Did 1937 Hawaiian tourist dances hide a competitive edge?
In short: This archival footage captures staged Hawaiian performances from 1937. While seemingly designed for tourist entertainment, the presence of numbered dance teams suggests a potential competition. The film also documents a masquerade featuring bird and crab-themed performances, alongside views of the Hawaiian coastline and a narrow waterfall.
The footage, recorded on unedited Ansco film stock, shows Kate Tode interacting with local dancers while wearing multiple leis. According to Tode's own records, the film suffered from significant fading immediately after it was developed.
Beyond the staged dances, the film includes a sequence of masquerades where performers mimic bird and crab movements. The visual evidence of numbered participants raises questions about whether these displays were purely for visitors or part of a structured contest, a detail that requires further verification from Hawaiian sources.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Various Kahop Collection: 5 Hawaii (1937)
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