musical training, studying piano, composition, and orchestration at the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music and at the University of Southern California.

In 1954, Denny was invited by Don the Beachcomber, founder and owner of the world-famous chain of Don the Beachcomber tiki-themed restaurants and bars, to perform in Hawaii for two weeks. As a result of this two-week engagement, Denny was soon signed to Liberty Records, where Denny played piano with other band members joining him. One of them, Arthur Lyman, would soon become a well-known tiki artist in his own right.

Martin Denny’s first album, Exotica, was released in 1957 and soon reached #1 on the charts. In 1958, Denny was invited to be on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand. Denny’s recording career, spanning over two decades, includes dozens of studio albums in addition to many compilations of his best work, owing to his popularity over the decades. Due to his prolific career, he often had three or four albums on the charts simultaneously.

Martin Denny performed well into his 1980s and toured the world to popularize his unique style of exotic lounge music. In 2005, Martin Denny passed away at the age of 93 in Honolulu.

Trader Vic was the nickname of Victor Jules Bergeron, Jr., who was born in 1902. He was the founder of a chain of Polynesian-themed restaurants, each of which bore his nickname. Along with Don the Beachcomber, purveyor of a competing chain of tiki-style restaurants, Trader Vic claimed to have invented the Mai Tai drink.

Trader Vic’s tiki restaurant chain began in 1934, when he opened a small bar and restaurant near his parents’ grocery store in Oakland, California. Known as Hinky Dink’s, this restaurant had a tropical flare, but had not yet developed the full tiki style for which later Trader Vic’s restaurants would be known. Through the years, Hinky Dink’s developed an increasingly Polynesian or Hawaiian theme, which would be carried through Trader Vic’s other theme restaurants.

By 1936, Trader Vic left behind Oakland and his Hinky Dink’s restaurant to travel the world. Immersing himself in Polynesian culture, he returned invigorated, with a clear mission to inject the spirit of the islands into his restaurants so that those on the mainland could enjoy this relaxing and exotic culture in their everyday lives. Many of the artifacts seen in his earliest restaurants were those gathered during his travels in the mid-1930s.

As the tiki craze grew during the 1950s and 1960s, Bergeron took this opportunity to build his restaurant into a chain which was soon seen at quite trendy. As many as 25 Trader Vic’s locations opened around the world. Each was known for an unusual mix of Polynesian style, original cocktail recipes, and exotic cuisine. Although many of these original locations have since closed with the decline of the tiki fad, tiki culture is currently experiencing a resurgence, and along with it, Trader Vic’s has recently opened several new locations. At each of today’s incarnations of Trader Vic’s restaurants, a wood-fired oven slowly roasts meat to perfection in traditional island style.

In addition to his popular chain of restaurants, Trader Vic also published several food and drink recipe drinks and story books with a Polynesian or tiki theme. More than simply the founder of a restaurant chain, Trader Vic influenced cuisine nationwide as one of the very first theme restaurants, not to mention the popularization of tiki cuisine and culture. Bergeron himself was known for his penchant for telling colorful and exciting stories to visitors of his restaurant. A popular host, Trader Vic invented potent tropical drinks and Americanized many traditional Polynesian foods, while serving standard American or Asian dishes with a tropical flair.

Trader Vic is said to have created the Mai Tai rum cocktail at his restaurant in 1944. The name of the drink means “the very best” in Tahitian. He is also known for dozens of other unique concoctions; today over 200 original drinks can be found at Trader Vic’s bars. Many of these carefully guarded secrets have never been printed in Trader Vic’s menus or books; some of these mystery concoctions must be asked for by name, and are served in special figural glasses.

Those who know tiki know Don the Beachcomber restaurants. His restaurants popped up around the country at the very beginning of tiki craze, and were among the most popular tiki-themed bars and restaurants in the nation. In fact, he has been called the founding father of tiki restaurants, and today the style of most Polynesian or tiki-themed restaurants is a direct descendant from his creations. Who was Don the Beachcomber?

Born Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt in Texas in 1907, he left home at the age of nineteen to travel around the world on his own. In these trips he visited countless islands in the Caribbean and in the South Pacific, surely the inspiration he would later draw upon for his tiki-style restaurants. As the legend goes, he was a bootlegger during prohibition before settling in Hollywood, where he opened the Don’s Beachcomber bar in 1934. It was followed by the very first Don the Beachcomber restaurant in 1937. Built during the later years of the Depression, this escape from everyday life quickly gained popularity, especially with the Hollywood elite.

