Post #241265 by Swanky on Thu, Jul 6, 2006 6:29 AM

Certainly it is more mainstream than ever in my memory. At Target last weekend they had 50 of the 3 foot plastic lawn tikis in stock along with the Mai Tiki collection. Vintage Hawaiian design is very abundant and straight up tiki images as well. In a nice tip of the hat to Poly Pop, the modern images of tikis are turning out to look like tiki mugs rather than tikis. I am finding our little man all over the place. Not just things that might go in your bar decor, but actual tiki images.

Of course, that could all change next season, but it is a growth from what was there last summer. Hawaiian shirts are really everywhere. Ms Swanky asked the attendees of Coon Tiki to wear a Hawaiian shirt so she could spot them at the airport. That's when we realized how many people wear Hawaiian shirts!

But, in terms of this community of vintage Poly Pop, that is another story. It arose from obscurity to where it is in about 4 years. It's definitely in a new stage. A certain excitement has worn off. Newness. But, we are all developing friendships over time too, and the general state of the collections and home bars and scattered events is better and better.

There was talk of making this the last year for Hukilau. Go out on a high note. Wondering if it would draw the people next year after this 50th Mai Kai anniversary. I think there are enough Florida people to make it a big event just as California people keep Oasis strong. More than 50% of the attendees of Hukilau are from Florida.

If you define Tiki Central and our Poly Pop by the standards of 3 years ago, you could say it is dead. If you see it as an evolving community and all that it now encompasses, it is alive and strong.