Hula Dancers & Tiki Gods

Soak up the tropical island vibes through more than 500 color images showcasing a robust collection of hula dancer and tiki god collectibles.

The dream of pure freedom in the South Pacific islands has never died on the mainland; sometimes it’s more of an ache than a dream. Over time and through the mill of popular culture, the dream has been distilled into two enduring images: the hula dancer and the tiki god. This book displays over 500 color images of collectible hula dancers and tiki gods with which readers can have a little exotic fun and maybe catch a tropical thrill along the way.

The hula dance provided an escape in its original culture, and here the dancers are shown in sections devoted to flat images, three-dimensions, crank girls, and Hollywood’s versions from the twentieth century. The tiki gods that 1960s surfers wore for luck around their necks may have deeper meanings as well, and they became the most important symbol of cool adulthood that mainland youngsters could imagine.

Showcased collectibles include lamps, figures, posters, and souvenirs, all coming together to allow readers to escape to a tropical paradise.