Don the Beachcomber restaurants were known not only for their unique ambience, but also for the drinks, strong rum cocktails served at a distinctively decorated bar. There, Don the Beachcomber created Tahitian Rum Punch, Navy Grog, The Zombie, and other cocktails that are now well-known. A competitor’s attempt to copy his Zombie rum cocktail was even served during the 1939 New York World’s Fair. He also claimed to have created the Mai Tai, though his claim was disputed by Victor Bergeron, founder of the competing Trader Vic’s tiki-style restaurant chain, who also claimed to have created the drink. In all, Don the Beachcomber is said to have concocted over 80 unique drink recipes.

At Don the Beachcomber’s restaurant, diners ate what seemed like exotic cuisines. In actuality, they ate standard Cantonese and other Asian dishes served with flair. It is widely believed that the first “pu pu platter” (Polynesian-style appetizer plate) was probably served at a Don the Beachcomber restaurant.

Don the Beachcomber, then still known as Gantt, served in the United States Army during World War II. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star while serving in Italy. While Gannt was serving in the war, his restaurants flourished. Under his wife’s management, the single Don the Beachcomber restaurant was transformed into a chain with 16 locations. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, the tiki fad gave his restaurants a tremendous burst of popularity, and Don the Beachcomber restaurants opened nationwide. Besides the popular restaurant chain, he also opened a “Polynesian Village” at his ranch in Encino, California, where he entertained Hollywood celebrities.

Once his restaurants became popular, many people began calling him Don the Beachcomber. As a result, he changed his name several times, from Donn Beach-Comber to Donn Beachcomber. He finally settled on the name Donn Beach, and eventually divorced his wife and moved to Hawaii, where he founded the International Marketplace in Honolulu. He passed away in Honolulu in 1989 at the age of 81.

Did you know that tattooing was a common practice even a thousand years ago in the Pacific islands? In Hawaii, tattoos have traditionally been used not only as a form of personal expression but also to distinguish between different tribes. Traditional Hawaiian tattoos were created with bird beaks, bones, and claws, not tattoo machines. These tattoos were usually either symmetrical geometric designs or pictures of flowers or animals. Today, tropical flowers remain one of the most popular tattoo design choices for residents of Hawaii as well as those on the mainland.

Hawaiian tattoos carry different meanings depending on the placement of the tattoo. Facial tattoos were once quite common, especially on the cheeks or forehead. Hawaiian tattoo designs have personal hidden meanings, but unlike in Samoan cultures, most tattoos were not applied for ceremonial purposes. Popular places for a Hawaiian flower tattoo include a single flower on the shoulder or hip, a lei around the arm or ankle, or a vine creeping up the side of one leg.

Today, many people not only in Hawaii but also on the mainland choose beautiful tropical flowers for their tattoo design. These designs are exotic and pay homage to the beautiful islands of Hawaii, whether you are from the island or just enjoy island style. Others choose Hawaiian flower tattoos for their artistic appeal or for the symbol attached to the specific blossom, chosen to reflect the wearer’s personality.

When choosing a Hawaiian flower tattoo, it is important to familiarize yourself with the meanings behind each type of flower. Because each tropical flower used for tattoo designs has a specific meaning. For example, the Plumeria, a fragrant bloom, symbolizes welcome, hospitality, warmth, and friendship. This meaning comes from its use in the leis that are given to visitors on the Hawaiian Islands. The Plumeria also symbolizes spring, and is associated with life and procreation.

Anthuriums, birds of paradise, and orchids are most often chosen because of their distinctive tropical look. Native Hawaiian orchids are endangered, and many people take its meaning to be rare beauty or a threatened love. Orchids also stand for luxury, beauty, love, or strength, and are chosen for their elegant beauty.

The yellow hibiscus, another popular tattoo choice, is also Hawaii’s state flower. Hibiscus flowers may range in color from pinks and purples to yellow, white, or even red. This flower is perhaps the best representation of the Hawaiian culture. It may also represent tenderness or delicate beauty, because its blossoms only last a short while. The hibiscus symbolizes the shortness of life, and is often used to mean “seize the opportunity.”

