Post #539361 by bigbrotiki on Sun, Jun 27, 2010 6:48 PM

Interesting, good find.

On 2010-06-27 15:45, Dustycajun wrote:
Mr. Prince is a person who uses function with ethnic style which mostly are lacking in today’s designs. With his ability to design each new Hotel using local materials and talents, such as the native artists and craftsman, he produced each Hotel with its own National personality and flare but maintained the Corporate highest standards of Inter-Continental Hotel.

Using local materials and talents, and native artists and craftsmen -- like Ed Crissman at Oceanic Arts in Whittier, California? National personality and flair (!) -- like a Maori Tiki in Tahiti? :D

Another thing worth mentioning is the fact that though the Tahara'a Tiki was certainly the tallest ever carved by O.A., they used its design repeatedly for the Kona Kai chain. Its main characteristic is that it is holding a whale bone war club:

It was initially designed by Irving Weisenberg for the Kona Kai flag ship at the Philadelphia Marriot, but the Chicago Kona Kai at the O'Hare Marriot had two versions in different sizes at its exterior (on the right). One of these resides at Duke Carter's place now, you can see it in Tiki Quest.

Another thing I noticed about the Tahara'a giant is that he seems to have been brought to his knees. Unfortunately the postcard does not show its base...

...but there is one big difference between this photo shot at its inception at O.A. in 1968...

...and the swinger gal photo shot in 1979:

The Tiki was shortened at its knees. Initially, because he was too tall? Or years later, because of wood rot?
I bet Leroy or Bob would know...

[ Edited by: bigbrotiki 2010-06-27 18:58 ]