Living the Tiki lifestyle once conjured the gentle sound of distant waves and lilting ukuleles, the rustic comforts of a poolside hammock beneath swaying palms. Those drawn to this Polynesian fantasy decorated their living rooms with bamboo furniture and learned the steps to native dances, while cultivating a taste for exotic foods and sweet rum cocktails. In the mid-20th century, such tropical trends offered a viable escape for those tired of the constraints of capitalism and Western religious morals: At its heart, American Tiki worship reflected a longing for life outside the stressful confines of urban America, a desire to connect with the majesty of nature, as well as the baser pleasures of food, drink, music, and sex.
Tiki culture actually owes its existence to the intersection of complex forces, ranging from the tall tales favored by European explorers and World War II veterans to the wider appreciation of native art forms, like the carved wooden idols common to Polynesian islands. Today, the Tiki trend is viewed as pure mid-century kitsch, like the maraschino cherry on your happy-hour Mai Tai. But Americans haven’t lost their lust for the tropical lifestyle, as evidenced by Hawaii’s multibillion-dollar tourism industry—we simply confine it to the rare vacation, rather than embracing Tiki culture as part of our daily lives.
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