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The architectural icon of Polynesian Pop. A mix of the traditional meeting houses of the South Pacific, and the traditional meeting houses of Southern California (roadside diners).

Clippings from newspapers, travel guides, and even old phone directories, these old ads sing the praises of tropical escapes.

Tiki’s most practical contribution to society: the perfection of the tropical drink. Enjoy photos, illustrations and menu descriptions, with no hangover.

That unique tiki bar mood can only be achieved with a lot of dim, exotic light fixtures—windows, televisions and neon are traitors against the cause!

The curious “big stone heads” from Rapa Nui (Easter Island) have appeal both for their pleasing graphic simplicity, and their mysterious origins.

These Technicolor missives to home are the best source we have for learning what the insides and outsides of long-gone tiki hotspots looked like.

Idealized versions of an already idealized version of the South Pacific: these artists’ conceptions of restaurants, hotels and attractions exemplify Polynesian Pop.

Traditional cloth made by pounding bark into thin sheets, which are then painted with repeating patterns using brown dye.