| The origins of the tiki bar on the mainland date back to | | | | As World War II broke out, the tiki craze grew even |
| the 1930s. As vacationing in the "South Seas" became | | | | more popular. American soldiers returned from fighting |
| more popular, so too did this exotic island culture. Soon, | | | | in the Pacific to Don the Beachcomber's and copycat |
| bars and nightclubs began to open, especially in | | | | tiki restaurants. As Hawaii became a state in 1959, |
| southern California, in order to capitalize on this rising | | | | Americans fell in love with the romanticized depiction |
| trend. | | | | of the islands. "Tiki" soon became a term to describe |
| It is said that the first "tiki bar" was Don the | | | | almost anything that looked as if it belonged in an |
| Beachcomber's Restaurant, a Los Angeles restaurant | | | | exotic tropical locale, from the carved wooden |
| that opened in 1933 with a beach theme. After | | | | sculptures to brightly colored ceramic "tiki mugs." |
| proprietor Donn Beach decorated his new restaurant | | | | At one point, a tiki bar could be found in nearly every |
| with starfish, seashells, and tiki nets, he began to add | | | | city across the country. Donn the Beachcomber's |
| more exotic island-themed touches, from diving masks | | | | chain of tiki restaurants flourished into 160 locations |
| and spears to carved wooden tiki gods from all | | | | across the country. His top competitor, the Trader |
| across Polynesia. These artifacts of an unusual culture | | | | Vic's chain founded in 1934, boasted 35 at the height |
| ushered in the era of tiki bars. Donn's menu of exotic | | | | of their popularity in the 1960s. Of course, there were |
| rum drinks and food combining Asian, Polynesian, and | | | | countless other independent tiki bars and restaurants. |
| American influences would be mimicked by nearly | | | | Although there are no longer quite so many tiki-themed |
| every tiki restaurant to come. | | | | bars, the idea remains quite popular. In fact, in the 1990s |
| As other restauranteurs took notice of his wildly | | | | a resurgence of interest in tiki culture led to the opening |
| successful establishment, they began to copy the idea. | | | | of several tiki-themed bars. The theme is also quite |
| In the tiki bars of the day, artifacts could be found from | | | | popular for those building a home bar. Everything from |
| nearly any island across the globe, from Hawaii to | | | | tiki mugs to carved wooden tiki statues and even |
| New Zealand. Anything exotic and ocean-themed | | | | surfboard-shaped shelves can be found for those |
| instantly transported guests to a beautiful tropical oasis | | | | furnishing a tiki bar. This over-the-top style remains a |
| where they could escape their modern concerns. The | | | | favorite by those looking for something a bit more |
| mai tai and other fruity tropical drinks were invented in | | | | unusual than the typical bar environment. Whether |
| the earliest tiki restaurants. Both Victor Bergeron of | | | | indoors or out, a bamboo bar outfitted with relics of |
| Trader Vic's and Donn Beach of Don the | | | | tropical islands will instantly transport guests to a |
| Beachcomber's once claimed to have invented the mai | | | | faraway destination. |
| tai, touching off a rivalry that would last many years. | | | | |