Hawaiian flower tattoos are often designed with bold black lines and beautiful colors. They may be drawn in a feminine style, or in a tribal design. A Hawaiian floral-theme tattoo may be used to symbolize your ties to Hawaii, or chosen because of its unique exotic look. Often, several different floral species are combined, or the imagery of Hawaiian flowers is combined with dolphins or other symbols of the Hawaiian Islands in a larger tattoo design.

Though tiki culture peaked during the 1950s and 1960s, today tiki collectibles remain popular with a wide group of enthusiasts. In fact, according to many, there is currently a resurgence of tiki culture. Those who weren’t old enough to remember the original tiki décor are gravitating towards this unique and exotic style. As some have noted, the appeal of tiki is nearly universal.

Today, vintage tiki mugs are coveted collectors’ items, and they are quickly scooped up from any thrift store or antique shop. As the majority of tiki bars and restaurants closed throughout the 80’s, and 90s, such stores were flooded with tiki mugs and other wares, where they sat untouched. Though they once collected dust as relics of a bygone era, tiki memorabilia is now very hot, partly because of its “camp” or “kitschy” value. Collectors enjoy the over-the-top designs, while decorators love their unique style.

Tiki memorabilia is not just seen in kitschy collectibles from years past. Tiki décor is today a wildly popular decorating style for the home. There are even modern artists who carve wooden Tiki gods that have sold out instantly to Tiki collectors. They don't need to be vintage or rare to be enjoyed by many who simply want to bring a little island style to the mainland. Though tiki décor is quite varied, Tikiphiles will remind you that tiki does not mean plastic neon Hawaiian leis and a cheap ukulele. The movement was much more sophisticated than that.

New tiki mug designs blend the traditional shape with bright new colors for a new generation. Since they are so popular, tiki mugs can also be purchased new, especially in souvenir shops or those offering tiki décor. These mugs are great to display, but even better to keep at your home bar to serve tropical drinks, as they were meant to be used.

Tiki drinks, of course, have never gone out of style. Though eclipsed for a time by the margarita and other trendy drinks, the Mai Tai is here to stay. In a unique blending of the Mexican and Polynesian cultures, a new brand of Mexican tequila has a five inch glass tiki inside the bottle.

Tiki culture has recently been covered in several newly-published books. Many of these focus specifically on the tiki mug, the most iconic representation of tiki culture, while others commemorate this unique cultural phenomenon as a whole. Thousands of tiki fans lament the demise of fun and unique tiki restaurants from the heyday of the tiki era. Tiki collectors also gravitate towards various websites and ezines covering Tiki culture, such as “Twisted Times.”

Polynesian themes can even be seen at a site at Burning Man, an annual Nevada desert gathering of artists and neo-pagans, where the Tiki Camp began around 1994. Other annual tiki events include those at Tiki Oasis in San Diego and The Hukilau at Fort Lauderdale, both popular spots where thousands of Tikiphiles gather.

Not only are there gatherings for tiki fans, but new tiki restaurants are beginning to open in what many have described as a tiki revival. The newest tiki bar has recently opened at the Venetian in Las Vegas. As new tiki-themed bars and restaurants open, the world of tiki fans is sure to grow as more people are drawn to the unique charm of tiki décor.

Hawaii is known for its natural beauty. It's no wonder that so many people choose to take their vacations in this paradise. This great atmosphere is owed, at least in part, to the many beautiful species of tropical flowers native to Hawaii. These exotic blooms are an instantly recognizable Hawaiian symbol, and have made their way into décor, weddings, and even tattoos.

On Hawaii, a lei is a wreath of flowers given as a gift at many celebrations and other occasions. You may even receive one upon your arrival to Hawaii, or at a luau, if you attend one. The flower most often seen in a lei is the plumeria, known for its delicate pink or white star-shaped blossom. Another flower that you may notice in leis is a lehua blossom, recognizable for its bright flowers and soft, needle-like petals. The lehua is the official bloom of the Big Island.

The Hawaii state flower is the yellow hibiscus, known to native Hawaiians as the pua aloalo. With wide, soft pedals, the hibiscus is easily identified by its scent. Considered Hawaii’s official flower since the 1920s, it is also found in white, pink, red, and purple. This is the flower that most people believe best represents the Aloha spirit and all things Hawaii.

Each island also has its own official flower; look for these blooms on your next vacation. On Oahu, the official bloom is the yellow ilima, which resembles a small hibiscus. It is used medicinally and for leis. This flower can be found growing as groundcover all over the island.

