1930S HONOLULU HAWAII TRIP HOME MOVIES COCONUT GROVE & HULA DANCE BY LYDIA DUSSON (REEL 11) 59444

This untitled black-and-white home-style travelog film depicts the family vacation of an upper class family to Hawaii. The film likely dates to 1937 as the creator of this film sailed on the S.S. Matsonia from San Francisco to Honolulu, a former World War I troopship that returned to its prior commercial function with the Matson Navigation Company in 1937. This film is part of a larger series of films from the same trip that begins in the Grand Canyon and ends in Honolulu. While the filmmaker behind this film remains unknown, it appears his family came to visit other family members stationed at Fort Shafter and turned it into a vacation. More generally, the films offer interesting insights into the development of tourism in Hawaii which rapidly expanded during the 1920s and 30s. At this time there were a few hotels in Waikiki - the Royal Hawaiian, Moana Surfrider, and Halekulani Hotel - and Hawaiian music had piqued the interests of those on the “mainland“ through popular radio shows such as Hawaii Calls. This particular film, mostly depicts scenes taken in and around “Coconut Grove,” which likely refers to an area in Waikiki called Helumoa located besides the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Here, hula dancers related to David Kaonohiokala Bray perform traditional dances and music. David and his wife Lydia, were credited with developing Hawaii’s tourism industry through the art of hula dance. The pair made it their mission to stop nearly a century of denigration of hula by Christian missionaries and reinsert hula into everyday public life. Throughout the 1920s and 30s, they taught classes in ancient religious practices, chant, hula, legends, and language. By the 1930s, like other Hawaiians of the time, they created a self-sustaining enterprise as entertainers for tourists to the islands. Text page that reads “Coconut Grove” overlaid silhouette of palm trees framing ocean, swimmers standing by the coastline (0:08). Text page reads “Dr. Schattenberg“ (0:35). Presumably Dr. Schattenberg walks around outdoor grounds of Coconut Grove (0:39). Commercial ships in perhaps Honolulu Harbor (1:14). Text page reads “Birds Eye View of Honolulu” (1:36). View from high perch looking out at Honolulu and Diamond Head volcano crater; In contrast to today, the land is largely undeveloped with some residential homes dispersed amongst areas of trees and forest (1:42). Mother of videographer, other members of group stand looking out over Honolulu, driver waits beside perhaps Ford Model A Roadster (2:30). Model of videographer poses beside another perhaps Ford Model A Roadster on side of road next to vista and urges local Hawaiian woman to post beside her for camera while other members of her family look on (3:14). Tea in Coconut Grove (3:33). Two young women wearing traditional Japanese kimonos present tea to mother of videographer in Coconut Grove gardens (3:38). Text page reads “Mrs. David Bray” (4:31). Portrait of Mrs. David Bray otherwise known as Lydia Maunahina Dusson posing in front of blossoming bush (4:36). Text page reads “Odetta Bray” (4:45). Odetta Bray poses in front of same bush (4:48). Text page reads “Kahala Bray” (4:56). Another daughter of David Bray and Lydia Maunahina Dusson poses for camera (5:00). Text page reads “Ida Alicante” (5:08). Ida Alicante, a musician who spread Hawaiian music across North America, strums a guitar while wearing floral lei (5:12). Text page reads “Mary Hakanson” (5:27). Portrait of Mary Hakanson wearing stacks of decorative floral leis and performing snippet of hula dance (5:30). Camera zooms out to reveal Lydia, Odetta, Kahala, Ida, and Mary performing together and dancing Hula; Mother of videographer welcomed by women as they place lei on her (5:45). The older women sit and play guitar, ukulele, ipu (Hula percussion instrument) while Odetta and Kahala dance Hula; footage goes on to depict each woman taking turns performing different traditional Hula dances for camera (6:06). Presumably father of videographer stands next to women and observes before being pulled into dance circle (13:41). Grounds, driveway of Coconut Grove before film ends (14:43). We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: “01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.“ This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit