Planet Tiki

When James Cook “discovered” Hawaii in 1778, he returned again a year later and arrived during a particularly important ceremony for the Polynesian God Lono. Thinking Cook’s ship was the incarnation of Lono, the Hawaiian natives embraced him at first, but relations waned and within a month Cook and the Hawaiian natives were at war. With the influx of the white man and Christianity in the preceding years Hawaii, and indeed the rest of Polynesia succumbed to the influences of western culture and Christianity and have thereby abolished their ‘heathen” ways. The Hawaii you see today, while still seemingly exotic, is a bit of a tourist trap and not quite as traditional as you’d think. But what if Hawaii could be discovered all over again and instead of changing who they are, embrace and preserve their culture. This was the thought behind Planet Tiki. Here is an exotic place where men in rockets raise their Tiki glasses and are greeted by lovely green skinned wahines dancing seductively around a fire. OK, so the idea is still hokey and touristy but its a lovely fantasy nonetheless!

Measures 24" x 36"