Post #574159 by Grand Kahu on Tue, Feb 1, 2011 11:36 AM

Indeed, THAT is frightening to consider, that by supporting these places following misguided "renovations" we are only affirming some bean-counter's remodeling scheme. But I tend to agree with the idea that for the general population, tiki themes are not the broadest in popular appeal, but rather the sense of familiarness and neutrality are just that -- so one ends up with beige drywall as the universal "theme." Unfortunately, "modernity" or modernization gets the rap here, but this is less about good modern (ala the MCM comments) than cheap developer-driven updating. Create a clean look on the cheap, with no designer, architect (beyond what is minimally necessary) and strive to be as unoffensive as possible to the most people. Tiki, being dark, potentially "threatening" with pagan deities, naked bodies, and all sorts of non-PC imagery, is the antithesis of an cheaply "updated" interior lacking any distinguishing features which could be controversial.

I recently commented to a friend about what I expect most would overlook or find entirely innocuous in the changes to Disney's Polynesian Hotel over the last three decades, after I revisited it last year for the first time in many moons. The bright exterior trim colors, remodeling of restaurants, shops and bar were not simply "refreshing" the spaces, but had subtly changed the darker exotic vibe which had existed in the 1970s. Stainless steel and glass co-mingling with ever-friendlier pseudo tiki decor might have literally brightened the place up, thus somehow suggesting a more family friendly environment akin to a mall-side restaurant, but it diminished the continuity of the original theming by introducing materials, colors, shapes, and decidedly expensive renovations. While I have no inside track on why these deviations from the original designs took place, one can see an echo of the more horrifying updates which have obliterated some tiki sites. One can guess the brass viewed the Polynesian as a dated and worn property which needed a higher kid-friendly quotient. Introduce colors, materials, and forms which are familiar from Lilo and Stitch, McDonald's, and any one of a million generic restaurants and vaguely tropical shops to the mix and voila, an update...

Fhsst...

GK