Rare Vintage Footage Captures Innocence of Pre-War Hawaii 

Born and raised in Hawai’i and it’s crazy to see my island how it looked back then.

That is a BEAUTIFUL island (not to mention the color in the rare '41 film makes it even better)...

Despite this narration, people in Hawaii in 1941 were hardly unaware of the very real threat of a Japanese attack. The potential for war was publicized a great deal; residents were urged to stockpile canned goods at home, as well as to take first aid classes and donate blood to the very new concept of a blood bank. There were practice blackouts in 1939, 1940, and 1941 that required 100% civilian participation. The local government set up contingency plans for what to do should the war start. The attack was a real shock when it happened, but it's not like nobody had ever thought it was possible.

The tank at 0:27 and the soldiers marching on Queen Street at 1:57 were actually filmed AFTER the attack on Dec. 7, 1941.

The people of Hawai'i had already had their illusions of paradise shattered when the Americans conquered their territory.

If Ireland had the weather of Hawaii I think it'd be paradise.

This was during my childhood in west side Honolulu. Cattle was driven down from Parker Ranch to Kawaihae and made to swim out to the waiting ship where they were loaded. They were off loaded at the port at the foot of Waikamilo Road and put on railroad cattle cars and taken to the slaughter house located between Kalihi Stream and Middle Street. During WWII. tanks and trucks were driven from the military bases along Dillingham Blvd,to Mokauea Street, then right to Hart Street and follow the railroad tracks to Waikamilo Road and the waiting transport. The tanks tore up the roads.

Modern society destroing Heaven

Except for those cows tied to the boat by their nose

Free Hawaii

This is the Hawaii-nei of my youth.

The good ole days

No one knew that the next morning, Sunday, would change the course of history for the USA forever.....

Well done old video! Sad how we ran Hawaii into the ground since then!😢

0:41, that is NOT hawaiian, that is SAMOAN CULTURE. They are wearing ieToga which is a samoan traditional cloth.

LOVE THIS

The real reason the Japanee attacked Hawaii is because Roosevelt was going to stop sending oil to Japan so the Japan got mad because oil was essential to their country.

Born and raised what have they done to my island 😢

I love Honolulu

damn it Smithsonian!

Those cows turned into piñatas

What the hell was that?! They used to tie the animals from their neck to boats and carry them like that? First time seeing something like this wtf

But is any of that footage really from pre-war time? I feel like it can't be.

But i dont see how rare vintage footage captured hawaii

Beautiful images, bad history. Hawai’i was far from the “innocent paradise” depicted in the narration. It had already witnessed great changes before 1941. 1941 will be one of its greatest turning points, but it will be far from the last one. Change has always been a part of the Hawai’i story, including dramatic change. Aloha 🤙🏼

Your not going to show the leper village

The people who disliked this video dont even know what dislike means

As a historian, I take issue with the first words. The Japanese were not trying to expand into Hawaii. Unlike the US they only attacked military targets in Hawaii not civilian.0:24 There are multiple military bases all over the islands endangering the citizenry. Every time you turn a corner there is some installment.

beautiful young hula dancer

I was stationed there in the 80s and found out Hawkins were black people. Almost none exist now.

so cruel to animals , KARMA will never leave you alone. No RIP for u.

Even though we conquered hawaii, it could have been worse if the japanese conquered it with their actual at the time empire. Plus we go presley from hawaii. This reminds me, we need to incorperate other US territories like guam, Puerto Rico, the virgins island and the other pacific island territories. all of them have a majority opinion in the polls that they want state hood. in the pacific, alot of the elders of the island remember america saved them from the japans and are greatful. they wish to be recognized as a state because it would give them more nationalism as well as boost their economy and lift territory restrictions. puerto rico is a different story though. but i think in the end, we need more states. its been for ever. plus, it might be cooler if we hit 100 instead of 50 but thats getting way ahead ha ha

The people in this footage are not Indigenous Hawaiians. Hawaiians were black. These people are Polynesians.

Looks like you’re capturing the colonial narrative. 🤦‍♀️

Liar. Hawaii is in ASIA