HOME

Balloons

Candy

Favors

Gift Baskets

Gifts

Glow & Light-ups

Hats & Headgear

Inflatables

Invitations

Masks

Paper Goods

Piñatas

 It's Tiki Time!

Tiki Paper Goods	Tiki Poles	Tiki Scene Setters	Tiki Invitations	Tiki Party Items

The key to pulling off a coordinated event: Evoke your theme throughout the affair. Whether that theme is as general as a season or a feeling, or as specific as a special flower, it should be the subtle thread that ties everything together. Your location, invitations, flowers, menu, cake, and favors should all cleverly reflect one common concept. Then, get as creative as you can! 

A Tiki-theme is the perfect summertime party. Fire up the grills & tiki torches. Mix up some, Mai Tais, Zombies, or Hurricanes. Enjoy the cool evening breeze under your Palapas hut & relax in the tiki tradition to some retro-cool Exotica music.

The Golden Age of Tiki was from 1953 to 1970, the time of the flourishing and maturing of Polynesian Pop. The Tiki style that became popular in the 1950s and 1960s was the result of a culmination of trends and events stretching back more than a century. The tiki trend began as GIs returned home after serving in the South Pacific Islands during World War II. The country was recovering from a war and looking to build a bright, new future.

To most Americans, Polynesia was a mysterious, exotic place - as portrayed in books and films including "Tales of the South Pacific" (1947), "Kon-Tiki" (1950) and later the musical "South Pacific." During the 1950s, families flocked to the suburbs and tiki-style patios became popular complete with tiki statues, bamboo fencing, tiki torches, coconuts strung on ropes, grass skirts, pupu platters, and fruity drinks in a rainbow of Technicolor hues and of course - tropical plants and palms.

The style spread to bars, restaurants, motels, bowling alleys and even miniature golf courses. The tiki trend peaked around 1959 with Hawaii's admission to the union, then lost momentum in the late 1960s and by the 1970s, the only folks who thought it was still cool to hang out at Trader Vic's were aging celebrities and tourists. Tiki is unabashedly a faux representation of Polynesian culture.

After a 30-year absence of Polynesian Pop, the drums are beating louder than ever. "Tiki decor has been getting more popular each year for the past five years - 2005 was the best year in 50 years, and 2006 is exceeding that". It is tiki time again!

Until recently, if you wanted a tiki motif you had to search yard sales, and thrift stores. These days however, tiki is all the rage. You can find "Polynesian Pop" everywhere - from specialty stores to online discounters. You can find everything from expensive imported tiki statues, custom carved signs, Palapas, thatches, bamboo poles, retro-Polynesian music to tacky tiki ware.

Developing your Tiki Theme

The key to pulling off a coordinated Tiki event: Evoke your theme throughout the affair, it should be the thread that ties everything together. Your event location, invitations, flowers, music, menu, drinks, favors & entertainment should all cleverly reflect one common concept. Then, get as creative as you can!

Motif:

The motif is the visual representation of your theme, which is created by the use of objects or symbols. If you use the theme "Tiki" you may want to incorporate the use of  Bamboo, Tiki torches, and plenty of carved Tikis to represent this faux representation of Polynesian culture. These symbol may be repeated on your invitations, program, plates, or decorations. Sometimes the use of several different symbols will be used as components of the theme.

While many Tiki places decorate their establishments with Tiki statues, some use a World War Two-era wartime theme, decorating with aircraft & naval items too. For example, unlike the many neo-Tiki places sporting made-to-order decorations, the Bahooka an old-time Tiki joint, clearly looks as if it was decorated over many years, with artifacts culled from all over. There are navy battle lanterns strung up around the bar. However, there are also sufficient Tiki carvings, fishing nets, and more to satisfy even the most ardent Tiki buff. They also have a bunch of intimate booths, each with its own unique set of decorations and fish tanks.

• Plenty of carved Tikis staring out from various nooks and crannies.
• Bamboo (woven bamboo matting and bamboo poles, Bamboo Torch Candles, bamboo placemats, bamboo charger plates, bamboo wood chimes). Bamboo scene setter rolls are great for covering walls at a minimal cost ).
• Bamboo Poles
• Thatching - hand woven from fresh palm leafs
• Palapas - authentic rustic tropical palm thatch structures
• Raffia table skirting
• Tiki torches everywhere
• Tropical plants (banana trees, palms & ferns)
• Tropical fruits and vegetables (coconuts, papaya, mangos, kiwi, limes, lemons & etc.)
• Bizarre looking human sculptures
• Tiki Bar
• Tiki Poles  
• Huge carved masks adorning walls.
• Hammock-style Chairs
• Hand-blown glass blowfish dangling from the ceiling.
• Ceiling lamps crafted out of bamboo and tapa cloth.
• Table tops made out of slices of bamboo sticks, which are then filled in with epoxy.
• Assortment of stuffed puffer fish, fishing floats.
• Puffer fish inside a bottle accented with sea shells, tiny starfish and seaweed.
• Sharks and fishes.
• Hand-made macramé chandeliers with sea shells.
• Dim lighting
• Tropical Wall Matting
• Carved Shields and Masks
• Tiki Lights
• Rattan
• Reed Fencing
• Tropical waterfalls
• Ceremonial Paddles
• War Clubs
• Outrigger Canoes
• and other Tropical and Polynesian Props and maritime artifacts.

