T is for Tiki

Original image: Tiki image on Wikipedia Commons, by Jason Wehmhoener.
This is a larger than life tiki at a heiau or sanctuary on the Big Island of Hawaii.
I have adapted or remixed the original image. 

Tiki… that strange, almost classically kitschy Hawaiian souvenir that Uncle Bill brought home from his trip to Hawaii. It has funny eyes and a big open or clenched jaw, almost menacing but you can’t quite take it seriously.

Tikis are carved figurines, and are associated with various Polynesian creation myths. But to most people, they are stereotypical souvenirs one can buy from a souvenir stand or an ABC store.

Still yet, they are a symbol associated with Hawaii, even though the word tiki isn’t even Hawaiian. The letter T isn’t even in the Hawaiian alphabet! But the Hawaiians had their version of tiki sculptures, some of which are quite large.

Tiki souvenir stand at Maui Tropical Plantation.

As for smaller tikis, you can buy them all day long in Hawaii. The odd thing is, a lot of tikis sold in Hawaii are not made in Hawaii. I have a pet peeve about buying souvenirs that say Hawaii and are made on the other side of the world. So please, if you buy a tiki to sit next to the tiki from Uncle Bill, make it one that’s made in Hawaii. Ask the seller, although sometimes, ewww, the sellers don’t tell the truth, or buy it from someone who’s making it on the spot. 

A real tiki maker at work at Maui Tropical Plantation. 

Aloha and mahalo (thank you) for reading!

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