On the Big Island, it’s the ohia lehua, which is considered sacred to the volcano goddess Pele. This evergreen shrub often is the first plant to start growing after an area has been covered in lava. It is spiky yet soft, and looks quite exotic even in Hawaii.

Kauai’s official bloom is actually a shrub, not a flower, the anise-scented mohikana. A member of the citrus family, the fruit is used for the making of wreaths and as a very strong perfume.

The official flower of Maui is the pink lokelani, which is the only non-native flower to be designated a Hawaiian state flower. Brought to the islands by the Spanish in the 1880s, it is also known as the Maui Rose, and has a beautiful velvety color and fragrant scent.

Molokai’s official flower is the white kukui blossom. Originally brought to the islands by the Polynesians, it was once used for medicine, dye, food, and decoration. The nuts were eaten and used for oils; their black dye was once used for tattoos. The wood could be used for making canoes. Today this plant is still used in lei making.

Kaunaoa, a yellow and orange air plant, is Lanai’s official plant. This rare plant is not often seen, even on Lanai. On Nihau Island, it’s the white pupu shell, not a plant at all. This distinctive shell is used to make prized leis.  On Koho’olawe, which is uninhabited, the hinahina is the official plant. The hinahina has small white or pale purple blooms with a yellow eye. This plant doesn’t require a lot of water to survive, and there isn’t a lot of fresh water on Koho’olawe.

Other flowers commonly associated with the Hawaiian islands are orchids, anthuriums, heliconias, and ginger. Though there are three species of orchid that are native to Hawaii, the rest of these have all been imported. The heliconia, or bird of paradise, has a unique wax-like appearance. This is one of the most exotic-looking plants on all of Hawaii. Anturiums are quite large, with leaves of many different colors. Botanical gardens throughout the islands provide ample opportunity to see these species and many more.

From the late 1940’s to the mid-1960’s, the tiki craze swept the nation as servicemen returned from the South Pacific with nostalgia for island culture. This fad took on many forms, but is perhaps best known for tiki restaurants. Tiki (or “south sea chic”) restaurants of the 1950’s had very unique décor as their owners tried to interpret the tiki style of the islands. These over-the-top restaurants included large tiki bars, statues and masks, and tiki music for ambience.

Though tiki restaurants boomed during the mid-century period, Polynesian-themed restaurants had begun to spring up in America as far back as the 1920s. There, visitors could listen to the Hawaiian music that was then making its mark on American styles of music.

In fact, the tiki restaurants that would experience the most popularity in the 1950s and 1960s got their start back in the 1930s. Don the Beachcomber’s and Trader Vic’s, the two largest tiki restaurant chains, opened locations in California in the midst of the Depression, offering an escape from reality, if only for an evening. In fact, 1934 is considered to be the official beginning of the tiki craze, though it really took off in the 1950s. The founder of Trader Vic’s was also credited with creating the Mai Tai, back in 1944. By 1960, nearly every large city throughout the country had at least one Polynesian or tiki restaurant.

The popularity of tiki restaurants was built on their ambience. Tiki restaurants always played island-style music including unique jazz combined with island beats, a combination known as “exotica,” from favorites like Martin Denny and Les Baxter. At the table, drinks were nearly always served in ceramic mugs shaped like tiki statues or masks, with their distinctive face and carved-wood appearance. The restaurants would be completely decorated inside and out with tiki décor, including flaming tiki torches outside and waterfalls and lagoons inside. The dishes were ‘exotic,’ and Asian or Polynesian influences, including pork, chicken, pineapple, teriyaki and sweet-and-sour sauce, fried rice, pu pu platters (an appetizer sampler) and more exotic dishes like crab ragoon.

In a tiki restaurant, the bar was often considered the most important part of the building. The tiki bar would be constructed of bamboo, with a faux grass skirt and large tropical flowers. Drinks came in tiki mugs or in even more imaginative creations such as “cauldrons” or coconut shells. In this exotic bar, the bartender would mix up mysterious and fruity rum-based cocktails, some of which would be served flaming. Sometimes the labels were removed from the drink bottles so that those at the bar would be given a sense of mystery about what they were drinking; both Don the Beachcomer’s and Trader Vic’s also served secret concoctions that could not be found on the menu and were sometimes served in special, larger figural glasses.

