Video
Stephen T. Mather Film Collection Hawaii #1, 1927
Descriptive Transcript
Smoke billows out of a steamship. Camera pans down to people boarding the ship and crowds on the dock. “US Army transport vessel Chateau Thierry” is painted on the side of the ship. People onshore wave their hands, newspapers, and handkerchiefs to those on the ship.
Onboard the ship people site around on deck as a man in uniform stands addressing them. Many on board are soldiers. The deck is very cramped. The man standing begins to lead what seems to be a sing along, holding a book in front of him with one hand and appearing to conduct the music with his other hand. The men around him also hold books.
View of men sitting on deck around winches and other equipment on deck. The men entertain themselves by lining up for what appears to be a version of the leap frog game to see how many people in a row can be leapt on. A few children gather at the top of the steps to watch the game. Views of men on deck.
Two men stand on the deck of the ship, looking out at the water. Although not identified in the film, the man dressed all in white is believed to be Secretary of the Interior Hubert Work. Three biplanes fly above the ship.
Although not identified in the film, Diamond Head on the island of Oahu can be seen from the ship.
A ship steams into view, seemingly filmed from land. Passengers are shown climbing up a ladder on the side of the ship from a smaller boat which is alongside the ship.
Two men wearing suits and with leis around their necks are on the deck of a boat. Although not identified in the film, the man on the left is National Park Service Director Stephen T. Mather.
View of a ship, possibly from a dock. Seen from above, sailors dressed in white sit on the deck.
People mill about on a pier or dock.
Scene changes to a performance or pageant of people, marching past crowds in grandstands and behind a log fence. Adults and children perform dances, gymnastics, or appear in ceremonial dress. Although not identified in the film, this is a program put on for the Pan-Pacific conference on education, rehabilitation, reclamation, and recreation at the Pan-Pacific Research Institute in Manoa Valley, near Honolulu, and features Native Hawai’ian, Samoan, Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Canadian, Australian, Tahitians, and other performers. Men in suits mill about the stands and grounds.
Scene changes to a beach where people sit on the sand watching surfers.
Description
Silent black-and-white home movie of events from the Pan-Pacific conference on education, rehabilitation, reclamation, and recreation in Hawai'i. Includes the departure of the US Army transport vessel Chateau Thierry and soldier activities onboard (a version of a leapfrog game) and biplanes flying above the ship. Stephen Mather wearing a lei. A cultural festival for the Pan-Pacific conference and surfing scenes. Copyright transferred to the NPS.
Duration
11 minutes, 43 seconds
Credit
NPS History Collection (HFCA 1883)
Date Created
11/21/2024
Copyright and Usage Info