Guest
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 filmmaker 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 peaked the interests of those on the “mainland“ through popular radio shows such as Hawaii Calls. This particular installment features footage around Oahu taking the viewer along to Waikiki Beach and Fort Shafter where a formal review is taking place. Fort Shafter is the oldest military base on Oahu and has now been home to the senior Army headquarters in Hawaii for a century. Text page that reads “Formal Review at Ft. Shafter” overlaid silhouette of palm trees framing ocean, swimmers standing by the coastline (0:08). Formal processional: Army band carrying large brass instruments marches out followed by soldiers and flag bearers; camera set up a ways back from the parade, field lined with palm trees and view of perhaps Ko'olau Range in background (0:13). Text page that reads “Anti-Aircraft Guns” (3:17). Smoke settles after perhaps 3-inch gun M1918s or 90 mm gun M1/M2/M3s shot in unison for demonstration (3:21). Smokey haze completely envelops surroundings and camera lens, slowly groups of United States Military planes in “The Vic” formation become visible (4:00). Anti-aircraft gun demonstration continues (4:38). Female attendee of ceremony jokingly dances for camera while wearing typical 1930s-knee length dress (4:49). Perhaps shot of Ko'olau Range just beyond the base (4:56). Young men paddle in shallow waters off Waikiki Beach in row boat, heads of swimmers and surfers bob in water, camera scans beach filled with sunbathers - Moana Surfrider Hotel (5:07). Text page that reads “Joe, The Beach Manager” (6:29). Joe wears white board shorts and captain's hat while maneuvering beach umbrella to better shade sunbathing guests along the sandy beach (6:32). Text page that reads “Margaret Ann Benedict” (7:00). Young girl stands before camera (perhaps Margarett Ann Benedict b. 1932 in Illinois according to census records) wearing maryjanes, short white dress, and clings to rag doll (7:04). Text page that reads “The Benedicts” (7:35). Man in military uniform and two women in 1930s-era dresses and hats pose next to young girl and family dog (Rough Collie) in front of residential home perhaps on Fort Shafter military base; one of the women appears to be the grandmother (7:39). Family of three: mother, father, daughter and dog post on shaded steps of their family home (9:39). Close-up face of Rough Collie family dog (10:00). Camera pans residential area of perhaps Fort Shafter before film comes to a close (10:11). 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