In the 1970s, the tiki craze fell victim to changing tastes as the margarita replaced the mai tai as the trendy drink. Some tiki restaurants were renovated to downplay their Polynesian theme, while others were torn down. However, the 1990s saw a resurgence of tiki popularity, and today there several examples of newly-opened Polynesian-style restaurants around the country. Today the tiki culture enjoys a loyal following, and tiki restaurants are as fun as always.

The hibiscus is a beautiful flower that is closely associated with the state of Hawaii. In fact, it is known as Hawai’s State Flower. While there are over 200 distinct species of this floral plant, only seven of them grow natively in the state of Hawaii. Tourists to the islands today may see many varieties of the hibiscus, but few of these are actually native plants. Other varieties have actually been brought to Hawaii from other tropical and subtropical climates around the world, where they grow as both annuals and perennials.

Hibiscus flowers are quite large, and are generally used for ornamental or landscaping purposes, either using cut flowers or the entire plant. These iconic flowers are often used in flower leis, though other flowers, particularly the orchid or plumeria, are also popular for this purpose. The cut flowers are often found decorating the side of a fruity tropical drink.

There are many unique uses for the hibiscus, too. The strong fibers of hibiscus bark can be used to make grass skirts or paper. This plant has also been used for teas (known as karkady) and jams. Some people believe that hibiscus extract will relieve constipation or nausea. The flowers are used in shampoos, where they are said to prevent dandruff. The seed of the hibiscus is used in South America and in the West Indies as a remedy for snakebite wounds, while the Xhosa in South Africa use the leaf to dress wounds, and the Zulu use hibiscus lotion to treat skin ailments. Hibiscus juice can be found throughout Malaysia, where the hibiscus is the national flower.

It is so closely identified with the culture of the Hawaiian Islands that it is a very popular tropical-themed tattoo design. A type of hibiscus with large, red flowers can often be found in the hair of a woman. When placed behind the left ear, the flower indicates that the girl is available. When placed behind the right, the girl is taken. Giving the gift of a hibiscus bloom means “seize the day;” because hibiscus blooms only last for a short period.

Hibiscus flowers may be found in many different colors, growing on plants ranging from bushy shrubs to trees. Their wide variety of colors makes for beautiful hibiscus bouquets. Combined with the oversized flowers, hibiscus flowers make striking ornamental bouquets. These bright and tropical flowers fit in well with the décor you’ll see in Hawaii. On the mainland, hibiscus flowers are the perfect accompaniment to Hawaiian or tiki-themed décor, where they evoke the relaxed mood of the islands.

In Hawaii, the most commonly grown hibiscus species native to the Islands is the Chinese Hibiscus. This variety is commonly grown for decoration, and is also used in distinctive leis destined for special visitors or important people. This variety is the one known as the official state flower; it is also known as “Pua Aloalo” by native Hawaiians. Some native varieties of the hibiscus are very rare. The hibiscus arnottianus immaculatus grows in mountainous areas of western Oahu, and its flowers are large and white. There are believed to be less than a dozen of this hibiscus species left in the wild.

The hibiscus is a tropical plant that needs a warm climate and high humidity to thrive. If you plan to grow a hibiscus indoors to complement your tropical or tiki décor, they must be kept in temperatures between seventy and eight five degrees Fahrenheit, and you must never let the soil dry completely. In Hawaii, dozens of hibiscus gardens have been planted with both native and imported varieties, becoming a popular tourist attraction.

Leis are beautiful wreaths or necklaces of tropical flowers. In ancient times, a lei was worn as a symbol of the wearer’s rank in society. Different ranks were distinguished by the type of flower or complexity of their leis. Today, the governor of Hawaii and other important figures may wear leis for public appearances and holidays.

A lei in both ancient and modern times may be worn for important occasions such as births, deaths, victories, graduations, or religious ceremonies. Religious ceremonies incorporating leis were once held to ask the gods for safety when fishing or traveling, or to pray for fertile crops. Depending on the symbolism of the occasion, different varieties of flowers may be incorporated into the lei.

This traditional Hawaiian gift is given as a symbol of love, respect, or appreciation. Although in centuries past the lei held very specific meanings, today they are given for many varying occasions and reasons. Although not part of the ancient Hawaiian custom, today a kiss on the cheek often accompanies the lei.

