About this item
How did Hawaiian and Polynesian culture come to dramatically alter American music, fashion and decor, as well as ideas about race, in less than a century? It began with mainland hula and musical performances in the late 19th century, rose dramatically as millions shipped to Hawaii during the Pacific War, then made big leap with the advent of low-cost air travel. By the end of the 1950s, mainlanders were hosting tiki parties, listening to exotic music, lazing on rattan furniture in Hawaiian shirts and, of course, surfing. Increasingly, they were marrying people outside of their own racial groups as well. The author describes how this cultural conquest came about and the people and events that led to it.
About the Author
In addition to writing nonfiction books, essays, and fiction, Geoff is the founder and director of the Academic Film Archive of North America. Founded in 1996 and incorporated as a nonprofit in 2001, it the first archive solely dedicated to the history, preservation, and scholarship of the classroom educational Academic Film. He taught in the Santa Clara County (CA) school system, where he used academic films in the classroom. He has programmed and hosted a series of 400 weekly Academic Film shows in San Jose, California, in which more than 1500 films were shown free of charge. Geoff hosted radio programs on non-commercial stations for eight years. He holds a Masters Degree in Education, a BA in Creative Arts, and attended the Berklee College of Music.
Read Geoff's fiction short stories and nonfiction essays at his author's website: http://www.geoffalexander.com/
