Tiki Mug Shop in Buenos Aires-Caballito.

From Honolulu Tiki Mugs:

"Honolulu Tiki Mugs was born in 2016 out of our love of Polynesian pop culture. We are creators of Tiki Mugs, designed by Juan Cives, the creative mind behind our brand. Our designs are ideal for enjoying your favorite cocktails."

Milan Flores Guanko (1906-1994) had a carving shop at Gray's Nursery on Beach Boulevard in Westminster.

Guanko learned to carve from his father in the Philippines before immigrating to the U.S. in 1928. During WWII, he began carving full-time. His tikis appeared at Disneyland, the Western Hills Hotel, the Royal Hawaiian Restaurant in Laguna Beach, The Islands Restaurant in Phoenix, Ren Clark’s Polynesian Village in Fort Worth, Texas, and many more restaurants, hotels and apartments throughout the world.

He died at age 87 in Glendale, where he’d moved his shop in later years.

*NOTE: The large dark-stained tiki with hands crossed on the far left can still be seen at the Kon-Tiki in Tucson although it has been painted a few times and stood outside for many years (now in their covered outdoor patio).

This huge A-Frame store carried all sorts of exotic goods, including gifts, sportswear, and gourmet food from all over the globe. Appears to have been built circa 1958 or so.

It had barefoot footprints leading up the concrete walk to the front door, a statue of the trader himself on the roofline below the peak of the A-frame, and in the front was a large Moai head with a lit torch at the top.

Mentioned in the book, Tiki Pop, by Sven Kirsten -- page 102 -- as having multiple locations but this one appears to be the most recognized. One other location was in Pompano Beach, Florida.

Copy from one of their ads:

"Seeing is believing! But when you step into the Polynesian Paradise you won’t believe your eyes. You’ll find a treasure of gifts, food delicacies and sportswear that have been collected from the wide, wide world all set in exotic design.

The store is sectionalized according to the country of origin of the merchandise. From Norway, Sweden and Denmark come striking examples of modern Scandinavian. The continental flavor of Belgium, Holland, France and Germany is found in the gift selections from Europe. Who can resist the incomparable results of British industry or the artistry from the shores of the sun-drenched Mediterranean, South America, South Sea Isles, Oriental art, or the United States?

Outside the building is a playground with swings and acrobatic accoutrements to keep youngsters occupied while parents explore the store. Children, however are invited inside. Inside the Polynesian theme is carried out. Palm trees and fronds adorn the walls, while fixtures reinforce the South Seas decor. Self-service is invited—or if you wish service, you need only to call on any of the clerks who answer all questions. Be sure and don’t leave the Cape until you have visited the Barefoot Trader."

Today, the A-frame building still exists, but it is currently home to the Cape Abilities Thrift Shop.

Barney West (1919-1981) was a tiki carver during the golden age of midcentury Polynesian Pop.

West, a native of Seattle, came to the Bay Area as a boy when his parents moved to Oakland. His father was chief engineer for the steam schooner Wapama which is now part of a San Francisco waterfront museum. During World War II, West joined the Merchant Marine and served as a steward on Liberty ships in the South Pacific. During his 15 years at sea, West became interested in the native art of Easter Island, Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Hawaii, an infatuation that later had a great influence on his art. West moved to an ark on Corte Madera creek shortly after the end of World War II. To set himself up in the woodcarving business, he drove spikes and laid heavy rails for a railroad crew. West’s first wood carving came from redwood pilings he floated to his home from San Pablo Bay. His first major customer was restaurateur Trader Vic Bergeron who purchased many pieces of West’s early art.

After establishing himself as a wood carver, West opened a studio in Sausalito ("Tiki Junction") on land lent to him by Zack’s by the Bay owner (Zack’s became Margaritaville, then Paradise Bay, now Salito’s Crab House), Sam Zakessian in 1963. The tiny studio soon became engulfed by tikis and other assorted tropical carvings and vegetation. West began his carving career with conventional carving tools but soon progressed to a chain saw. He shipped in mammoth redwood logs by rail and shipped his commissioned works on flatcars all over the country. West’s art can be found in London, Hawaii, and Cuba. West’s business thrived well in Sausalito and at one time he had five apprentices working with him.

Tony's on the Pier (also sometimes called "Old Tony's") was opened by Anthony A. Trutanich, a World War II veteran and former San Pedro fisherman, on Redondo Beach's Fisherman's Wharf in 1952. Tony's started out as a simple shack, expanding the dining room in 1961, and adding a crow's nest-like bar on top of the building in 1965.

The restaurant has open-air sliding windows opening out to waterside views, and the bar in particular has stunning 360-degree views around Palos Verdes and out over the Pacific Ocean.

Tony's decor is nautical rather than tiki, but the preserved midcentury furnishings, fishnet-covered ceilings and large fish floats will make Polynesian Pop lovers feel right at home. They serve a Mai Tai that comes in a souvenir glass.