Today, leis are often incorporated into weddings. The couple may exchange leis as a symbol of love and commitment. Before this ceremony, the wedding officiate will hold and bless the leis. Lei ceremonies at weddings can also involve the couple giving leis to family members to symbolize the joining of the two families. In Hawaii or for tropical-themed weddings, leis are worn by the wedding party in place of corsages or boutonnieres. Leis are often given as wedding favors as a symbol of appreciation for supporting the couple on their special day.

The lei can also be seen as a symbol of the “spirit of aloha” that exists in the Hawaiian Islands. ‘Aloha’ is difficult to translate, but it means a greeting, a farewell, love, joy, hope, and other feelings. The beautiful flower lei is seen as a non-verbal expression of aloha. In Hawaii, May Day has been known as “Lei Day” since 1928. Thousands of leis are given on this day. Today, many tourists receive a lei upon their arrival to the Hawaiian islands as a welcoming gesture.

A lei is a special gift that should be treasured. Each lei has been hand-woven, and it represents a gift of love. Each island has its own designated lei color. Some leis are considered quite rare because they are made from special flowers which are not found in large numbers on the Hawaiian Islands. Receiving such a lei is considered a very high honor; many of these leis are created specifically to adorn the important statues and monuments located throughout the islands.

If you are the recipient of a lei, wear it around your neck, on the brim of a hat, or wrapped around your head. If you are a pregnant woman, do not wear the lei around your neck. According to superstition, this symbolizes the umbilical cord tangling. A lei should not be removed when in the presence of the lei giver. Today, there is almost no restriction on the meaning behind a lei. It is given on dozens of different occasions for a wide range of symbolic reasons.

Hula hoops are simple hoops that are kept around the waist by swinging the hips in a hula-like motion.  Although hula hoops became a cultural craze during the 1950s, the toy actually dates back much earlier. While modern versions are made of plastic tubing, originally hula hoops were formed from rattan, grapevines, or stiff grasses, among other natural materials.

Using hoops as a toy dates back to ancient Greece and Egypt as well as several Native American cultures, where the hoop dance was used to tell stories. By the eighteenth century, a hoop toy had become quite common in many cultures, although it had not yet earned its name. It was not until British sailors visited the islands of Hawaii during the early nineteenth century that the hoop toy became associated with traditional hula dancing, which involves a similar movement of the hips.

The first modern hula hoop was made of bamboo, and was sold in 1957 only in Australia. When the supplier could not produce enough of these bamboo hula hoops to meet the high demand found with this toy, Alex Tolmer of Toltoys began producing plastic hoops. Over 400,000 plastic hula hoops were sold in Australia by Toltoys in 1957 alone. In 1958, novelty toy company Wham-O marketed the hula hoop in the United States, with over 25 million sold in the first four months and 100 million sold during the year. The hula hoop fad only lasted a few months, but by the time it was over, millions of hula hoops were sold, and they had gained their place in cultural history.

Incidentally, the timing of the 1950s hula hoop craze coincided with the popularity of tiki collectibles throughout the United States. Soldiers who had been stationed in Hawaii and on other islands in the Pacific returned from World War II with an interest in the cultures they had experienced. As a result, hundreds of tiki-themed restaurants opened, and related décor became quite popular for the home. The hula hoop craze fit right in with this environment.

In the late 1960s, the hula hoop again rose in popularity thanks to a national competition staged by Wham-O. The National Hula Hoop Contest, later known as the World Hula Hoop Championship, grew from a small competition in 1968 to over two million participants in 1980. This unique competition laid the foundation for what is known as the “freestyle hula hoop” movement. Contestants are judged on their performance of basic hula hoop moves and freestyle hula routines set to music. Today there are numerous world records for various aspects of hula hooping.

Modern hula hoops range from a plastic child’s toy to elaborate hoops designed for dancing adults. They may have LED lights or unique designs; some, called fire hoops, can even be lit on fire. This technique often draws from native fire dancing traditions from cultures around the world dating back centuries. Modern hula hoops for adults are often heavier than the child-sized counterpart to allow for more difficult technical moves that require additional momentum. Today, hula hoops are also popular at tiki parties and other tropical-themed events.

Hawaii is famous for it beautiful and exotic flowers, most of all orchids. Orchids are used for dressing up a drink, decorating a tropical-themed room, or even making a lei. Orchid designs are often found on Hawaiian shirts and other souvenirs of Hawaii. In native Hawaiian culture, orchids are a symbol of love, joy, and friendship.

