Post #690413 by creativenative on Fri, Aug 16, 2013 5:39 PM

Aloha Daniel and Welcome to Tiki Central
I’m by far not the most veteran guy on this forum but I’m learning.
First you should introduce yourself on the following thread so we all can get to know you better:
Tiki Central Forums » » General Tiki » » Official Introductions / Introduction thread! New members introduce yourself here
Then cruise around TC and you will learn something about us. I’ve learn so much this way, like all of the web, but here obviously we are more tiki specific. Sounds like you are from a tropical or subtropical State like Florida, although there is lots of discussion on Florida tiki on Tiki Central you should know the main topic of the website is like what its subtitle states: “Celebrating classic and modern Polynesian Pop” which is mid-century escapism through the manufactured Polynesian experience through tiki bars, restaurants, tropical drinks that are served in these establishments (with their tiki mugs), also the art found on the walls (including graphics and fonts on the menus and ads) for these establishments and also the exotica music found in the background of these same establishments. Lastly other architecture of that period that exudes this same dark, tropical, taboo ambiance. Tiki locations to “escape to” or live, eat or bowl in. It’s a state of being, a style. (How did I do guys?)

Now to get back to your specific question after you received this little orientation, in my opinion those “Florida tiki structures” on your link look very sound and well-made and if you have the money go for it. I’m keeping a record of this site also for those looking for this “kind” of tiki. Only thing I suggest (since it looks like they custom carve or order their own custom tiki) is to have them do a little more homework and make the tikis more realistic and not cartoonish with those giant smiles, shows more respect to the host cultures of the Pacific. I am being specific because you, like me, live in the tropics (I live in Hawaii) and we tend to build very open to enjoy the climate and the real tropics around us but this is not classic tiki, this is not escapism or the illusion of tiki, this is the real thing, especially in Hawaii as you can imagine. Although Florida tiki is very simplistic as compared to classic tiki (thatch & a tiki carving), I will say the neat thing about Florida is that with all the other sub-cultures found in that State (Seminole & Miccosukee, Caribbean African and Latin, pirate and the Margaretville culture from the Keys) tiki from the other pond, the Pacific, made its way to the southeast coast even with all the revival cultures there. Warning: don’t mix these cultures. In away, though, it’s cool and you will find whether good or not all kinds of tiki on TC even though it is not classic or the revival (the current modern version). Sorry to put you though all this and I hope you enjoy your new tiki hut just don’t build it - live it while you use it. Buy a couple Aloha shirts, shell leis and tiki mugs, again look around TC and learn more about tiki. Before you known it you’ll want to expand your tiki hut with the ability of enclosing it at times, buy a colored blow-fish lamp or two and put on that Martin Denny CD…(NEVER Jimmy Buffett) now you’re getting it, enjoy!

[ Edited by: creativenative 2013-08-16 17:43 ]