Hawaii (1966 film)

In the Prologue, a narrator explains that, during the reign of King Tamatoa of Bora Bora, a new religion is sweeping throughout the islands of Havaiki and Tahiti, forcing them to worship the new god 'Oro, which demands human sacrifices, and eliminating the worship of the old gods Tāne and Ta'aroa. King Tamatoa tells his people that the new god is a "god of vengeance and wrath", and they must flee. They fled Bora Bora onboard the Island's only canoe, the swiftest and loaded with supplies, are heading north because, according to a legend are islands which no man has set afoot there. Guided by the shark god Mano, they came at last to the islands which the legend says, which is the Islands of Hawaii. There they settled and prospered, and continued to worship their gods until men from the civilized world came.

In 1819, Prince Keoki Kanakoa appeals to the Yale Divinity School to bring Christianity to the Islands. One of the students, Abner Hale and his roommate John Whipple asked Dr. Reverend Thorn to volunteer, Reverend Thorn assures to John Whipple that he should receive a letter from the board in a few weeks and to Abner, his case takes longer. Asked if they had difficulty in finding a wife (because the Board will not allow unmarried men to join the mission). Abner, zealously devoted to his religious studies, was raised in a strict Calvinist household, and believes romance and pleasure are sinful, so Reverend Thorn told him that he has a "dedicated female in view", and ushers them out.

In Walpole, Abigail Bromley (who was Reverend Thorn's sister) was against it, which she reveals that her daughter, Jerusha Bromley, a beautiful and pious New England girl of 22, fell in love with Captain Rafer Hoxworth, a whaler away at sea who has apparently forgotten her, which leaves her confused and depressed and for months. Her husband Charles, assures her that she can find love and a rich new life in Hawaii rather than staying in Walpole for good.

Days passed, a letter from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions arrives in the Hales' household that, after a series of inquiries, Abner is accepted to join the missionaries bound to Hawaii and, commanding him to go to Walpole. Upon arrival, Reverend Thorn introduces him to the Bromleys and, upon seeing Jerusha he is stunned by her beauty, makes endless gaffes, much to Mrs. Bromley's dismay. Also in the same day when a packet of Hoxworth's delayed letters (from Canton, Manila, Santiago, Honolulu) arrive, Dr. Thorn intercepts and conceals them.

Despite lacking socialization skills, Abner built up his courage to propose her and, upon his amazement, Jerusha accepts his proposal. Abner and Jerusha marry, and, along with the Whipples and other missionary couples and Keoki, depart Boston for Hawaii, enduring a harrowing ocean voyage of seasickness and treacherous conditions in the Atlantic and successfully transiting the Strait of Magellan. Abner has difficulty with marriage, believing love and passion are sinful, but they manage to consummate their marriage.

The ship arrives in Lahaina, Maui, where the Natives welcomed them. The missionaries were shocked because half-naked girls swim freely to ships to have sex with sailors when each ship arrives here (Keoki pleads them to go home). Much to the missionaries attention was a double canoe carrying two gigantic figures. When safety aboard the missionaries' ship Keoki's mother, Malama Kanakoa, the Aliʻi Nui whom the natives consider a "sacred person", proudly welcomes them and greeting the mission wives, telling them that it is the first time to see "haole" women. Malama suddenly takes Jerusha and announced that she can stay here. Abner, tells her that he is assigned to Honolulu and made his mistake that mentioned her that she was his wife, resulting the couple to stay. Reverend Immanuel Quigley, originally assigned to Lahaina, traded so the Quigleys continue to Honolulu and the Hales will remain. Worse still, they learned from Keoki that Incest and Polygamy is believed to maintain a pure royal bloodline. So Kelolo, Keoki's father is both the husband and biological brother of Malama, which resulted a missionary wife fainted.

On the way to the Palace compound, Abner tries to persuade Malama that he will not permit to be separated from Jerusha, but she knocks him out. Inside Malama's quarters she demands Jerusha teach her to write English to communicate with the outside world. Outside Kelolo and Keoki showed Abner the Heiau and the stone altar, which stood the image of Kāne. Upon seeing the image on the altar Abner tries to destroy it, Kelolo and Keoki stopped him. Keoki reasoned that the altar is a family shrine and Kāne is the god of love and mercy. This went stopped when Keoki reunited with his sister, Noelani. Like before Keoki is expected to marry his sister, who will one day become Ali'i Nui. However, Keoki, waiting to be ordained a Christian minister, rejects this, creating discord within his family.