Orchids are cultivated in Hawaii to be sent all over the world. They grow wild on the islands of Hawaii due to the tropical climate and warm temperature year-round. Unlike some other tropical plants, orchids enjoy the relatively low humidity in Hawaii. They are grown on Hawaii for floral arrangements, to be sold as live plants, and for traditional flower leis. In fact, orchid cultivation is a major industry on Hawaii, where suppliers cultivate orchids for export to North America and around the world. Orchids can also be seen adorning homes all over the islands.

The orchid species is known for its large and colorful flowers; there are dozens of varieties grown worldwide, each with their own exotic shapes and colors. The Hawaiian islands are home to only three native orchid species. All three varieties of native Hawaiian orchid have sticky leaves and dull colored flowers when compared with other orchid species cultivated worldwide. These native species are becoming increasingly hard to come by because their rainforest habitat is being threatened by human activity.

The Liparis Hawaiensis, or twayblade, can be found on all of the major islands of Hawaii. It grows wild in the rain forest and grows to be about 16 inches tall. Most examples of the twayblade orchid are found at high altitudes. This species often grows high up on tree trunks. The twayblade sometimes blooms year-round, although most blooms are found from May to November. Their blooms are tiny, delicate, and greenish-white. Twayblade blooms are typically long-lasting.

The Plantanthera Holochila is an endangered species also known as the fringed orchid. It is only rarely seen on the Big Island. Some botanists speculate that it is already extinct on O’ahu, where its rare blooms have not been seen in over sixty years. The Plantanthera Holochila orchid thrives in wet conditions, like those found in bogs, and grows to be about 20 inches tall. It typically grows on the ground, in the shade. Its blooms form in dense clusters of up to 60 beautiful flowers with yellowish-green buds on spike-like stems. Unfortunately, is expected that the Plantanthera Holochila will soon be extinct, as only a handful still survive.

The most common orchid species in Hawaii, the Anoectochilus Sandvicensis, can be found on every major Hawaiian island, and is known as the “jewel orchid” for its beautiful foliage. Found high in the rain forests, this orchid species can grow up to 20 inches tall. Although it sometimes blooms year-round, most blooms are found from August to December. The flowers are yellow, and grow on thick stems.

Although these are the only three native orchid species, countless others can be found in the public gardens on Hawaii. These beautiful gardens house hundreds of orchid plants for visitors’ enjoyment. Another way to enjoy exotic orchid species is to keep them in your home as a form of exotic décor. Though they are tropical flowers, some species can adapt to conditions found inside the typical home.

You may not realize it, but the food you eat today is shaped by technology, cultural trends, and world events. In each new decade, various food trends reflect the wider world. The 1960s was a time of dramatic dining trends that still exist today in one form or another, whether in nostalgic or “retro” forms or as a part of our everyday life in the 21st century.

Fine Dining - The simple and homecooked foods of the 1950s, such as casseroles, gave way to elaborate meals, particularly French-inspired cuisine. Big names like Jacqueline Kennedy and Julia Child ushered in a new era of dining. Homemakers around the nation began experimenting with more elaborate dishes. Popular dishes included beef Wellington and Swedish meatballs. Dishes that seem commonplace today, like French onion soup and omelets, were popularized by television chef Julia Child, whose show first aired in 1963.

Vegetarian Dishes - Although it may seem strange to think about in today’s culture, there was once a time when vegetarian options simply could not be found on most restaurant menus. The vegetarian movement that resulted in greater awareness and presence of vegetarian menu options had its roots in the turbulent 1960s. It was helped along by American entrepreneur Frieda Caplan, who introduced then-exotic produce like mangoes, kiwis, and shitake mushrooms. Although these foods are found in almost every supermarket today, they were relatively unknown in American kitchens until the 1960s. The salad bar was also born during this time.

Ethnic Cuisines - Other unusual foods were also being introduced to the American market during the 1960s, including many exotic flavors. Japanese steakhouses with hibachi-style grills first opened during the 1960s, including Benihana, which remains popular today. Soul food including hush puppies, fried chicken, and country fried steak also became popular, and went well with the soul music of the 1960s era.

Tiki restaurants began serving pineapple-laden drinks in tiki statue-shaped mugs and offering unique cuisine inspired by island cultures. This trend began growing in the 1950s as soldiers returned from their World War II posts in Hawaii and other islands, enthralled with the culture they saw there. This kitschy trend reached its peak in the 1960s.