Additionally, for our Tiki parties, we have rented cool stuff like: thatched huts, palapa bars, reed fence panels, spears and decorated skulls on poles, large tiki statues, animatronic Gorillas, life-sized fake crocodiles and outrigger canoes.

Mood:

Decide on what atmosphere or mood you want to create. This is where you want to refer back to the list of words you brainstormed. Add words to the list that will portray your mood. Create a feel and a mood that is uniform throughout.

Color:

You'll want to select a color scheme that you will use throughout the theme. Two or three colors work well. Colors will make a big impact so be sure they are ones that will complement your tiki theme. For a tiki theme you might want to use a rainbow of Technicolor hues (blue, green, yellow, red, orange, fuchsia).

Texture:

Incorporating texture will make things look and feel interesting. Using textures will amplify the atmosphere you are creating. For a tiki theme you could use bamboo, pearls, cottons & linen, beach sand and shells.

Mesh:

Again apply the theme, mood (to communicate the message....the emotions, the spirit of the event), color, texture to mesh your theme throughout your overall event.

Tiki Invitations:

Invite your guests to your Tropical Party with these colorful Tiki Invitations .

If you need imprinted invitations, Our Carlson Craft site offers several tropical invitations that would work well for this theme like:

• "Warm Breezes"  - Swaying palm trees stretch romantically around your invitation wording.
• "Tropical Party" - Prepare for the fun! Invite people to your celebration with this border of party glasses and palm trees in bright colors. All pieces are printed on bright white vellum paper( vivid water colored elements) .
• "Tropical Cocktail" Escape with this tropical cocktail invitation. Feel the island breezes when your invitation wording is printed on this tropical drink. Garnished with an orange slice and, of course, a little umbrella for your guests' enjoyment.
• "Piña Colada" If you like piña coladas, this invitation is a sweet choice for your event. Send along a tropical feeling to guests with this piña colada invitation. Complete with a yellow straw, this invitation will grab their attention.
• "Party in Paradise" A bold and magnificent bird of paradise sets the tone for fun and celebration! 
• "Island Vacation" Sit back and relax with this island invitation. Tropical colors such as orange and yellow brighten your guests' day. The guest of honor will be ready for vacation after this party invitation is sent.
• "Waves of Fun" Start your party off with a summer fun invitation. Featuring flip-flops and ocean waves, this translucent invitation will be set the scene for your party.

Tiki Decorating Tips:


Setting your Tiki Island Scene

Scene Setters are used to fill in gaps and round out areas. These might include:

 

Tiki Lighting:

Lighting is one of the important elements of any design. For tiki parties tiki torches can be used to line walkways and party areas. Accent other party areas with tiki candles and  tiki party lights in the shape of palm trees, flowers & etc. Bamboo torch lights also make great accents for tables.

Gobos can be used to project photo-realistic images (pictures, line drawings, logos) of just about anything onto walls, ceilings or a stage areas. Imagine parrots in flight illuminating the sky of your event room. Used alone, or in combination with other gobos, stunning results can be achieved. Contact your local lighting company for ideas.

Return to top

Accent your tables:

Remember the tops of the tables provide you with a very large surface area and covering them with a beautiful tablecloth is the easiest way to change the feel of a room.. It is also the most cost effective way to decorate. Ten tables covered with a theme or specialty linen print for example will make a statement that no white tablecloth can make.

Turn your back yard into a Tiki Hut, when you cover your umbrellas with a raffia 8' umbrella cover.

Raffia Table Skirts will add to the festive look for your party.

Setting your table with Tiki Tableware (plates, cups, napkins, tablecovers & etc.) is one of the fastest ways to set the mood for your Tiki Island or Tiki Lounge Party. 

Bamboo Torch Candlesticks sits beautifully on your tables and make great centerpieces. Trimmed with colorful exotic flowers.

Place exotic flowers in unique containers to create beautiful centerpieces.

