Post #231360 by hodadhank on Wed, May 10, 2006 12:05 PM

On 2006-05-10 11:07, Humuhumu wrote:
...There is much more confusion about this in Florida than in other parts of the nation/world. This is probably due to the many chikee-inspired huts, grown out of traditional Seminole housing that uses thatch. They look like they would be right at home inside of a tiki bar, and the words "chikee" and "tiki" sound similar enough to those who don't know what the words mean, that in Florida, it has become common to call them "tiki" huts. But they're not, and to perpetuate that misunderstanding would do a disservice to Seminole history, Polynesian Pop history, and most of all your readers. It has made it very, very hard to find a real tiki bar in Florida!

That being said, Seminole builders can make one hell of a basic tiki hut shell. While equally adept with bamboo, their wood and palm structures are amazing. The bigger the better, and as long as you're paying, these talented Native American craftsman won't mind if you fill your new chickee with tikis, puffers and tapa cloth or simply use it as a carport.