Tiki Life Ticks On: Why Polynesian Pop Culture Never Goes Out of Style

Explore the Timeless Allure of Tiki Culture, from Classic Cocktails to Modern Day Revival

For as this appalling ocean surrounds the most verdant land, so in the soul of man, there lies one insular Tahiti, full of peace and joy

Herman Melville, “Moby Dick”

Tiki culture evokes dreamy fantasies of rum-soaked cocktails, torch-lit nights, and the hypnotic sway of hula and Polynesian dancers—daring, sleek, and alluring like the rhythm of the islands themselves. Rooted in the rich traditions of the South Pacific, from Hawaii to the broader Polynesian archipelago, these destinations inspire a timeless sense of tropical escape, exotic style, and cultural mystique.

This 1960s hand-made Tiki is made of a palm tree trunk, the preferred material for these Gods. Photo by Matthew Bamberg

And modern. A contrasting image that carefully balances the clean lines and curves of modernist architecture. More than all this, Tiki has been recreated to enhance…