Add real fruits and vegetables to centerpieces for unusual accents.

Use candles for mood lighting and to accent a table.

Use small favors items like beads, sunglasses, shells, sea glass, and a host of other items to accent a napkin.

For upscale parties, lighted centerpieces are very popular. Try adding light up ice cubes to glass vases and create fabulous light up centerpieces.

Some other ideas might include: a tall glass vase lighted from below with an LED light base. Fill vases with Orchids or lemons & limes floating in water.

Use plastic pedestals (available at floral supply stores), add leather fern on top for an elegant and sophisticated look.

Accent food trays & drinks with Tropical Flower Picks, Tropical Flower Straws, Cocktail Umbrellas, & Assorted Fruit Straws. 

Light Your Drink! - Our plastic 7" Flashing Margarita Glasses will light up your drinks or use for fruit cups, shrimp cocktail or an ice cream sundae. Set the 7 settings for red, blue, green or any combination to light up your party. Batteries are included.

Tropical Paper Goods
Tropical Table Decorations

Return to top

Favors , Wearables & Party Items

Dance the Night Away! 
Add to your tropical party theme with: 

• hula skirts
• leis
• tropical beads
• Luau Slap Bracelet
• Light Up Colorful Leis
• Beachcomber hats
• Neon sailor hats
• Shark hats
• Neon bucket hats
• Neon beachcomber hats
• Neon Maracas, 
• Sunglasses 
• & more!

2.5" Neon Squirt Fish
Colorful Fish! Our 2" squirt fish assortment are fun at any party. Great for all ages. Don't get squirted.


4" Large Squirt Fish
Save the Whales! Our 5" squirt fish are great favors. Fun for the pool or bath.


3" Jumbo Squirt Fish
Colorful Fish! Have lots of fun with our 3" colorful squirt fish in the tub or at the beach.


2" Fish Bubbles
Blow Bubbles! Our colorful fish bubbles will add to any poolside fun. Great loot bag favor, too.
 

Return to top

Tiki Music:

Exotica music is a form of tropical-jazz, pioneered in the 1950s to sound exotic, atmospheric, and occasionally savage, but still wonderfully listenable to a westerner's ear. Exotica is the perfect music to complement a tiki theme party. It ranges from mellow to quite-swinging, but always has an alluring sound. Martin Denny is often considered the father of Exotica. His music is atmospheric and lush with a blend of modern Jazz, and don't forget the bird calls! Martin Denny's rendition of 'Quiet Village' became a smash-hit and spawned the Exotica craze. Other exotica music might include: Arthur Lyman's haunting classic Yellow Bird and Don Tiki's loungy albums.

Tiki Entertainment:

Bring Vitality To Your Theme Concept

While decor still reigns supreme when invoking theme, an interactive element brings vitality to your theme concept.

Besides the tropical flowers, native plants and tiki torches to evoke your theme — bring in traditional native dancers to perform at your Tiki Event, combine with a hilarious audience participation segment where guests can interact and be part of the event, rather than just spectators.

Games & Activities 

Tiki Piñatas
Luau Pinata!
Our 18" Tiki Pinata is great for your Luau party, use as a decoration or centerpiece, then as a game. Don't forget to purchase RC730 our candy pinata filler for this colorful Tiki Pinata. Make sure to blindfold the participants. Use our colorful Pinata Blindfold & Bat to have lots of fun. 

Clown Fish Pinata
Let's Go Fishing! Add this 18" Clown Fish pinata to the decorations and fun at your undersea party.

Bamboo Limbo Kit
It's Limbo Time!
Now you can do the Limbo at home and see "how low your guests can go"! Great for all ages and beginners to expert with 8 levels of difficulty.
 

Luau Party Game
Luau Party Time
Add to the excitement at your event with our Luau Game. Its Hula Bender, great for ages 5 and up. Game includes Spinning Wheel and 6' colorful plastic game board.

Return to top

Tiki Drinks:

Most bars you visit these days can't actually make you a true tropical cocktail. The modern recipes have been simplified for ease and cost to the point where they're no longer recognizable. Taste the complex, layered flavor of a true exotic cocktail and you'll never want to go back. Here you'll find some ideas on what to serve at your Tiki Party.

Make sure you use fresh lime.

Some of the Top Tiki Drinks include: Mai Tai, Zombie, Hurricane, Fog Cutter, The Navy Grog, Demerara Dry Float, & 151 Swizzle. I'd say that this pretty much sums up the top Tikis. I'd maybe add Blue Hawaii or Blue Hawaiian (different drinks), which aren't usually such a good drink, but are sort of mandatory for a Tiki theme for the color and novelty factor.

