It’s been said that many people consider right now to be the golden age of television. Reason being is that television programs have never been as great as they are now. This would have started with The Sopranos, then Mad Men, then Breaking Bad. The list goes on and on. I have to agree with this statement. Hill Street Blues was cool, but it doesn’t come close to The Wire.

I may be going out on a limb, but I think that we are in the golden age of Tiki right now, and here’s why…

I got the chance to spend an evening talking Tiki history with Humuhumu, creator of the website Critiki and I learned a couple things.

Tiki was at its highest popularity back in the ’50s and ’60s and started to die out in the ’70s. There was the first Tiki revival that started in the early ’90s and a second Tiki revival that has been going on more recently.

Let’s go back to the Mid-Century. Yes, the Tiki craze was in full swing. Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic’s had locations all across the country. There were Tiki bars in every city. Many houses had home bars and some of those home bars were Tiki bars. This sounds like a Tiki utopia, right? But I’ve got one word for you: oversaturation. Could it really have been a big deal to go to a place like Don the Beachcomber when a Trader Vic’s was down the street, let alone countless other Tiki places scattered throughout town? I’m guessing not. It’s a total “don’t know what you got till its gone” situation. I’m sure people went to Tiki establishments all the time and never gave it much thought.

Let’s talk about Tiki mugs. Back then, a mug was simply a souvenir from the Tiki bar you visited. You’d take it home, put it on the knick-knack shelf beside your snow globe of New York City, and never think about it again. Tiki mugs weren’t worth anything. The proof of that could be found in thrift stores across the country. If you paid more than 3 bucks for one, you probably paid too much. That was until the early ’90s when the fist Tiki revival started.

Thousands of people travel to San Diego for Tiki Oasis each year, but there wasn’t thousands of people leading the first Tiki revival. In reality, the numbers were smaller—much smaller. The first Tiki revival was led mostly by punk rock types. Some of those punks broke off and discovered surf, lounge, swing, and exotica. I’m talking about a subculture of a subculture. Many of these pioneers liked Tiki because it was kitschy and their interest was ironic, to say the least. And how were the Tiki drinks back then? I’m guessing pretty terrible, but at least they got you drunk!

Picture an old Tiki bar that somehow survived the ’70s and ’80s and hasn’t been cleaned since. It’s 1993 and there’s a few older people sitting at the bar staring into their drinks. The only reason why any of the patrons are there is because it’s walking distance from their house. Back in the corner sitting in a thatch covered booth is a small group of five people. They are half as old as everyone else in the bar and totally stand out. Why are they drinking in this old Tiki bar? One reason: because they think it’s cool. That’s how I picture the first Tiki revival.

Let’s jump up to present day. Here’s the line to get inside Smuggler’s Cove in San Francisco. The bar isn’t even open yet!

The interest in Tiki that started in the ’90s never went away; it just kept growing and growing. The ironic interest in Tiki turned into a true passion for many. Some sought out to learn the history of Tiki culture…

Some wanted to learn how to make some of these classic Tiki drinks correctly…

Most importantly, new Tiki bars started to open up! These new Tiki bars are totally being made with love and ideas from the past are being used and expanded upon!

All these new Tiki bars need Tiki mugs and Tiki mugs have become an art form. Are they collectible? Totally! People will pay top dollar for some of these mugs…

When I walk into a place like the Mai Kai, I’m truly amazed and in awe…

It makes me happy when a new Tiki bar opens up. It may be the only one in that city!

When I drink a 1944 Mai Tai, I sip it slowly knowing that I’m tasting a piece of history.

Think about all the people that fly to Tiki Oasis or Hukilau. They are taking time off from their jobs and throwing down tons of cash for flights and hotel rooms. Actions speak louder than words. Thousands of people will be going to Tiki Oasis next year and I can assure you that none of them will be taking it for granted. There is a true love for Tiki that is bigger than ever…

Now is the golden age of Tiki!