Do I feel a little bit bad about subjugating a culture? Maybe. But I think this is more about finding joy in the kitsch of the 1960s Tiki idea than anything else.
When I was fourteen my grandfather took me to Hawaii. Because he liked it there. And he decided I should see it. So I left my friends for spring break, but brought along my Star Wars video tapes. The place we were staying did turn out to have a VCR, and I was rewarded for bringing that extra weight.
But I digress. It was at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Honolulu that I learned that there are some places on earth where men wear skirts shorter than the women do. Quite an eye opener.
But it was probably my ex who got me more interested in Tiki. I don't know why he liked it - probably because of The Beach Boys? Nonetheless, he introduced me to Tiki Ti's, Duke's in Malibu, and we even took a trip to Hawaii.
After we broke up, I still wanted Tiki to be part of my life. So, with the help of a couple friends who have been slowly adding to my Tiki collection every birthday and Christmas, I have "Taken Back Tiki."
What is it that's so appealing, exactly? The colors, the lore, the flowers, the fun of knowing adults went nuts for this stuff fifty years ago.
Maybe it all goes back to when I was in elementary school and the local roller rink had giant Tiki masks up on the walls. Whatever it is, it makes me happy, if it's the Tiki Room at Disneyland, or a flower clip in my hair from a Hawaiian fair in Long Beach.
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