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Make a Tiki Bar for your Hawaiian Luau Party
The perfect Hawaiian tiki bar is at your fingertips. The first thing you'll need of course is a tiki! Choose from a variety of
tiki statues and place them around the tiki bar area.
Stock your tiki bar with fun
tiki mugs or
hula girl mugs complete with
cocktail drink umbrellas,
backscratchers for that tropical itch and a tropical orchid or ti leaf. Keep 'em thirsty by putting
out some salty snacks in a
coconut cup or
wooden bowl. Don't have a bar area in your home?
Create one! Simply cover an existing table with a
Hawaiian sarong. Hang a
classic print in the background.
The Tiki Bar in America
The rise of the tiki bar in America started quietly in 1934 when Ernest Beaumont Gante opened a small bar
in Hollywood and started making rum drinks. Ernest later changed his name to Donn Beach, the name of the bar
was Don the Beachcomber and the tiki bar was born. Donn created a Polynesian paradise with tropical plants,
tiki mugs, bamboo, lauhala and leis. The beachcomber style that Donn created would become embeded in American pop culture.
Another great American ambassador of tiki bar is Victor Bergeron, or Trader Vic. Vic explored Polynesian and Asian foods
for his menus. Vic was extremely successful and opened locations all over the U.S. and other exotic locations when
the Polynesian craze of the 50s occured. Other noteable tiki bars are Bali Hai of San Diego, Mai Kai of Ft. Lauderdale,
Kona Kai of Philadelphia and Kahiki of Columbus, Ohio. Tiki mugs, cups, matchbooks, menus and decor from tiki bars has
become quite collectable. There were hundreds of tiki themed bars in America through the 50s and 60s, most of which had
completely vanished by the mid 70s. Most tiki bars had their own logo on tiki mugs, matchbooks and more so look out for
vintage tiki stuff at flea markets and thrift stores.
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