The famed four-mile stretch of the glittering Las Vegas Strip was reminiscent of Easter Island today, as one hundred tiki statues "mysteriously" appeared to mark the opening of the Trader Vic's restaurant at the Miracle Mile Shops at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.


Origins unknown, the tikis are definitely friendly.  Tourists are invited to take pictures with the tikis and rub them for good luck.  Casino gamblers infused with tiki-power can expect much good fortune, and Trader Vic's apologizes in advance to casino operators who can expect payouts of record jackpots today.  Tiki sightings have been reported by the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign, by the replica Eiffel Tower and many of the tikis appear intent on watching the Bellagio fountain show.  Magic tikis were also spotted on-stage with famed illusionist, Hans Klok.


Each of the tiki statues are hand-carved and stand 6-feet tall by 3-feet wide.  Don't be rude and ask how much they weigh, because those Trader Vic's BBQ Kobe short ribs with nashi pear salad and soy sake glazed Hawaiian ono with green papaya salad are hard to refuse!  Suffice it to say, they're healthy, robust tikis.


Trader Vic's Las Vegas is now open in the Miracle Mile Shops at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.  The 15,000 sq. ft. restaurant and lounge features modern and traditional Asian/Polynesian dining with an outdoor party patio overlooking the famed-Las Vegas Strip and a second-floor ultralounge.


* In the mythology of some Polynesian peoples, Tiki was the first man on earth.  There are several versions of the Tiki's story, but according to the Maori, the god Tumatauenga created him.  One day, Tiki saw a woman, Marikriko, swimming in a lake and was overcome by her beauty.  Marikoriko seduced Tiki and the two eventually married.  The traditional Tiki is today regarded as a symbol of good luck and fertility.  Trader Vic's is regarded as a symbol of good food, good fun and a laid-back tropical atmosphere.


* In deference to Polynesian cultures, the tikis created for this event are only representative of authentic tikis and do not accurately depict any actual cultural symbols.  We saw that Brady Bunch episode and we're not about to mess around with the mojo of the Tiki. D'uh.


Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino