Meaning of the open mouth on tiki carvings?

I have been trying to figure out the significance or meaning of an open mouth on a tiki carving. Does anyone know? I looked at the Bishop Museum web site, but it didn't offer any explanations. And does is mean different things on different carvings?

INTIMIDATION!

[ Edited by: TikiG 2010-05-28 14:08 ]

"Thirsty, want kava bowl!!"

Chris

Choking on cocktail umbrella

Standing in hot lava :D

Got to get your Haka on!

First step in inserting foot!

too much acidic food!

or

too much starch....

I think the best person to answer this question would be Soccer Tiki. :)

On 2010-05-28 21:02, hiltiki wrote:
I think the best person to answer this question would be Soccer Tiki. :)

I don't think so...have you noticed that since he got married, he can't open his mouth any more?

I've got an answer to the question courtesy of the Bishop Museum. The open mouth on Ku (tiki) stautes are actually functional. People would string offerings onto a cord and then hang it from the mouth of the statue.

The tongue sticking out in most Polynesian cultures is equivalent to us flipping the bird. It is a sign of disrespect and a challenge.

This thread is about the open mouth on tikis. The "tongue sticking out" thread is here: http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=23960&forum=13

Tiki at the dentist?

Umbrella fruit drinks make them...

...Burp!