Rock-a-Tiki was a clothes store carrying both vintage and rockabilly-label items in the Prenzlauer berg of Berlin. It was once in another location on Eberswalderstrasse.

This and several other stores were reportedly folded into a store called Class of Berlin.

Deluxe was a retail store catering to the rockabilly crowd, selling clothes, tiki mugs, art, books and some carved tikis.

The museum originated with the California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894, a monumental exhibition of technological innovation and artwork. Once the exposition closed, Michael H. de Young, the exposition’s director general, encouraged the park commissioners and San Francisco residents to maintain the Fine Arts Building as a public museum. On March 23, 1895, the newly founded museum opened and exhibited painting, sculpture, and decorative arts; historical objects from across the globe; and a natural history collection.

The de Young Museum is located in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. An entire wing of the museum is dedicated to a permanent collection of Oceanic Art. The bulk of this is from The Jolika Collection of New Guinea Art, a stunning collection of over 400 pieces of native Papua New Guinea art donated by Marcia and John Friede. Ownership of the collection came under dispute in the middle of 2008, as both relatives of the Friedes and Sothebys contended that the collection had been used as collateral on loans, but this appears to have been settled. The family were paid using other funds and to pay off the Friedes’ debt to Sothebys, 29 of the nearly 400 or so pieces on display at the museum were sold by the auction house. However, most of the artifacts still remain at the de Young Museum today.

Trailer Happiness is a retro-California lounge in the Notting Hill section of London, opened by John Downey in 2003.

Rather than finding its inspiration in midcentury Polynesian restaurants, it aimed for the feel of an American, kitsch-heavy, basement rumpus room.

The tiki-heavy drink menu was developed with a helping hand from famed cocktailian Dale DeGroff.

They proclaimed over 300 rums behind the bar.

The bar changed hands and has been owned by Sly Augustin since 2012.

For many years, patrons were greeted by Bianca the topless hula girl statue in the front window, but it appears Bianca has gone on vacation for parts unknown in recent years...

Augustin has made changes and updates since the early years, and especially after a disaster that happened to the bar right on the heals of Covid...

On July 12th, 2021, the location was flooded, but since then, they've been able to deal with the damages, do extensive remodeling, and re-open thanks in great part to help from the bar and spirits industry who have been very supportive and consider the location to be an iconic part of the bar landscape.

Tiki Tom's was a Polynesian/Caribbean restaurant, bar and banquet facility on an estuary in Oakland. This Tiki Tom's location opened in late 2008, two years after its owner, Tom Davies (Tiki Tom) sold his share of the original Tiki Tom's location in Walnut Creek; the two locations were otherwise unconnected.

Tiki Tom's burned down under "suspicious circumstances" shortly after their liquor license expired and the power was cut off, in October 2010.

The bar featured a mosaic by Laurel True (then of the Institute of Mosaic Art) 3 which survived the fire.

The location is now the aptly-named Phoenix Commons senior co-housing project.

Tommy Cox purchased an existing bar called Rossi’s. After purchasing, Cox reopened it as the Quarterdeck and then renamed it Tommy’s Pier 41 a year later.

It became "Tiburon Tommie's Pier 41" in December of 1958 when it was re-opened and expanded into a Polynesian style restaurant (a partnership between Tommy Cox and Johnny Won who was a former chef at Skipper Kent’s).

In 1963 it was renamed "Tiburon Tommie's Mai Tai" for its famed apricot-brandy version of the drink (equal parts lemon, orange and pineapple juices, gold and dark rums and the apricot brandy).

The building was large, and situated on the water on historic Main St. in Tiburon, across the bay from San Francisco. Its upper level was the "Maori Sky Room," used in later years only for storage.

Tommy Cox retired in 1976. The Won family bought out his half.

Tiburon Tommie's lasted longer than many of the grand tiki places, closing in 1995 when Alice Won (wife of the then sole owner, Johnny Won) suffered a stroke. When it went out of business, many of its items were reportedly found in a dumpster, and then sold at auction. Many members of the then-burgeoning San Francisco tiki scene were able to purchase items from the decor. In the early '00s, the building was torn down, and now condos are on the spot.

Exotical has been serving Southern California's aloha wear needs since 1964, more than 40 years. Owner Paul Orloff still runs the shop today, which is open six days a week, Monday through Saturday. Exotical carries a wide array of nice aloha wear -- some of it is vintage, but has never been purchased and worn. Prices can be on the high side, but the uniqueness of what you can find here, combined with the uniqueness of the shopping experience, can make it worthwhile. Exotical used to carry a lot of tropical import items like bamboo and furniture. They still carry a few tropical items beyond the aloha wear, including vintage albums, furniture and coconut monkeys. Orangethorpe Avenue has been their location since 2020.