All About Tiki's: An in-depth guide

Who is the Tiki:

A typical Tiki design takes the form of a humanoid figure (human like) with larger than life eyes, a large grimacing or angry feeling mouth and arms crossing or holding their stomachs. These exaggerated features were created to show the differing abilities and temperaments of the Polynesian’s gods. Because of this, Tiki’s became representative of the Polynesians gods. Now tied to the islanders' religion, the art and sheer amount of Tiki’s grew throughout the island over time. The first Europeans became enthralled with these Tiki totems and how the islanders would interact with them. With this in mind, travel was not easy in the 1700's, especially island nations which had to be accessed by water. Only the richest Europeans owned a ship or had the ability to travel to these nations. The Tiki’s that would be brought back would become a symbol of the wealthy and well traveled that others would never be able to get their hands on.

Polynesian myth describes the original man, who also was a god, named Tiki. Tiki the god created humans and all life in his image. Thus carvings of the humanoid creature became representative of the god Tiki. Therefore, it became known that having a totem like this would bring good fortune. It was not difficult for an islander to have a because a Tiki totem could come in any shape and size. From a tiny necklace to massive totems standing at the entrance of the building, cutlery, dinner wear and everything in between could be used as a lucky totem. In addition to varying sizes of the tikis, they could also be made in varying materials like the well-known wood and stone. And the typical Tiki design could even vary between the regions where they were created. For example, the Polynesian tikis are different from the large totems that can be found on Easter Island. 

Tiki culture became very popular in the western United State of America in the 70's. Shaping the way houses were laid out, how furniture would be built and how patios would be decorated. The Tiki atmosphere became known for peaceful tranquility that all Americans are drawn too. 

The history of the Tiki:

While we touched on the background of the Tiki in the earlier section, this section will further delve into the history of the Tiki. The first man alive, similar to Christian’s Adam and Eve, was named Tiki. While he was the first living being, Maori mythology believed he was the first and only god to exist. Then like the idea of Eve, Tiki either created a wife for him or thus started a family and then the human existence, however, another story has the idea that Tiki mixed his own blood with some clay to create the first humans and remained strictly in a god to the creations capacity. A third rendition to the story explains how Tiki led an incredibly lonely existence and wanted nothing more than to have a companion. One day, while sitting by edge of the water noticed his reflection and became overjoyed. In his joy, he dove into the water to embrace his newfound friend, only to find that the reflection shattered from his dive. Filled with sorrow, Tiki filled the pool with mud in an attempt to cover the reflection in the future, but the earth rewarded him by giving birth to a female companion. 

Completely different from the Polynesians form of the singular Tiki god. The Hawaiian religion pays tribute to four gods named Ku, Lono, Kane, Kanaloa. Each god having their own realm respectively; Ku was the god of war; Lono was the god of fertility and peace; Kane the god of light; and Kanaloa the god of Sea. While the worship of these gods has dramatically decreased in passing decades the original believers paid respects to the gods in the form of prayers, lava sledding, chanting, surfing and in the most dire times; human sacrifice. With this in mind, a Tiki totem in the Hawaiian region would represent a very different concept than the Polynesian region. Because the Hawaiian region had multiple gods, the Tiki’s facial expressions could mean different things. If the Tiki’s facial expression was angry it might be an ode to Ku (the god of war), whereas a happy smiling Tiki may represent the god of light, Kane. Leading to the idea of respective main worship groups similar to Greek mythology. 

What are these fabled symbols, and how do they relate to Hawaiian culture? If you've ever seen the wooden, novelty replicas of the old hand-carved figures, you'll note that a Tiki was meant to symbolize highly significant, recognized authority, such as primary gods, guardians, and spirit forces, based on their ready positions and stern facial expressions.

Few Tiki fans are aware of the Tiki’s unique history and spirituality, but even a quick account of the Tiki’s original function will give you an idea of how important symbolism was in traditional Hawaiian society.

The Tiki's Origin (Another View):

About a thousand years ago, the earliest residents of Hawaii arrived from Polynesia, bringing religious and spiritual beliefs with them. Tikis were used to represent the numerous gods of Hawaii and Polynesia. Tiki can refer to a variety of pictures used across Polynesia, ranging from ceremonial images used by Maori tribes in New Zealand to Easter Island's moa carvings to modern-day images shown in Hawaii.

