Tiki huts evoke images of warm, South Pacific beaches, lazy days in the sun sipping frothy concoctions of fruit and alcohol, slipping into cool ocean water when you get too warm or too sleepy. Tiki huts provide an instant conversation starter, and are relatively easy to build and to maintain. Two to four uprights, a woven or thatched roof, and you have a basic hut. You can add roll-down blinds to block the sun or rain when needed. Use sand, wood chips or a pebble floor for a basic hut, or pour a concrete footer for a larger, more elaborate dining hall.
Types
Tiki huts range in size from two to four-person wet bars to dining hall sized outdoor kitchens. Vary materials according to the need for sturdy support versus decoration. Use thatch to cover the roof, regardless of size, although the thatching materials used will vary according to accessibility and cost. In southern and tropical climates, thatch is usually made from palm fronds. In northern areas, it is more likely to be oat or wheat straw. Thatch can also be made from jute, flax or hemp stems both before and after the fibers have been processed out. Make the uprights on a small tiki hut from bamboo, or they can also be made from PVC pipe. Use teak, cedar, cypress, or some other hardwood for the uprights on larger huts, for sturdiness and stability. Bamboo is best for roof supports, even for the larger structures, as it has much greater aesthetic appeal. Peeled hardwood branches can replace bamboo, but PVC in a larger structure just doesn't have the same emotional pull.
Function
Tiki huts provide shade, as well as a place for conversation and fun. Casual yet elegant, tiki huts make guest feel welcome, invite them to relax and let the cares of the day slip away. Install one or more ceiling fans in a larger tiki hut to keep everyone cool on warm summer nights. Arrange several conversation groups of comfortable, cushioned seats and low tables to ensure that guests can relax and get to know one another without a lot of effort. A spit at one end of a large tiki hut allows open air cooking of whole sides of meat, including pork, goat, and whole poultry. Nothing draws a crowd like the heavenly scent of roasting meat wafting through the neighborhood. Have a table or counter, ice chest, and sink for quick preparations and cleanups, keeping the fuss and muss of a large party outside.
History
Tiki is a Maori word for large wooden carvings in roughly human shape. Tiki is also the name of the First Man, according to Maori mythology. The use of Polynesian building materials such as bamboo and thatch in bars and other entertainment venues was popularized into mainstream U.S. culture by returning soldiers and sailors from the World War Two through Vietnam eras. These troops had found solace and refuge from the ravages of war in the villages where they were stationed. It was natural for them to recreate a little piece of island paradise in their own backyard as an escape from the turmoils of returning to civilian life.
Don the Beachcomber, opened in 1934, and Trader Vic's, opened in 1937, were two of the earliest tiki inspired bars. When Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959, interest in tiki-inspired decor peaked, and continued throughout the sixties.
Tiki decor has undergone a revival, as much for its kitsch value as for its aesthetic. Given our fast paced, high stress lifestyle, it is natural to turn to an illusory history and immerse ourselves in a time and place where responsibilities fade into the background, accompanied by the warm haze of rum and fruit, the beauty of scantily clad, dark eyed island girls and muscular men in loincloths dancing with flaming clubs and live steel.
Misconceptions
There is some question whether the use of the word tiki in connection with these outdoor entertainment areas is based in Polynesian culture, or whether it is a result of language misuse. Seminole in Florida lived in chickees, built from palm trunks and thatch, and these structures are very close in appearance to tiki construction. The difference, according to the Tiki Central Forums, is that "A tiki bar needs tikis. If what you're looking at is a bamboo hut with thatch on top, it's not a tiki bar, it's a bamboo bar. Once you put some tikis in it (and hopefully some tiki-friendly items like float lamps, pufferfish lamps, tapa cloth, etc.), only then is it a tiki bar."
Considerations
Tiki construction is intended to be be strong but temporary, although a properly constructed tiki hut with cyrpess or teak uprights and a reed roof can last 40 years or more with little maintenance. It should be less costly than a more permanent structure. Tiki construction evolved in response to a climate where hot sun could boil your brain and high winds could render you homeless in a breath. Making use of the materials at hand, tiki construction allowed quick rebuilding after catastrophic storms. The open air design encouraged air flow, making the most of any stray breezes. The addition of fans, whether electric or hand powered, helped cool the tiki hut even more. There is a great range in acceptable tiki decor, allowing the builder to express individual creativity and ingenuity in making guests and family feel welcome, relaxed and refreshed.
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