Today, most people are familiar with tiki statues and masks from a tiki bar or a tropical-themed resort. Tiki statues have become synonymous with a certain type of tropical ambience which became popular in the 1930s. The tiki craze lasted well into the 1960s, and even today there are tiki restaurants around the country. Today, tiki decor can be found nearly anywhere, including public buildings as well as private homes. Do you ever stop to think about where this unique style comes from?

As it turns out, the story behind tiki statues is long and complicated. Though America first caught onto the craze in the twentieth century, worldwide the history of tiki dates back thousands of years.This rich history includes elements of many distinct cultures from around the world. The ancient mythology of the tiki originates in stories from the native peoples of New Zealand, Hawaii, and Polynesia.

According to the legends of the Polynesian islands, Tiki was the first man, somewhat equivalent to Adam in Christian theology. It is thought that the idea originated in the Marquesas Islands before spreading elsewhere in the South Pacific. In this ancient culture, the word ‘tiki’ is also used to describe the spirit of a god or ancestor contained in a sculpture. The sculpture, which may be wooden or stone, is carved in their image. In Polynesia, tiki statues have been found dating back at least 3,500 years. This custom resulted in the popularity of tiki statues that today can be seen all over the world.

The story of tiki is perhaps best known from the mythology of Hawaii. In the ancient Hawaiian belief system, there are four major tiki gods and dozens of minor ones. Each has their own story and a particular likeness represented in tiki statues and masks. The four major tiki gods of Hawaii are Ku (the god of war), Lono (fertility and peace), Kane (light and life), and Kanaloa (the sea).

The mythology of the tiki is also tied to the moai statues on Easter Island. These enormous stone statues look much like the smaller counterparts found elsewhere in Polynesia, and are carved to resemble large human faces with oversized features. The moai are believed to represent ancestral spirits, although little is known of the ancient culture on Easter Island.

In New Zealand, Tiki refers not to the first man, but the god who created the first man. In New Zealand, tiki statues are carved to represent gods and to house the gods’ spirits. The native peoples of New Zealand, known as Maori, wear hei-tiki pendants carved in the shape of a human figure. These pendants have a similar style to the tiki statues of Polynesia, and are worn as a type of good luck charm. Hei-tiki are a central part of Maori culture, and carry deep symbolic value.

Tikis are still a major part of the culture in many island locales. Today, because of the midcentury tiki craze, tiki statues can be found all over the world. In Polynesia, there are artists and sculptors who draw their inspiration from the tradition of tiki statue carving. In the United States, ‘tiki’ has become a blend of all of these ancient cultural forms.

Author Bio: Royal Tiki has a wide range of Tiki, hand-carved on Hawaii. Also check our Tiki hut special offers

Category: Culture
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