Tiki is frequently associated with the first human being on Earth in Polynesian mythology. These motifs are still employed in spiritual practices in some Polynesian tribes today. In New Zealand, miniature Tiki sculptures are commonly worn as protection against infertility.

The gods, the aina, or land, and the kanaka, or people, all lived in harmony in ancient Hawaiian civilization. The gods were appeased if the humans took care of the land in a pono (proper) manner. If the gods were pleased, the land would supply nourishment for the people via its lush growth. Each god had a variety of kinolau, or manifestations, including human and animal forms.

Tiki sculptures were constructed to depict the visage of a particular god as well as the mana, or power, of that god. With well-formed tikis, the people may be able to protect themselves from attack, boost their might in times of conflict, and be rewarded with abundant crops.

The Primary Hawaiian Gods:

Ku - the god of war

Lono - the god of agriculture and peace time

Kane - the god of creation, sunlight, forests, fresh water

Kanaloa - the god of the sea realm

What Cultures Involve Tikis:

Tiki is a Maori mythological figure. The Maori are New Zealand's indigenous Polynesian people. Tiki are the first men created by Gods, according to their faith. Polynesian cultures have carved pictures of Gods in trees from the beginning of time. When Trader Vic's first Tiki restaurant opened, he installed a similar sort of carving from Tiki outside (which became known as the "Tiki statue"). On their menus and other presentation materials, they utilized the same image. This was the start of the Tiki pop culture connection between Polynesia and the rest of the world.

The ancient Hawaiians used a variety of ingenious communication methods to keep their gods close. Tikis were designed to serve as a means of communication or engagement. The Hawaiian people were certain to pursue the proper route to conciliation if they continued to communicate with these all-powerful deities. All Hawaiians were said to be derived from the gods' ancestry. The alii nui, or high chiefs, were responsible for maintaining societal equilibrium and ensuring that the gods were treated with the utmost respect through a variety of means.

The gods' direct descendants, the alii nui, were entrusted with a considerable deal of power. In addition to Tiki figures, the higher spirits and governing deities were honored in traditional Hawaiian culture via every activity. Divine guidance dominated society, from the whale's tooth pendants, feathered helmets, and feathered cloaks worn by rulers, through animal sacrifice and religious traditions that segregated men and women during meal times.

King Kamehameha II abolished the traditional system of religion known as aikapu in 1819, and the majority of temples and sacred icons, including tikis, were destroyed. However, some Tiki relics have survived to this day as a reminder of a time when Hawaiian culture was governed by rigid religious beliefs. According to Hawaiian legend, there was a period when gods wandered the earth as men, and Tiki statues honor both their divinity and their human traits. Tikis reminded the people of how near the gods' world was, and reaffirmed their recognition of the gods' incredible might.

The first stone tikis are said to have been carved in the Marquises Islands about the year 1400. From huge sculptures of the war God Ku to pictures of various gods carved into drums, boats, or other utilitarian things, to petroglyphs etched into rock or tattoo patterns on the body, the Tiki can take many different forms. Tikis show a great level of craftsmanship and perfectionism in their creative likenesses. The most well-known Tiki has a muscular, stocky torso with a rectangular head that seems to be wearing a headpiece. With huge eyes and a stance that implies he is ready for battle, this strange figure is quite terrifying.

Beginning in the 1930s, a whole "Tiki culture" based on South Pacific island life sprang up around these strange statues. Kitsch artifacts such as Tiki sculptures, Tiki torches, rattan furniture, tropical-print textiles, and wooden or bamboo things were displayed in themed-themed restaurants. Mai tais and other fruity tropical beverages were offered in Tiki bars. Tiki culture quickly gained popularity in the United States, with South Pacific influences appearing in everything from clothes to interior design. Tiki culture, the aloha shirt, and other island emblems became extremely popular when Hawaii became a state in 1959.

Today, enormous wooden statues may be found in a variety of locations around the Hawaiian Islands, including the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu's North Shore. Visitors may enjoy a tropical beverage amidst an amazing number of Tiki memorabilia at La Marianas on Sand Island in Honolulu, probably the most popular Tiki bar in Hawaii. Visitors to Hawaii may find Tiki imagery almost anywhere, but keep in mind that these images formerly symbolized the cherished and venerated Hawaiian gods while you browse through the tourist-oriented mass-manufactured Tiki products