Spirit of Aloha | Articles | Books | March/April 2003

Books
By Bob Dye

Elvis' Aloha for Hawai'i

Elvis Presley loved Hawai'i-Jerry Hopkins' new book tells why, recounting the heady days when the King gave concerts, made movies and vacationed in the Islands

Jerry Hopkins' Elvis in Hawai'i explores through anecdotes and memorabilia the improbable 20-year love affair between Hawai'i and the King of Rock 'n' Roll.

The affair began on Nov. 9, 1957, when Elvis Presley and a band of rockabilly musicians arrived on O'ahu. "They were ready to kick off their blue suede shoes and put on the sexiest show since a line of hula dancers welcomed Capt. Cook in 1778 ...," writes Hopkins.

Enter two local disk jockeys, Ron Jacobs and Tom Moffatt, and the fun began. Through stunts and pranks by the two "Poi boys" and the showmanship of Elvis, the performances were wildly successful. This, of course, pleased Elvis' manager, Col. Tom Parker, who had struck up a friendship with Hawai'i promoter E.K. Fernandez.

At a concert intermission, the Colonel and Fernandez went into the audience to sell photographs of Elvis. "Take whatever bill they hold up," Parker told Fernandez, "and don't give nobody no change."

What followed were three feature films-Paradise, Hawaiian Style, Blue Hawai'i and Girls, Girls, Girls-and a concert that benefited the USS Arizona Memorial and another that benefited the Kui Lee Cancer Fund. Elvis also spent quiet vacation time at a house on Lanikai Beach.

For "enticing countless visitors to our Islands through his many films set here in paradise" and other contributions to Hawai'i, in 1990 Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi proclaimed Aug. 12-18 as Elvis Presley Tribute Week.

How faithful was Elvis to Hawai'i in his three Island movies? Hopkins asks. He answers that the "scenery never looked better," and the "'feeling' was often Hawaiian, too, and so were the story lines (however flimsy) and costumes." The music, he explains, fell into the hapa-haole genre-tunes like "Princess Poopooly Has Plenty Papaya," "Cockeyed Mayor of Kaunakakai" and "Hilo Hattie Does the Hilo Hop."

Hopkins, a former Honolulu resident, has written two previous books about Elvis-Elvis: A Biography (1971) and Elvis: The Final Years (1980). Both books were international bestsellers. He is also the author of 25 other books.

The lavishly illustrated, 88-page book was released late last year to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Presley's death.

Elvis in Hawai'i by Jerry Hopkins. Designed by Carol Colbath and Julie Falvey. The Bess Press, Honolulu, 2002. $19.95.

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