Judging from the cover of this late 1950s release from Waikiki Records, it was aimed squarely at the crowd of mainly U.S. tourists who were flocking to the islands as Hawaii approached statehood, which became effective on Aug. 21, 1959. The music would make the ideal background for that Tiki party back home.

Poolside Music Hawaiiana is credited to Pua Almeida and his Polynesians and like all releases from Waikiki Records the album features genuine Hawaiian musicians. The label was founded in 1958 by engineer Young O. Yang and businessman Tommy Kearns and churned out Hawaiian LPs and singles from its Honolulu studio until about 1966.

Almeida was a steel guitarist, composer, arranger, singer and bandleader who began playing in clubs in the Hawaiian capital before World War II. Beginning around 1945 he performed with his group the Sunset Serenaders for about a dozen years at the Moana Banyan Court. Almeida also played for 17 years on the Hawaii Calls radio show from Waikiki. He died in 1974.

From Poolside Music Hawiiana comes Hula Blues, written by John Avery Noble (music) and Sonny Cunha (lyrics), and published in 1920. The song is a prime example of what came to be known as the hapa haole style, which combined traditional Hawaiian music with English lyrics.

Hula Blues



It doesn't appear that any of the material recorded by Waikiki Records has had a legitimate digital release. However, it's possible that some of the company's recordings have found their way onto the multitude of poorly credited (in some cases that's deliberate) compilations being sold as downloads. Many LPs on the Waikiki Records label command collector prices.

Pua Almeida also recorded for MGM in the 1950s. South Sea Island Magic came out as a 10-inch LP in 1955 and two years later as a 12-inch. Note the dance band style brass on the title tune.