Post #102388 by bigbrotiki on Sun, Jul 18, 2004 9:47 AM

As Al pointed out, you have hit upon the difference between Polynesian culture and Polynesian Pop. In the 50s and 60s, ALL Oceanic effigies became known as Tikis. Might I quote the Book of Tiki:
"...a new figurehead of Polynesian Pop emerged: the carved native idol commonly referred to as Tiki. Not withstanding the fact that the term did not exist in the Hawaiian or Tahitian language, and that the stone sculptures of Easter Island were actually called “moai”, in Polynesian Pop all Oceanic carvings became members of one happy family: The Tikis.
.... Although the form they took was inspired by their Polynesian predecessors, American Tikis were more often then not freeform interpretations of several island styles mixed with good dose of cartoon whimsy and a dash of modern art."
And:
"Heyerdahl’s 1955 book about his Easter Island expeditition, “Aku Aku”, proved equally as influential to Polynesian Pop. The book’s cover became such a popular icon that the giant stone statues, correctly termed “moai”, became known as Aku Aku heads, or even Aku-Tikis, making them a widespread theme in American Tikidom."

However, in the Tiki revival, "Aku Tikis" is not used much. The generic "Tikis" is often completed with "Easter Island heads" or "Moai" in order to specify the style.