Webley Edwards presents Paradise Island Capitol Records 1959 ...

I've been doing a little reading around the marketing of Hawaiian music in the 1950's. I found quite an informative article which highlighted its growth, and this Webley Edwards album is a classic example. There are tracks which mark your arrival and departure on the island by boat... you kick back in your favourite armchair and are transported to a Paradise Island aided by the impressive sleeve notes and full colour booklet which acts almost as a travel brochure.

Extract from article...

"Hawaii-inspired music marketed via popular record albums, radio shows, and Hollywood film soundtracks aided Hawaii’s transformation in the popular imagination from a mysterious ‘primitive’ paradise into the 50th U.S. state. Indeed, by constructing and capturing the temptingly tropical so-called ‘sounds’ of Hawaii on the latest hi-fi recording equipment, the music industry offered up Hawaiian music as an achievement of modern technology, promoting these U.S. islands as an acoustic, as well as a tourist, paradise."

"Record albums are useful sights for material culture studies for several reasons. They are durable. Records from the 1950s remain widely available today, collected and coveted by consumers, and recirculate as retro icons. Used records are sold by the thousands in vinyl stores, at record fairs, and on the Internet; and, surprisingly, vinyl has rebounded as a viable niche within the music industry. Furthermore, old records are often re-released on compact disc, thus enjoying a new life. Although images from 1950s and 1960s advertisements usually appear hopelessly dated, record cover designs enjoy new life on compact discs that cash in on ironic trends or retro fashions."

Enjoy a trip to Webley Edwards' Paradise Island.

A Honeymoon in Hawaii ...

It's been a long time between Mai Tai's for me with things very busy here on the Secret Island. Still as things settle down and we edge towards a Southern Hemisphere winter here there will be plenty of time to dust off the keyboard and again bring to you something to wet those Tiki Tastebuds!

Today I thought that I would take a long board and ride the wave of Wedding fervor that seems to have crashed on to the shore this week. As a former inhabitant of the Royal Island I still take quite an interest in the Royals. I'm not the biggest Royalist but Will and Kate (... sorry Catherine!!) do have the potential to reinvent them in the same way that Princess Diana did so successfully.

Anyway enough of all that. While the destination of their Honeymoon might still be a secret I can think of nothing better than a Honeymoon in Hawaii. Will and Kate not convinced? Well sit back and listen to this....

The beautiful poster girl Rosemarie Alvarez.

Enjoy - Hilo Hawaiians Honeymoon in Hawaii. Ono Records. 1960

This album is a treasure that was almost lost, deleted on vinyl the master tapes have only recently been discovered allowing the release of this title on CD. In the Honolulu Magazine feature on the Best 50 Albums of Hawaii; The Hilo Hawaiians, Honeymoon in Hawaii album came in at Number 34, amazing when you consider that the whole thing was recorded in just one session. The album is considered a must have for Hawaiian Music Collectors as it showcases the unique talents of Bunny Brown, Kihei Brown. Arthur Kaua, Mona Kalima, and Buddy Brown at their best.

John Kameaaloha Almeida and His Orchestra ...

Here's a little something to lift a little of the Winter gloom for those of you in the Northern Hemisphere. Turn the heating up really high, dig out the Aloha shirt, pour a Mai Tai and listen to this.

It speaks of the lure of tropical Hawaii, where it is always Springtime; and it whispers of romance. All its enchantment is captured in these high fidelity recordings for your enjoyment and pleasure. It conjures up pleasant dreams, and, like a mating call, it invites you to come and play in Hawaii. Hawaiian hospitality awaits you. You too would want this fine album of Hawaiian melodies in your music library. AUTHENTIC Hawaiian Melodies: Recorded in Hawaii by 49th State Hawaii Records.

John Kameaaloha Almeida - the "Dean of Hawaiian music" was a blind composer, musician, vocalist, entertainer, and teacher. He was born under a bush while his mother was gathering maile in Pauoa Valley. His blindness was attributed to the maile sap on his mothers hands, although advances over the past century in knowledge of childhood vision loss indicate a more likely cause to be congential blindness!

His compositions, at least 300, mostly inspired by women, were songs of love and romance, and enhanced his reputation as a casanova.

Enjoy - On a Coconut Island

Blue Hawaii ...

With Elvis’ birthday on the 8th of January the local satellite TV movie channels were full of Elvis movies. They’re not normally something I’d be too interested in, but the mention of Hawaii grabbed me. Released in 1961 Blue Hawaii was the first of three Elvis movies to be filmed in Hawaii. Much of it was filmed in the grounds of the Coco Palms which was the oldest hotel on the Garden Isle of Kaua`i, and was at the time the world's most famous Polynesian resort. When Hurricane Iniki struck in September 1992, the Coco Palms was shut down indefinitely as repairs proved too costly and the entire island struggled with recession. The property, located on the southeast shore of Kaua`i, has been left to decay now for over a decade as is still closed.



Blue Hawaii was one of Elvis' most successful films, grossing $10,440,453 worldwide in 1962 alone. In the movie Chad Gates (Elvis) returns from the Army, and is happy to be back in Hawaii with his surf-board, his beach buddies, and his girlfriend. His father wants him to go to work at the Great Southern Hawaiian Fruit Company, but Chad is reluctant. So Chad goes to work as a tour guide at his girlfriend's agency. Yup that’s the plot… I won’t spoil the ending but you’ll see it coming soon enough!

It is argued that this film set the tone for Presley's future film career — pretty locations, gorgeous girls, dull plots, and mediocre songs, and that I’m afraid pretty much sums it up. It is worth a watch as the beautiful Hawaiian paradise unfolds like a travelogue throughout. It offers some interesting insights into Hawaii of the early 1960’s as well as its fashion and lifestyle of the time.

As far as the soundtrack goes the original 1961 album release of "Blue Hawaii", had 14 songs on it. - "Blue Hawaii" features the title song, "No More", "Can't Help Falling In Love", "Rock-a-Hula-Baby", "Moonlight Swim", "Hawaiian Wedding Song", plus more. "Steppin' out of Line", the original, was the one bonus track already released. This version was released later by RCA complete with alternate versions. There are some Elvis versions of some Hawaiian classics, some songs which had words re written for them as well as some pure Elvis cheese!

Enjoy - Blue Hawaii Original Soundtrack

Aloha Aulani ...

Aulani is a Disney Resort & Spa under development at the Ko Olina Resort & Marina near Kapolei on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Phase 1 is expected to open in August 2011; it will be the third Disney Vacation Club Resort located outside of a Disney theme park property.

Aulani" has more than one meaning. It is "the messenger of a chief", yet it is also "the one who delivers a message from a higher authority." To that end, Aulani tells the epic story of Hawai`i through every brushstroke, beam and sculpture.

So what can visitors expect?

The white sandy beach, tropical gardens, turquoise lagoons and sparkling waterfalls are just a few highlights of this balmy paradise. Inside the Resort, lava rock rises up through the floor of the grand lobby as dual pools of water cross the expanse: one gently flows with flora while the other rushes wildly through.

Check out more renderings of what you can expect in the Aulani Resort gallery.

In this short video clip imagineer (... love that Disney job title!) Joe Rohde, the leader of the creative team on Aulani, talks about the ongoing thrill of discovery and how the design and experience of Aulani are inspired by the stories and culture of Hawai'i itself.



I have to admit to having more than a soft spot for the Enchanted Tiki Room as well as anything produced by SHAG for Disney. If they can manage to weave some of the Disney magic into the local culture and traditions and people of Hawaii then they could be on to a good thing... just please keep the Mouse ears off the Tikis!