Post #428747 by bigbrotiki on Wed, Jan 14, 2009 1:48 PM

The above question strikes me as a little naive in two ways, so I feel compelled to post a little Tiki mug history and reality review:

1.) Tiki style in general was an American mainland phenomenon. Tiki mugs were invented as a MAINLAND Polynesian restaurant souvenir, and during the heyday of Tiki, thousands were created and sold to rum-happy customers. Yet Tiki culture came to a grinding halt in the 1970s, and by the 80s the Tiki mug custom was virtually dead. Almost none of the few remaining restaurants served in and sold Tiki mugs anymore. (There were exceptions, I bought a Bumatay mug I drank out of at the Hala Kahiki as late as 1996). But in general, they were just not available anymore. AND: Even during that heyday period of Tiki, mugs created for Hawaiian restaurants and resorts made up for maybe 5% of all the Tiki mugs created --because Tiki style was not really present in the Islands.

2.) Fast forward to the 1990s and 2000s: Tiki mugs became collectibles, and with the growth of the Tiki revival, were being manufactured again --first one by one by pioneers of the art like Bosko, than by Tiki Farm, whose mass-manufacturing did make it viable to consider using Tiki mugs as restaurant ware again --but this did not begin to happen until, oh, 2005 or so. This of course again was attempted on the mainland first. Tiki Farm has made great strides in bringing back the memento Tiki mug custom, and with Frankie's Tiki Room in Las Vegas created the first lavish, complete line of Tiki mugs available from a cocktail menu since the 1960s (!). Yet to find a take-home Tiki mug is still a comparatively rare occurrence. And just like during the mid-century, to find establishments that serve cocktails in take -home Tiki mug in the ISLANDS is that much rarer, I can't think of one, but I am sure Holden would know.

This is not to say that this question is not best posted here on Tiki Central, because if anybody knows, they would be found here. There might be some mug designs floating around by Asian restaurant supply companies still, just like they were in the 80s and 90s, but I consider these not really representative of the Tiki mug as a desirable art object.