Hawaii in the 1970’s

RememberWhen

Photo Courtesy: HockeynHula on Flickr

A rebirth and renewed interest in Hawaiian music, hula, language, traditional navigation and voyaging occurred in the 1970’s and is referred to as Hawaii’s “Cultural Renaissance”.  Both the hula and voyaging—two significant foundations of the Hawaiian culture—experienced a special resurgence during the 70’s.

Though begun in 1964, the Merrie Monarch (named after King David Kalakaua) was in it’s cultural infancy until 1971. Then, under the direction of Dorothy Thompson, the Merrie Monarch Festival refocused its efforts at celebrating the significance of hula as art-form and as central to the Hawaiian culture.

The 1970’s also gave birth to The Polynesian Voyaging Society, under the leadership of Ben Finney, Herb Kane and Tommy Holmes. The overall mission was to prove that Polynesian voyaging, utilizing traditional non-instrumentation navigation, could be done purposefully over ancestral routes across a long, open ocean voyage. This vision would have far reaching impact on Hawaii’s people and culture:

“… as Hokule‘a and Hawai‘iloa traveled throughout Polynesia, they inspired among Polynesians an increased awareness and native pride in their seafaring heritage. They also sparked a revival of canoe building and sailing, arts that had not been practiced in over a hundred years…” — PVC

On Oahu, the first Honolulu Marathon was held in 1973. The following year, Hawaii and the nation witnessed the election of George R. Ariyoshi, America’s first Japanese-American governor. Other important events in Hawaii during this decade include the opening of the new Aloha Stadium in Halawa in 1975 and the subsequent demolition of the old Honolulu Stadium in McCully in 1976.  Local pride in it’s university grew in 1977 as the UH Rainbow baseball team ranked number 1 in the nation, the first University of Hawaii athletic team to celebrate this accolade.

Tragically, the 1970’s ended with the death of one of Hawaii’s most celebrated watermen—Eddie Aikau. In 1978, while voyaging as a crew member on the voyaging canoe, the Hokule‘a, the vessel capsized in a storm just south of the island of Molokai. Aikau, whose life-saving skills helped coined the term “Eddie Would Go”, disappeared while paddling on his surfboard for help. In memory of Eddie Aikau, surf apparel giant Quiksilver sponsors the Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational at Waimea Bay, when waves reach a minimum of 20 feet.

And so, another decade goes by…what memories do you have to share?