1960 CASTLE FILMS TRAVELOGUE

Year Published: 1959

Format: 16mm

Description: This brief travelogue film was released just after Hawaii was inducted as the 50th state of the United States which took place on August 21st, 1959. It shows a vibrant look throughout the island as tourists enjoy it’s many sites and activities. It was presented by Castle Films (:08) and opens with hula dancers with colorful flower blossoms in their ears and hair (:22). Inhabitants of the island are composed of a melting pot of ethnicities (:44). Hawaii is generally looked at as an island resort to which people can flock to for escape from their daily stresses. A Pan American DC-8 passenger jet unloads tourists, (:49) as hula girls await at the end of the line to throw colorful lays over the entering guests. An aerial view of the capital city of Honolulu follows (1:13) as well as the crowded city streets on the ground. The tourist trade here is the third largest industry (1:19). Traditional attire is the holoku which was first adopted by Hawaiian queens and had originated from the Mother Hubbard dress (1:23). Hawaiians craft woven palm hats for tourists (1:29). Other products manufactured by natives of the island include bowels and trays made with native hard wood (1:52) as well as masks crafted with more soft and supple woods (1:59). A woman sells lays and garlands crafted with various blossoms on the street corner (2:04). The island’s pleasant climate enables a variety of colorful blossoms (2:27) and variations of the orchid flower reach into the thousands (2:38). Young citizens watch seals play in an aquarium (2:56) and their youthful faces are zoomed in on to show the varying ethnicities which reside here (3:06). Waikiki Beach in all of its famous sun, sand and palm tree glory follows as it is one of the most popular beaches in the world (3:11). The Hawaiian Village Hotel (3:27) offers a more natural setting for tourists with small thatched roof huts. Tourists stand outside of one of these with long grass skirts (3:40). The land and waters are free for exploration as a man climbs into a canoe with a woman clad with a flower blossom in her hair (4:05). One of the more popular attractions here is a motor ride through Hawaii National Park (4:16). Here guests can view some of the dozens of the island’s volcanoes (4:28). Only two are active and one of these (4:32) is seen erupting. Hot streams of magma spill out and reach temperatures of 2,000 degrees (4:41). A couple stands on a hill overlooking a waterfall contrasting the heat of the volcano (4:48). Excursion boats provide guests with a slow tour of the rivers such as the Waialua River (5:05). For more speedy travel and exploration, catamaran’s bounce over open ocean waters (5:10). Beaches are enjoyed near sea side resorts (5:29). Surfing is popular on the island (5:40) and an outrigger canoe ride heads into the water (5:50). A slew of surfers ride mellow waves to the shoreline (6:16). Exuberant luau scenes follow (7:04) jam packed with tourists and hula dancers. This giant feast has it’s roots in antiquity. The traditional pig roast is seen heading to be roasted within deep pits (7:12). Hula dancers move on a stage for waves of guests below with island music swirling out (7:37). The guests settle down at a long table to enjoy the feast (7:48). The film concludes with the information Hawaii had been formed from volcanic eruptions in the sea (7:48) and was now the 50th state of the US.

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Transcription

so it's been said that hula dancers tell a story with their hands and fingers then try to wiggle out of it but that doesn't go for the hawaiian story an exotic blend of many races our 50th state is almost without racial prejudice from the days of the hawaiian kings the islands have been a proverbial mecca for those fleeing the pressures of everyday life from the moment you set foot ashore you shake off your troubles honolulu the capital is a town of effervescent gaiety and the tourist trade is the state's third major industry native dress the holoku descends from the missionary's mother hubbard want a palm frond hat woven while you wait step right up if you didn't have a hat when you came in you'll have one when you go out skilled fingers come up with a perfect fit he's ready to go native native hardwoods are fashioned into bowls and trays while the soft spongy woods lend themselves to masks the islands are one vast bower of blossoms and lathes or garlands of flowers made up from dozens of various blooms no matter what season of the year you arrive you'll find that nature has contrived to stage a flower show just for your benefit varieties of orchids found in the islands number in the thousands the various strains flourishing in the climate that has likewise nurtured hundreds of ratio types such a harmonious blend of races is revealed in a study of these faces blended into a cohesive group of young citizens in nature's crucible to most of us hawaii means waikiki beach probably the most famous in the world the beach is fringed with hotels catering to every pocketbook for the tourist who wants to go native in a luxurious way there's the hawaiian village hotel with all of the native atmosphere it's a place for the tourist to comb inhibitions out of his grass skirt hometown usa was never like this there are no keep off the grass signs in the parks instead the public is encouraged this is a public park have fun and it is fun and romance too for that flower means she's looking for a skipper on the sea of matrimony a must for all visitors is a motor trip through hawaii national park a vast panorama of extinct volcanoes here is the mute evidence of the violent eruptions of nature millions of years ago among the dozens of volcanoes only two are active today and among these is majestic mauna loa in eruption it paints a picture that defies description fiery lava reaches a temperature of 2000 degrees making these beautiful falls appear that much cooler excursion boats ply the wailua and other rivers a relaxing interlude for the more strenuous things to come they call them slow boats but who's in a hurry well some people are and they take to the open sea and catamarans and there's one nice thing about hawaii even at sea you're surrounded by beautiful scenery synonymous with hawaii is beach and her seaside resorts are patronized by everyone including the best of the carriage train the towering surf challenges the adventuresome to pit their skill against the sea oh he's polishing up other skills he hears the siren call of the mermaids for the thrill of a lifetime try an outrigger canoe ride or try to maintain your sense of balance and tackle a surfboard it's not hard to the beginner it's as easy as falling off a log once you're out beyond the surf the idea is to get back to the beach jockey for position on the crest of a wave and then travel with express train speed and there are no local stops so i'll just watch two girls or try this beach skit on a chair pad did that wet your appetite hope it did for we're heading for a luau a hawaiian feast of gigantic proportions that finds its origins in antiquity to make one luau take two pigs and go on from there the porkers are roasted for hours in deep pits while the diners count the minutes meanwhile he seems to be feasting his eyes on finally the time for feasting approaches so get ready to settle down for hours for there's no rushing a feast like this born of the sea through volcanic violence of nature the hawaiian islands were a proud kingdom a loyal territory and are now a bright 50th star in our flag hawaii our state of paradise you

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