Post #362072 by christiki295 on Mon, Feb 18, 2008 11:15 PM

On 2008-02-18 13:07, bigbrotiki wrote:
Sorry, kids, I ain't buying all that namby pamby "it's all good" stuff (literally AND figuratively). I am not as much as a Tiki purist as I am its chronicler and definer, and as such I already had identified the oft quoted "Jimmy Buffett-ization" as contributing to the downfall, the devolution of Tiki in the BOT. Tommy Bahama's is doing the same thing ( well actually, not intentionally. They would, IF they would be calling themselves "Tiki"...but they are not, anywhere, ...or are they?). I had to react to the fact that T.H. was mentioned here as a possible introduction into the world of Tiki, and clear up that misunderstanding:

Now how can something that would contribute to turning a defined style into something more generic and middle of the road be a positive influence? To me, it does more damage than good by using common, bland "good taste" parameters and possibly making people think that that IS Tiki. T

TB actually does use real Tikis that we could appreciate as authentic, in my opinion. But such begs the bigger question.

Aren't we forgetting that there is a certain body of literature, authentically carved Tikis on both Hawaii and the Mainland (and Tahiti) as well as Tiki bars and a few Tiki Meccas to counteract the devolution of Tiki? Isn't it to the benefit of Tiki to have those introduced to Tiki in whatever and every manner possible in order to get the most people through the funnel to the true Tiki?

I was lucky - I learned about Tiki from the Ku at the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel - but not too many are going to have such an introduction.

More no doubt will go to TB in the Grove, or see a Tiki at Target - make the obligatory Brady Bunch reference, but some will graduate to Trader Vic's, Tiki Ti, etc. and a few will get hooked - and does not that make it all worthwhile?