Although Pina Coladas, Daiquiris, Mojitos, and Margaritas are four kinds of drinks that sometimes get lumped in with Tiki, they are really more associated with the Caribbean or Central/South America.

Tiki Torch

Juice of 1/2 lime
1oz Light Rum
1oz Dark Rum
8 mint leaves
1 1/2 tsp simple sugar
2oz Orange Juice

Add lime juice, Rum, mint leaves and muddle (crush with spoon or small baseball bat). Add sugar and a little ice. Shake and pour over crushed ice topping with Orange Juice). Garnish with flaming lime shell over an orange slice covering the top of the mug. Straw stuck through the orange slice.


Reverb Crash


4 Oz Grapefruit Juice
1.5 Oz Passion Fruit Syrup
.75 Oz Fresh Lime Juice
.75 Spoon (Not Oz!!) Orgeat Syrup*
1 Oz Light Rum (Cuban or Virgin Island)
1 Oz Myers's Dark Jamaican Rum

Put in a shaker with half a cup of crushed ice, shake well and put in a Tiki mug - I guess a 14-16 Oz one , add crushed Ice to fill. Garnish with a mint sprig.

* Use more Orgeat if you want - it depends how strong the taste of the syrup is. The idea is to just feel a bit of it. Monin brand is very strong.


Passion Knockout Punch

1 1/2 oz. gold rum (Barbados rum preferred)
1/4 oz. creme de noyaux
1/2 oz. passion fruit syrup
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
1 oz. fresh orange juice
1 oz. soda water

Shake with plenty of cracked ice. Strain into double old-fashioned glass or small tiki mug filled with crushed ice. Top with 1 oz. soda water. Garnish with pineapple chunk, orange slice, and cherry.


Humidity Punch

A simple drink, but a godsend when the air conditioner breaks.

2 ounces gin
1 ounce Rose's sweetened lime
5 ounces chilled coconut juice

Pour into a coconut mug over ice and stir thoroughly. Serve with a straw.

Zombies by the Truckload

When making drinks in bulk you can't just multiply the amounts equally... so start pouring until you get about 75% full, then add what is needed to taste. your main ingredients should be the rum and pineapple.


When making zombies by the truckload, use the following:

Pineapple juice (unsweetened)
lime juice
orange juice (not too much)
Apricot Brandy
a light rum
a dark rum
Passion Fruit syrup (homemade!) *


*When I make Zombies, I make passion fruit syrup from scratch. Use the Sugar Syrup recipe below, but add the guts of 3 to 5 passion fruits near the end of the boil. then strain. It sure beats the store bought stuff.

Simple Sugar Syrup

I lb Sugar
to
One Cup Water

Add sugar and water to pan, bring to boil and bottle

 Mai Tai Punch

While the spirit of the drink may be diminished somewhat by doing it this way, it will allow you to introduce all of my guests to the glories of a real Mai Tai without spending the entire evening behind the bar of your own party.

Mai Tai Mix for quick mixing - at the 1.5 liter level it works out.

(equal part lime to Curacao/syrups, to taste)

Makes 750 ml of 'mix'

375 ml Fresh Lime Juice
187 1/2 ml Orange Curacao
93 3/4 ml Simple Syrup
93 3/4 ml Orgeat

You can use 2oz of the mix with 1oz each of your rums.

So, 1/2 of a bottle each of your rums and the entirety of this mix bottle should make a decent punch.


Ti Punch

I think this is probably the prehistoric ancestor from which other modern rum cocktails (including the daiquiri) eventually evolved. The rhyming recipe "One part sour, two parts sweet, three parts strong, four parts weak" is so simple, but can make a brilliant, balanced drink that really shows off the character of the rum used-- a whole greater than the sum of it's parts.

My favorite recipe is:

1oz fresh squeezed lime
2oz simple syrup
3oz Martinique Rum
4oz soda water

Mix in a tall glass with ice, stir-- do not shake.

Using soda water is a bit of a change to the classic, but it makes the drink more refreshing. Also, it seems that a Ti punch makes an excellent foil for the funky, nutty character of the young Martinique rum.

Return to top


Tiki Food:

The menu might include: Grilled coconut shrimp, Crab canapés, Mussels and Clams, Deviled eggs, etc. Here is a great recipe for Spicy Coconut Chicken Skewers.

Spicy Coconut Chicken Skewers

1/2 cup apricot jam
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/2 cup canned coconut milk
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
2 tablespoons curry powder
1/4 heaping teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
wooden skewers

Combine all ingredients, except chicken and coconut (and skewers of course), in a saucepan and heat while stirring until boiling. Reduce heat to medium/low and allow marinade to reduce somewhat, (about 15 minutes), stirring occasionally. Put chicken breasts in a pan and pour most of the marinade on top, saving a small portion in a container for later. Make sure both sides of the breasts are coated with the marinade and let pan sit in a refrigerator at least 2 hours (I leave mine overnight).

