Description
Destination Hawaii: 33 Musical Travel Companions To The Aloha State is a richly curated compilation from Bear Family Records that captures the mid-century fascination with Hawaii as both a real destination and an imagined paradise. Spanning rock ’n’ roll, country, rhythm & blues, exotica, and pop, the collection reflects a time when the islands symbolized escape, romance, and adventure for mainland audiences.
During the 1950s and early 1960s—particularly following Hawaii’s statehood in 1959—the “Hawaiian craze” swept through American popular culture. This compilation documents that moment through a diverse lineup of artists, from major stars like Bing Crosby, Chuck Berry, and Marty Robbins to cult favorites and lesser-known performers who embraced island imagery, steel guitar textures, and tropical rhythms. Tracks such as "Blue Hawaii," "Hula Love," and "Me Rock-A-Hula" illustrate how deeply Hawaiian themes permeated mainstream music across genres.
Musically, the set moves fluidly between styles, pairing laid-back ballads with upbeat rockabilly and dance-oriented numbers. The use of steel guitar, lilting rhythms, and romantic lyrical themes creates a cohesive atmosphere that evokes ocean breezes, sunset serenades, and the allure of distant shores. At the same time, novelty and crossover tracks highlight how artists reinterpreted Hawaiian motifs through their own stylistic lenses, resulting in a uniquely eclectic listening experience.
More than a simple travel-themed collection, Destination Hawaii functions as a cultural time capsule, reflecting how postwar America projected its ideals of leisure, escapism, and exoticism onto the islands. The compilation’s carefully restored audio and accompanying booklet provide historical context, making it equally valuable for collectors and casual listeners. Closing with the iconic "Aloha Oe," the album delivers a fittingly nostalgic farewell, reinforcing its role as both a musical journey and a tribute to the enduring myth of Hawaii.
Track Listing
- The Drifters - My Islands In The Sun
- Hank Snow - Hula Rock
- Jimmy C. Newman - Bop-A-Hula
- Marty Robbins - Hawaii’s Calling Me
- Buddy Knox - Hula Love
- The Rivieras - Let’s Go To Hawaii
- The Platters - Hula Hop
- Bing Crosby with Lani McIntire and His Hawaiians - Blue Hawaii
- Tommy Sands - Hawaiian Rock
- Skeets McDonald - Hawaiian Sea Breeze
- Bill Haley and his Comets - Me Rock-A-Hula
- Smokey Joe Baugh - Hula Bop
- Elmore James - Hawaiian Boogie No.1
- The Playboys - Hawaiian War Chant
- Don Woody - Hula Hula Girl
- Bill Browning - Hula Rock
- Jimmy Blakley - Island Paradise
- Hank Locklin - Blue Grass Skirt
- Phil Gandy - Hula Baby
- Gary Williams - Hawaii
- Carl Mann - Island Of Love
- Otto Brandenburg - Putti-Putti
- Dusty Rose - Hula Rock
- Randy Starr - Polynesian Paradise
- Jon & The Nightriders - Rumble At Waikiki
- Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely - Beyond The Reef
- Little Gerhard - Honolulu Baby
- The Lancers - Rock Around The Island
- Eartha Kitt - Honolulu Rock And Roll
- Chuck Berry - Blues For Hawaiians
- Jenks Tex Carman - Hillbilly Hula
- Paul Kuhn - There Is No Beer On Hawaii
- Webley Edwards - Aloah Oe (Hawaiian Farewell Song)
Additional Details
Label: Bear Family Records
Genre: Pop/Rock
Language: English
Run Time: 79:00 mins
Region: 0
Release Date: 08/07/26
UPC: 4000127177544