Junk Food and Restaurant Chains - Along with these delicious and nutritious options came the rise of junk food. Dozens of today’s most popular junk food staples were introduced during this era. They were originally aimed at the baby boomers with their large expendable income. Many popular restaurant chains, particularly fast food, also began in the 1960s. The first Wendy’s opened in 1969, for example.

Suburban Barbecues - With the rise of the suburbs, Americans began to enjoy backyard barbecues, ranging from Fourth of July barbecues to theme parties such as Hawaiian luaus. Outdoor entertaining took many forms in this era.

Flaming Foods - Unique flaming dishes became all the rage, including steak Diane, cooked tableside, and baked Alaska, a meringue dessert popular for backyard parties. While not technically flaming, fondue meals, originally a Swiss idea, became quite popular. Some tiki restaurants served flaming drinks in cauldron-shaped mugs. Along with Japanese steakhouses and themed parties, these lent a bit of theatrical excitement to dinner.

Ni’ihau is the smallest of the eight inhabited Hawaiian Islands. It measures approximately 69.5 square miles, and is located southwest of Kauai. The small island of Lehua is just 0.7 miles north of Niihau. There is no electricity on Ni’ihau, and no roads, hotels, or restaurants. Today Ni’ihau is a private island.

By 1785, King Kamehameha had unified all of the Hawaiian Islands except for Kauai and Ni’ihau. He tried to conquer the island twice; both attempts failed. Finally, in 1810 he returned with a great fleet, and the native rulers of Ni’ihau surrendered rather than risk another fight.

Ni’ihau is known as the “Forbidden Isle” because it is a private island closed to most tourists. The island has been privately owned since 1864, when it was purchased from King Kamehameha IV by the Robinson family for the price of $10,000 in gold. The family reportedly chose the island over Waikiki and Pearl Harbor, among other choice pieces of real estate. Today, descendants of this original family still own the island.

During the early years of private ownership, the island remained open to visitors and native Hawaiians. The purchase contract required the family to help preserve Hawaiian culture and tradition. Most residents still speak the Hawaiian language today, the only Hawaiian island where this is true. By 1875, the population of Ni’ihau included about 350 native Hawaiians and 20,000 grazing sheep. However, descendants of the original Robinson family closed the island to most visitors, including relatives of the native inhabitants, in 1915.

In 2000, the official census population of Ni’ihau was 160. Today, the only people allowed onto Ni’ihau are the owners, US Navy personnel, government officials, and invited guests. The island is accessible by boat or by helicopter. A small Navy installation is located on the island, although there are no military personnel permanently stationed there.

There are a few supervised tours that are allowed on Ni’ihau, although these are limited. For tourists lucky enough to visit the island on such a tour, Ni’ihau offers diving, hiking, and hunting safaris. Ni’ihau is home to several lakes, giving much of the island a wetland habitat. It is considered a critical habitat for several native Hawaiian species. The endangered Hawaiian monk seal has a population of about 35 on Ni’ihau, with ten to twelve born on the island each year.

Ni’ihau is famous for the “Ni’ihau Incident” during the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. A Japanese fighter pilot crashed on the island and terrorized its residents for about a week before being captured and killed. Later, the island was seriously considered as the headquarters for the new United Nations. Although this proposal received intense study, it was not chosen.

During the twentieth century, the Robinson family ran Ni’ihau Ranch, which employed most residents of Ni’ihau. The family closed the ranch in 1999, and to date no other large economic activity has taken its place. Today, other economic activities on Nihau include fishing, sheep, charcoal production, and honey. Mullet farming is popular; many ponds and lakes are stocked with baby mullet which are later sold on the islands of Kauai and Oahu.

Nii’hau is known for its shell lei, or lei pupu. The shells wash onto the island’s shores all winter. Sales of shells and jewelry made from the shells provide a source of income for many local residents. These leis are known throughout the islands for their beauty. In fact, Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle signed a bill in 2004 to prevent counterfeit Nii’hau shell leis. Some can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars because of their rarity and beauty.

The island was also once known for mat weaving using a native plant that used to grow on the edges of Nii’hau’s lakes. These mats were known as some of the finest in that area of the world, but Nii’hau’s residents stopped weaving them by the end of the nineteenth century. Another unique art developed only on the island of Nii’hau is known as ipu art. A design is carved into the skin of a fresh gourd. Dye is allowed to sit in the gourd for several weeks, changing the color of the uncarved portions of the gourd’s skin.