Birds of Paradise Episode 3: A Brief History of the Hawaiian Islands -or- Annexation Without Representation

Those Happy Places

Join Alice and Buddy as they attempt a somewhat comprehensive look at the history of the Hawaiian islands as they relate to the United States—from re-discovery in the late 1700’s to the eventual Annexation and Statehood of Hawaii in 1959. They also talk about the rise of the Hawaiian Pineapple Company—known today as the Dole Pineapple Company.

After all that, they get back to Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room to ask the question—knowing the history, how does the attraction avoid confronting its colonialist roots? What would audiences in 1963 have thought about the show? How are we meant to feel about it today?

All this and more on this third episode of Birds of Paradise: A New Miniseries from Those Happy Places!

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank descriptions of colonialist actions. While we do not graphically describe violence, its effects within the story are evident. All told, it’s a bit of a downer, and may warrant some discretion.

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Those Happy Places is Produced by Alice White and Edited By Buddy Duquesne. The Theme of Birds of Paradise is The Lonely Bull by Scotch & Soda (Max MicMillan)

Additional Tracks: Pingpong Voodoo by Narcotic Syntax. Acapulco 2000 by Jack Fetterman and the in Hi-Fi Music Direction, Bongo Avenger by Eric and Ryan Kilkenny, Exotica Revisited by Jeff Chenault and Andrew Izold, Shaken Not Stirred by Br. Cleve and His Lush Orchestra, Drift by Jan Fornell, Spy Perfume by Skip Heller’s Hot Seven, Jungle Village by Der Plan, and Venom by Hybe

All Tracks Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.