The movie “Hawaii” was released in theaters 50 years ago, though the struggle to bring the novel to the screen began in August 1959 when the Mirisch Corp. paid $600,000 to acquire the movie rights to James A. Michener’s 800-page book. This month we look back at the how the movie was produced, its stars and the time they spent filming in the islands.
In 1960, “Hawaii” was approved for production with veteran Fred Zinnemann as director. Zinnemann intended the movie be done as two films due to the length of the novel.
United Artists was to finance the film, but the company and Zinnemann grew weary of waiting for a script. United Artists became cautious about making new movies with high production costs.
The original script eliminated the arrival of the New England missionaries in Hawaii, a key element of the original story. The first version of the script cost about $200,000.
Because of the lengthy delays in getting a script, Zinnemann dropped out, and George Roy Hill was introduced as the new director. Hill went on to direct movies with Paul Newman and Robert Redford, including “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “The Sting.”
With a new director in place and a final script set, Walter Mirisch, head of the Mirisch Corp., held an afternoon news conference in Honolulu on Oct. 24, 1964, announcing the epic production would be filmed in Hawaii.
The Mirisch Corp. had produced 16 Academy Award-winning films, including “West Side Story” and “The Apartment.”
Filming for the movie began Feb. 22, 1965, about as far from the islands as one can be: 150 miles above the Arctic Circle, off Bodo, Norway. In the spring, filming moved to New England.
Swedish actor Max von Sydow was cast as the Rev. Abner Hale. “He’s a pathetic man. But he’s a funny man, too, in the way he is so serious,” said Sydow of his Rev. Hale character in a 1965 Honolulu Star-Bulletin interview.
Sydow has experienced a career resurgence of late: He has the first speaking part in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” playing the part of Lor San Tekka, and will appear in the next “Star Wars” sequel as well as an episode of “Game of Thrones,” according to imdb.com.
British actress Julie Andrews was cast as Jerusha Bromley, wife of Hale. Andrews’ first visit to Hawaii was during the filming. She studied for the role by reading a packet of letters written in the 1800s by Betsy Lyons, one of the original missionaries on the Big Island. “The thing that attracts me about Jerusha is her quiet strength and generosity. I’m proud to portray this character role. I only hope I can do justice to it,” said Andrews in a 1965 Star-Bulletin interview.
Irish actor Richard Harris was cast as Capt. Rafer Hoxworth. Actors Gene Hackman and Carroll O’Connor, several years from playing Archie Bunker, also appeared in the film.
Ten locals were cast to portray missionaries, among them a 1963 Radford High School graduate by the name of Bette Midler. They started in Hollywood on April 26, 1965, and worked there a month, then moved the production to Hawaii.
On June 9, 1965, filming began on Oahu at an old Army base at Makua.
Most of the production crew stayed at the brand-new Ilikai Hotel. Harris and Sydow rented homes on Diamond Head Road. Andrews rented a home on Kahala Avenue.
The Mirisch Corp. brought 168 people from Hollywood to Hawaii for filming and hired 200 local technicians and 700 local residents as extras. Some 500 meals were served each day during filming.
A combination of wind, rain, sun, sand, dirt and military helicopters buzzing above delayed production an extra month at Makua.
Filming concluded on Oahu on Nov. 10, 1965. The movie cost $15 million and was at the time the most expensive movie ever filmed in the islands.
A total of $7 million was spent locally during the filming of “Hawaii.”
The state premiere of the film was Oct. 18, 1966, at the Kuhio Theater. Tickets were sold to the public for $25 at the 791-seat theater. Gov. John A. Burns made welcoming remarks at the premiere.
About 25,000 people came to see the movie at the Kuhio Theater in the first month. “Hawaii” sold out most weekends and played at the Kuhio for more than six months.
Tahitian actress Jocelyne LaGarde, who played Malama, earned a Golden Globe for best supporting actress. It was her only acting credit. The movie was nominated for seven Academy Awards and generated $34.5 million at the box office.
The theme song of “Hawaii” eventually was altered to become the longtime KGMB jingle, “One of the good things about Hawaii … is wonderful … KGMB.”
Twilight Time Movies will release a Blu-ray edition of “Hawaii” on Jan. 19 for $29.95 (twilighttimemovies.com).
A.J. McWhorter, a collector of film and videotape cataloging Hawaii’s TV history, has worked as a producer, writer and researcher for both local and national media. Email him at flashback@hawaii.rr. com.
