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tiki

/ˈtiki/
IPA guide

Other forms: tikis

A tiki is a large Polynesian carving of a human-like figure. It's very common to see tiki imagery in Hawaii, in locations ranging from sacred sites to tourist hotels.

The word tiki means "image" in Eastern Polynesian, and these impressive stone or wooden carvings originally represented the first man in Māori mythology, Tiki. In New Zealand, Tahiti, and Hawaii, tiki are usually huge, towering statues, but small versions are sometimes worn as pendants. The visual style of tiki inspired 20th-century American tiki culture, which included South Pacific-themed bars and restaurants and was criticized for appropriating elements of indigenous Polynesian culture.

Definitions of tiki
  1. noun
    (New Zealand) a carved image of a Polynesian god or ancestor
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