Post #416431 by Dustycajun on Thu, Oct 30, 2008 6:11 PM

As any qualified Tiki historian knows (i.e. one who has read the Book of Tiki and Tiki Modern), the Kon Tiki raft expedition led by Thor Heyerdahl contributed significantly to the Tiki movement in the 1950s and 1960s. In honor of Thor's contribution to this grand cause, I have put together this post of Tiki Boats - yes that's right, Tiki Boats!

Here are a couple of postcard shots of the original Kon Tiki boat and the museum in Oslo where you can go and see the real deal.

A Kon Tiki book and movie still.

These postcards are from the Tiki tour boat from Tiki Gardens in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida. I pretty sure that's "Trader Frank" Byars (founder of Tiki Gardens) and his wife Jo on the bow of the boat in these postcards.

These are from Captain Beans Polynesian Tour Boat from Hawaii. Check out the Tikis on the bow.

This is the Tiki Islander Tour Boat in Naples, Florida.

A brochure from the Tiki Islander Tour Boat posted previously on TC by Tiki Trav

I'm pretty sure this is the same boat renamed as the Marco Islander.

A couple of great shots of Don The Beachcombers boat the Tamara - originally built in Hawaii and then moved to Tahiti where Donn Beach retired.

Here are some Polynesian canoes with Tikis from the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii

Here are a couple of contemporary Tiki Boats

Tikiboat tour in Newport Harbor California

Tikiboat barge in Miami Florida - looks like you could have a helluva party on that baby. This is the boat that will be used for Hukilau 2009.

A big thank you to Thor, without you and your raft we would not have all of the great Kon Tiki restaurants, Kon Tiki hotels, the Kon Tiki signs, the Kon Tiki mugs, etc.