5651z “RIDING THE BIG SURF” 1963 GEORGE TAHARA HAWAII TRAVELOGUE FILMS SURFING, HULA & FRUIT

Riding the Big Surf & Kilaeua Volcano eruption Kodachrome MOS shorts

Sold for home use in stores in Honolulu, this group of short, silent films shows popular views of Hawaii. Most date to before the era of statehood in 1959 — probably the late 1940s. These films present the image of Hawaii through the American lens accompanied with sleepy ukulele tunes. These images of Hawaiian allure were captured by George Tahara; a prominent filmmaker in the state of Hawaii. In the 1960’s the new state was the place to be with crystal blue waters and a rich culture. The film opens with stunning images of surfers riding waves; solo (:39), and in pairs (1:13). A red swim suit clad surfer walks his board to the water (2:34), his pup kicking up alongside. View from the surfboard as the pair ride together (2:48). Credits detail this film was produced by George Tahara in Honolulu, Hawaii (3:22). The next section takes a look at industry on the island. The pineapple and sugar industries (3:31) were the largest employers in Hawaii. Much of the goods were shipped to the US. Sugar cane stalks lay against one another (3:44). Fires blaze amid palms and stalks (3:53). Large stacks of the harvested crop are moved by crane (4:09). Workers at a fish factory send fresh catches through machinery (4:12). The outside of the fish processing plant follows (4:28). Water moves down a narrow canal within the factory (4:54). Close shot of a pineapple (4:58). A farmer walks amid the field holding a sack of the citrus fruits (5:15). A tractor runs along the road as field workers harvest (5:22). Mountains in the background. Workers send pineapples up the chute (5:44). Images follow from within the canning facility (5:50). Machines rip the shell from the yellow fruit (6:11). Fruits move down the line after being de-cored (6:16). Hawaiian female factory workers man the assembly line (6:22). Pineapples are set into cans (6:39). The canned goods are sent on a stream of carts out of the factory (6:50). A short black haired Hawaiian woman with a bright red flower stuck in her hair and under a red lay (7:02) performs a dance for viewers. Footage captures a green swinging straw skirt (7:08) and slow motion butterfly hand movements of the dancer. Lila performs the Wedding Song (8:50). A series of Hawaiian women enter the screen with yellow orange lays and green dresses (8:46). Two female ukulele players accompany the group (8:50). The lead steps forward (9:06). “Hula in White” shows the dancers at night (10:29) in white dress and sticks for the performance. A band readies themselves in the background (10:44). “Night Hula” (11:16) shows Hula dancers in the evening swaying up and down in white dress. Orange dresses and tucked knees as the dancers move across sand under fire torches (12:01). A solo dancer performs in a green straw dress (12:08). Hula girls swing with balloons (12:26). Dancers in red; “Hula in Red”, the women dance with fingertips close to their faces and yellow flowers stuck in their hair (13:04). Young female dancers (13:30) play before the band. A dance is performed on the green for a daytime outdoor show (14:08). A close shot of one of the women with a flower crown (15:12). Black hair swings as she switches back and forth (15:35). A wide shot shows the dancers, palms along the shore and a straw hut (15:45). A man beats a gourd on the ground (17:04). Kodak presents the “Hula Shows” (17:40). A stunning shot; bright colored flowers on the ground, girls dancing in a row and the palms and waters in the background (21:14). The camera pans over the stand of spectators (18:24). Close shots show a woman in the foreground beating a gourd (18:54). A heavy set dancer in wide loose colorful attire takes the center (20:18).

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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 http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com

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