Hawaiian Hula Eyes / Heavenly Hana

Released by the 49th State Hawaii Record Co., a label instrumental in the post-war preservation and popularization of traditional Hawaiian music, this 78 RPM record reflects the mid-century global fascination with the sounds of the islands. The label was founded by George P. Kainapau and others to capture the authentic arrangements of local musicians during a time when Hawaiian music was undergoing a significant commercial boom on the American mainland.

The tracks feature the gentle, melodic instrumentation characteristic of the Harmony Hawaiians and John Pi‘ilani Watkins. These recordings were designed to evoke the romanticized imagery of Hawaii, utilizing the distinctive lap steel guitar and vocal harmonies that defined the 'hapa haole' style of the era. The record is representative of the label's mission to curate a catalog that balanced traditional Hawaiian lyrics with the accessible, breezy arrangements sought by tourists and radio listeners of the 1940s and 1950s.