Hawaii

Hawaii was not officially a state until the 1950s, but it had been part of US territory since 1900. Much like today, the Hawaiian islands were a very popular tourist destination during the 1920s. The traditional music was absorbed into jazz and the blues, and even some touches of the exotic styles were adopted into our popular fashions (for example, the classic Hawaiian shirt, while mostly thought of being part of the 1950s fashion, actually originated from the 1920s!) I love the idea of the Hawaiian flapper, and today I'll help you back to the 1920s and onto exotic islands!


Here's a link to two maps from the 1920s of Hawaii, the first from Niihau, and the second of Kahoolawe.


Here are some photographs (mostly of airfields) of some very pretty scenery of Hawaii from the 1920s.


This cruise ad is beautiful and all in color, but it a little too large to fit on here.


Naturally, some of my favorite jazzy-Hawaiian songs are the ones made by Cliff Edwards with Andy Iona and His Islanders, but they wouldn't belong here as they were all made during the 1930s, but I do have plenty of other goodies!

1. "Aloha Oe (Farewell to Thee)" by the Kalama's Quartette from 1928.

2. "Don't Say Aloha Oe When I Go" by the Royal Hawaiians from 1927.

3. "Honolulu Blues" by Cole McElroy's Spanish Ballroom Orchestra from 1927.

4. "The Hula Blues" by the Royal Hawaiians from 1927.

5. "I'll Fly to Hawaii" by Gus Edwards and His Orchestra from 1926.

6. "My Little Grass Shack" by du Luau from 1928.

7. "On the Beach at Waikiki" by Kalama's Quartette from 1928.

8. "Tropical Hula" by the South Sea Islanders from 1927.

There are so many more good Hawaiian inspired bands from the 1920s, that I really recommend looking around yourself for more!

And finally, he's a little documentary from the 1920s on world travel (but the first minute is on Hawaii, including some rather interesting footage of surfing!)



Enjoy, and I'll see you in Hawaii!