Vintage Photos Of Hawaii That Prove It’s Always Been The Best Vacation Spot Ever
People have been fantasizing about the Hawaiian islands ever since the first western explorers landed there in the 18th century. Musings about these lush tropical islands have lured many visitors over the years, but because of limited technology, no one really got to see the Hawaiian islands in all their beauty unless they were there. But once the advent of color photography arrived, people could vicariously travel to these islands.
These stunning vintage photos will show you how Hawaii was the ultimate vacation destination of yesteryear. Keep reading to learn more!
Hula Dancers Sway Their Hips To Tell A Story
Welcome to Hawaii, where six beautiful islands of paradise await you! If you arrived in 1950 when this photo was taken, you might have seen a scene like this, where native Hawaiian dancers perform the traditional hula.
Hula was developed by Polynesians who originally settled on the Hawaiian islands. Hula is typically accompanied by "mele," which are traditional island chants, songs, or poems. The hula is meant to dramatize the mele in a visual dance form. There are two main categories of the dance: Hula Kahiko is ancient hula that was performed before Western encounters with Hawaii. Hula 'Auana is an evolved version with western influences.
A Hawaiian Lei Makes For A Warm Welcome
Here a woman is seen making leis circa 1954. She threads carnations together to create colorful flower necklaces that can be used as gifts for visitors to Hawaii. The lei tradition was brought to Hawaii by Polynesian voyagers from Tahiti and they were made with flowers, leaves, shells, seeds, nuts, feathers, and sometimes animal bones or teeth.
The lei is one of the ultimate symbols of Hawaiian culture to visitors who are greeted with a warm "Aloha" and a fresh flower lei. If someone gives you a lei, you must always accept it. You must also never take it off in front of the person who gave it to you.
Life In The Suburbs Of Hawaii
This is what life in Hawaii was like back in 1954. Neighbors chat across a white fence, not unlike suburbia on the Mainland. But unlike the Mainland, this neighborhood is nestled in a lush, majestic valley on the island of Oahu.
Wouldn't it be amazing to wake up to this scene everyday? These people certainly did. These folks live in the Hawaiian capital of Honolulu. Honolulu is the westernmost major U.S. city and also is the most remote major city in the entire world. It is likely that these families settled in Hawaii in the aftermath of WWII.
False Killer Whales Practice A Routine On Oahu
A woman is seen working with dolphins in this photo from 1969. These are false killer whales, the third-largest type of dolphin. There are three populations of false killer whales that inhabit the waters surrounding the Hawaiian islands. As a result, these are the dolphins that get observed the most, since populations are sparse elsewhere in the world.
There are places in Hawaii — Oahu especially, where this photo was taken — where you can see these elusive creatures up close. Dolphins are typically friendly to humans and these false killer whales have been known to catch fish and bring them to humans who are diving or boating.
Legend Nick Beck Catches A Wave
This is surf legend Nick Beck catching a wave in 1963. A surf craze swept the nation in the '60s as awesome shots just like this one were published in LIFEmagazine. The publication introduced readers to surfing but also warned of its perils, too.
Nick Beck was born on Kaua'i, which is the fourth largest of the Hawaiian islands and the oldest. After a lifelong career as a teacher, Beck eventually settled down and became the principal of Hanalei Elementary School. Later in his life, he worked towards slowing development of Hanalei and Kaua'i to preserve their natural beauty.
