There's racism abound in this above average drama that shows life in the new state of Hawaii where certain visitors have no respect for those who have lived there and want to exploit them for the resources or just cause trouble based upon assumptions. A white family moves there, and the young Hawaiian natives befriend him because he's of the same kinship, but for racist visiting Navy seamen, the anger over the difference in looks and traditions results in fights. Even for the white kid, he gets attacked when he indicates a lust for one of his Hawaiian friend's sisters. But when a fight between the sailors and his native friends (as well as a Japanese American dealing with a traditional father) breaks out, he fights on their side, so you get to see that the friendship is real.
Among the natives and Japanese young people, you also get to experience a generation gap that shows how times and attitudes were changing, much like the San Francisco set "Flower Drum Song" which had opened on Broadway just the year before. The older people, including the Hawaiian adults, definitely express some prejudice to the Japanese, even if they had fought on the American side in the war. So while this isn't quite a perfect paradise with the racism of varying kinds, it is a very impressive social document that shows the many facets of the natives and implants and gives a view of the big island before it became too much of a tourist trap. Music of the era is a great addition for the atmosphere, and there is also hope too thanks to the few non-natives who see the traditional, the possibility of positive change and the confrontation of hatred wherever it rears its ugly brain. Of the cast, only a few people were familiar to me (Chris Makepeace and Tia Carrare), but that doesn't mean that there isn't truth and talent in the other performances. In fact, there could be too much truth.
Among the natives and Japanese young people, you also get to experience a generation gap that shows how times and attitudes were changing, much like the San Francisco set "Flower Drum Song" which had opened on Broadway just the year before. The older people, including the Hawaiian adults, definitely express some prejudice to the Japanese, even if they had fought on the American side in the war. So while this isn't quite a perfect paradise with the racism of varying kinds, it is a very impressive social document that shows the many facets of the natives and implants and gives a view of the big island before it became too much of a tourist trap. Music of the era is a great addition for the atmosphere, and there is also hope too thanks to the few non-natives who see the traditional, the possibility of positive change and the confrontation of hatred wherever it rears its ugly brain. Of the cast, only a few people were familiar to me (Chris Makepeace and Tia Carrare), but that doesn't mean that there isn't truth and talent in the other performances. In fact, there could be too much truth.