Toast the coconut on a baking sheet or shallow pan in a 350-degree oven, turning the coconut with a spatula periodically so that it is a light brown. (dark brown works too, so don't worry if it's overdone).

Grill chicken breasts until done but tender, brushing with the marinade in the pan. Slice breasts in thirds lengthwise. Skewer each strip on a wooden skewer and brush with the reserved marinade you had set-aside at the beginning. Roll in toasted coconut and serve on Ti Leaf. Makes 12 skewers.

You don't have to increase the marinade proportionately for larger quantities. For today's batch of 50 chicken breasts, I multiplied the above recipe by eight. I also used two 10 oz bags of shredded coconut.
 

Gourmet Magazine: It's Tiki Time!

Much to my amazement I notice that the cover of the June issue of Gourmet magazine shows a tiki feast ... not a "luau" exactly, but the article is entitled "Tiki Time" and lists such mouth-watering recipes as "Pineapple Rum Cocktails," "Crab-and-Pork Spring Rolls," and "Coconut Coffee Marbled Ice Cream Cake."

The recipes can be found online at: http://www.epicurious.com/gourmet/menus/tiki_time

Return to top

Light up your event with this set of three 36" high Bamboo & Seashell Torches! Oil required (not included). Outdoor use only.

32" Tiki Garden Candle - These bamboo-staked candles can be strategically placed around your yard to keep both the evil native spirits and the bugs away from your party. Each candle with bamboo stake stands 32" tall.

Tiki Lounge Lawn Sign - The tiki party is this way! Your guests will know where to find your tropical Luau when you place this 27" high x 13" wide plastic sign in your yard

Flaming Tiki Head - Line the path to your party with these flaming tiki heads to let guests know where the tropical fun begins! The 10" x 8" plastic tiki heads require two D batteries (not included).

Airblown Tiki Hut Archway - Create an awesome entrance to your Luau in an instant! This 9' high, fade-resistant nylon archway inflates in seconds and includes lights for evening parties.

Tiki Pavilion - Add a South Seas flavor with these Hawaiian tapa columns that support a real palm leaf thatching roof. 6' x 10' x 6'. Tiki masks included. Assembly required.

Tiki Entrance - Two 8' tapa corrugated paper columns support a raffia top. Assembly required.

Tiki Tower - Pay homage to the Polynesian Tiki gods with this 9 ½' tall corrugated paper totem pole includes tiki faces and raffia hair. Assembly required.

Tiki Island Arch - This 9' 3" high x 7' wide corrugated arch includes three plastic tiki masks and raffia trim. Assembly required.

Tiki Island Columns  - Add these 10' high x 12" wide cardboard and corrugated columns to your photo setting.  The columns include corrugated tiki masks and raffia trim.  Assembly required.

Giant Tiki -This 12' high x 5' 7" wide cardboard and corrugated tiki is freestanding and accented with raffia trim, red cracked ice and gossamer. Assembly required.

Tiki Hut Topper - This 55" high x 56" wide x 22" deep hut is perfect for topping off your table or bar. The metal framed hut comes with artificial thatching, hibiscus flowers, decorative garland, and hardware and is designed to sit on top of your table or bar.

Tiki Club Entrance - Step into the Tiki Club for the coolest party ever! This 8' 9" high x 6' 3" wide entrance is fashioned from cardboard and corrugated paper and features a fun raffia curtain. Assembly required. 

Tiki Standees - Bring an exotic feel to your tropical party with these freestanding cardboard standees that feature mesmerizing printed mural designs. They make great photo props! The large standee is 6' high x 3' wide; the small is 4' high x 2' wide. Easy assembly.

Tiki Mask 2' tall x 1' wide

Tiki Party Chief - The 34" foam figure requires easy assembly. Indoor/outdoor use.

Polynesian Electric Torches

Tiki Bobblehead - Send guests home with one of these 7 1/2" high plastic bobbleheads or place a group of them on tables for a fun display. A Fun Favor!

Mini Tiki Candle - Place one of these 2" wax candles at each guest's place setting at your tropical party table. A Great Favor!

Tiki Nut Cups - Give everyone a taste of Hawaii when you fill these 3 1/2" x 2 1/2" plastic cups with tasty macadamia nuts.

Return to top

Related Theme Ideas

Item #... or keyword(s)

Shop for Balloons

Personalized Napkins