Hawaiian Islands | A Film by Thomas A. Edison Shot in 1906

"Hawaiian Islands" is a silent, black-and-white movie shot by Thomas A. Edison's film studios in 1906.

Features the oldest surf footage ever found and several portraits of life in Hawaii in the early 20th century, including fishing activities, shipping cattle, loading sugar, panoramic city views, etc.

The film is part of the George Kleine Collection. SurferToday purchased a digitized copy from the United States Library of Congress (LOC).

Hawaiian Islands (Thomas A. Edison, 1906) | Chapters & Starting Times

1. Panoramic View | Waikiki Beach Honolulu | Hawaiian Islands, 0:00:14
2. Kanaka Fisherman | Casting a "Throw Net" Hilo | Hawaiian Islands, 0:01:26
3. S.S. "Kinau" Landing Passengers | Laupāhoehoe | Hawaiian Islands, 0:03:09
4. Surf Scenes | Laupāhoehoe | Hawaiian Islands, 0:04:07
5. Shipping Cattle | Kawaihae | Hawaiian Islands, 0:05:13
6. Loading Sugar | Kahului Maui | Hawaiian Islands, 0:06:18
7. Panoramic View | Crater of Haleakala | Hawaiian Islands, 0:07:14
7.1 Hauling Drags, 0:08:50
7.2 Loading Cane On Cars, 0:09:39
7.3 Hauling Cars to Mill, 0:10:23
8. "Snap Shots" | Hawaiian Islands, 0:10:56
8.1 Unloading A Boat At Pepikeo, 0:11:02
8.2 Pau-U Riders, 0:11:40
8.3 Feeding Turkeys, 0:12:12
8.4 Pounding Poi, 0:12:49
8.5 Native Canoes, 0:13:21
8.6 Japanese Wrestling, 0:13:52
9. Pa-U Riders | Hawaiian Islands, 0:14:34
10. Panoramic View | Oahu Railroad Pearl Harbor | Hawaiian Islands, 0:16:11
11. Panoramic View | Honolulu Harbor | Hawaiian Islands, 0:18:27
12. Panoramic View | King Street Honolulu | Hawaiian Islands, 0:21:13
13. Panoramic View | Waikiki From An Electric Car | Hawaiian Islands, 0:23:19
14. Crowds Returning From the Games Waikiki | Hawaiian Islands, 0:25:31
15. Panoramic View | Oahu Railroad Haleiwa | Hawaiian Islands, 0:26:31
16. The "Float" | Waikiki Honolulu | Hawaiian Islands, 0:27:43
17. Surf Board Riders | Waikiki Honolulu | Hawaiian Islands, 0:28:33
18. Surf Scenes | Waikiki Honolulu | Hawaiian Islands, 0:29:26
19. Hawaiians Arriving To Attend A "Luau" Or Native Feast, 0:30:27
20. Hawaiians Departing To Attend A "Luau" Or Native Feast, 0:31:17
21. Native Hawaiian Guards In Bayonet Exercises | Hawaiian Islands, 0:32:35
22. S.S "Kinau" Landing Passengers | Mahukona, Hawaii, 0:33:46
23. Arrival "Mahukona Express" | Kohala, Hawaii, 0:34:41
24. Hauling Sugar Cane | Kohala Plantation, Hawaii, 0:35:38
25. Through the Chute, 0:36:58
26. Off To The Ranges, 0:37:55
27. Humuula Sheep Ranch | Hawaiian Islands, 0:38:38
27.1 Shearing Sheep, 0:38:44
27.2 Dipping Sheep, 0:39:45
28. Scenes On A Sugar Plantation | Hawaiian Islands, 0:40:51
28.1 Sugar Cane Field, 0:40:57
28.2 Cutting Can, 0:41:28
28.2 Loading Drags, 0:42:28

Full Story:

Follow us:

[jeffyoung]

Such bittersweet memories harkening back to a time when Hawaii was a completely different place, land in time. The twentieth century is still in its infancy. Everyone old enough remembers their life and lives in the 19th century, a time of cowboys, horse-drawn carriages, and oil-lit lamps. Everyone eagerly anticipates the changes that advancements in technology will bring.
Hawaii has been a U.S. possession for barely ten years yet has rapidly been absorbed into the rest of America.
The local people, still a large number of remaining native Hawaiians, are bemused by the increasing numbers of haole (Caucasian) tourists, wearing their heavy, head-to-toes clothing in the tropical Hawaiian climate which would have been torrid if not for the year-round trade winds that help cool the islands. It's not like 2022 where the tourists happily stroll the streets and beaches in shorts, t-shirts, tank tops, and flip-flips, scanty clothing that would have scandalized their haole forebearers.

It's not all rosy memories of course. The middle class is small in the Hawaiian islands. Most locals live at a simple level of existence, just making ends meet yet accustomed to their way of life. No one in 1906 can even begin to imagine the vast social, economic, political, and technological changes coming their way in mere decades. Even thirty years from then, Hawaii will be much different. Another thirty years will see an unrecognizable Hawaii and then into the 21st century, everything before is a dim, distant memory.

[rainscratch]

Absolutely incredible film - thank you for presenting it. Only 13 years after 'the event'. Earliest known surfing footage - so much makes this a priceless historical document.

[dougcapehart]

It's awesome to see actual footage of the harbor before the Aloha Tower, and Waikiki before the Ala Wai.

[reneemoreno]

The Hawaiians at this time had the first railroad west of the Mississippi and the electric lights in the Governor's Mansion and the people were very fluent in 2 or 3 languages,
Hawaiian, English, either Chinese or Japanese or Portugues...it was far more civilized than most know.
They have so many more accomplishments
Mahalo nui loa
Aloha

[Oprah]

I am hawaiian born and raised.. and this for some odd reason is really cool to watch and sad at the same time. A more simple time... can still fish, live off the land, the beaches i am sure the reefs were more healthy. Better waves back then..

[seanohaimheirgin]

So tragic what's been lost. This was paradise back then!

[gpotwin]

Wow that's back when my grandfather was born there. I was born there in the 60's and is still way different than today. I end up tears every time I go to Waikiki and see how it has become.

[reiyen]

This was a gem to watch, I saw a structure in Chinatown from the video still standing today. Damn

[edwinrumbaoa]

Born and raised in Maui! Thank you for sharing!

[mariusjns]

Wow. Back in the day when there were still people who remembered when Hawaii was free.

[patriciaarria]

I was just there in November of 2020, still feels great to have been in that exact location!!!

[jaddy]

I arrived in Hawaii in 1944 (Navy).There were fancy stores on King St., but the second floors were Cat Houses ( $2, I think.) The shore patrol was stationed there, to keep the long lines of Sailors from blocking the store entrances,

[kamalani]

I love seeing this old film. But as Native Hawaiian, I feel bittersweet that the names of the participants are not recorded anywhere.

[projectblue]

Certainly won't see that time again, WOW that was cool

[ikaikamaleko]

Feels weird watching this. Crazy to see all these young ppl and to know most of them have passed away by now, trippy.

[Godckr]

footage was pretty good for 1906. Cool to see bits of the sugar and cattle industry.

[olivedarb]

Thank you for this FASCINATING film !!

[greentubes]

"The Float" at 27:42 looked like the stage at a Minor Threat show in the early '80's. Great video, mahalo for posting.

[hamakuadan]

thanks so much for posting. A great recording of history.

[raindogred]

the cast netting scene probably done for the camera man, no cast netter would deliberately throw nets on rocks