Abner and Jerusha remain in Lahaina while the other missionaries continue on to Honolulu, which upon arrival they settled in a grass hut, there they found a young orphan girl named Iliki, which they took her as their own. For three weeks Abner preaches while Jerusha continued to teach Malama and helping the natives. They tried to end disfigured or deformed infants being drowned by establishing a home for them after Jerusha rescued an infant with a facial birthmark, which it was given to Malama's lady-in-waiting. For three weeks of impatience Abner finally asks Malama permission to find land but she refused (She misinterpreted that he wants all land), Jerusha corrected her that Abner wants a portion of land to build his church, which she happily agrees. While marking the spot, Kelolo and the Kahunas tried to tell Abner that he is building his church on a wrong place, he also asked him to build his church without walls so that it could be spared by the whistling wind when Malama dies. Abner scoffs this idea by telling them that his church needs walls. Meanwhile Malama proudly writes a letter by sending Aloha to the President, which Abner considered it was her great achievement. Finally Malama asks Abner to learn about Christianity, which he agreed. The results were mixed: Malama demanding how to earn "the state of grace" while Abner telling her that she cannot find grace unless she has done good deeds, humbleness, and renounce their incestuous marriage to Kelolo.

One day, a whaling ship captained by Jerusha's lover Rafer Hoxworth arrives in Lahaina, which excites the Hawaiians, including Iliki. Later that night Abner drags Iliki out from the Island's grog shop and berates the whalers for their behavior. Abner rescues Noelani from being raped by two whalers, which Rafer orders them to find some "cooperative ones". Abner orders him to send his whalers back to their ship, Rafer reveals that in they haven't touched land in 8 months at sea and the females here are warmest than the rest of the islands. Jerusha appears on the scene and, upon seeing Rafer the two reunited. Asking why she's here, Jerusha reveals that she is Abner's wife, which Rafer insults her. In rage Abner slaps him and in retaliation, Rafer punches him out. Jerusha tries to defend Abner but Rafer stops her, saying that he will not let her go and carries her to his ship. Abner picks up a pocket knife (that discarded earlier when he rescues Noelani) to kill him. Rafer, seeing the knife, grabs it and fractures his arm. Jershua angrily orders him to stop, and revealing that she is pregnant. Rafer lets go his arm, and swearing that God may strike himself if he finds another woman as long as he lives.

The next day, the Hales urge Malama to stop girls swimming to ships, in order to stop diseases catching from sailors, which Malama thinks they are stopping all the fun. Abner urges her to pass laws against murder, alcohol, and adultery. Kelolo, asking Abner which kind of adultery he like to ban, Abner answers that they're one. Keoki reveals to him that in Hawaii, there are 23 or more kinds of adultery, if they find another kind of adultery they never heard of, they will try it. Abner decided that he will "pray on the matter".

Months passed, Iliki sends a word to Abner that Jerusha is in labor and rushes back to the hut. While preparing for the birth Keoki brought the midwives, which Abner refused to use them, telling him that he will not surrender his child to paganism. Outside Keoki and Noelani argue, telling him that Abner will not choose him to become a Minister. Keoki says he will. Asked if he loves her, he does but it would be a crime against God. Meanwhile, Abner reveals to Jerusha that the baby is breech, and told her that she will hold back the pain or else the baby will die. After a difficult labor she gave birth to her first child, a son named Micah. Afterwards, Abner, emotionally moved over the birth, professes his great love to Jerusha. He later recants somewhat, believing it sinful to love anyone as much as God.

Five years later, Abner baptizes Iliki as his first convert. Later that day Malama enacts laws against murder, alcohol, and adultery. And imposes a curfew for sailors, which forbids them fraternizing with island girls. The sailors riot in protest, triggering melees and arson attacks and against Abner and the Hawaiians. In the midst of the melee, Rafer entices Jerusha to leave Lahaina and go back to Walpole and imagines her the life there, but she refused. The sailors partially torch the church, but the Hawaiians save it, and chased the sailors back to their ships. Rafer gave her last chance to leave the island and shipped back to New England and pledged that he will not touch or looking to her and, fearing for her health he pleaded that Abner will kill her, but Jerusha simply say goodbye, which he does the same. As retaliation against Abner for marrying Jerusha, Rafer entices Iliki to leave the island with him. He tosses Abner overboard when he tries to retrieve her. Abner is attacked and bitten by a shark in the sea, but his leg still intact but damaged its tendons, leaving him permanently lame.

In 1828, Reverend Abraham Hewlett is expelled from the mission for marrying a Hawaiian woman, which Abner and others voted for his expulsion. Before leaving he gave a speech criticizing them for despising Hawaiians as people (even they are converts) and he considered his expulsion from the mission is appropriate because there is no love. The Board later censored John Whipple, who officiated the marriage, from performing the ceremony, which he resigned in protest, much to Abner's shock. Meanwhile, Malama asked Abner if Kelolo wants to join with her but he refused, like before she must renounce her marriage or she will not be converted, which leaves Malama no choice. Later, Abner found Keoki telling his students about a Myth how men from Bora Bora fled to the islands during a religious strife (compared to the migration of Abraham), which Abner quickly dismiss the class. After they left Abner berates him for comparing Bible Stories to Hawaiian Myths, declaring it is dangerous. Keoki questions him when he became a Minister, Abner reveals that he will never be ordained because he is not white. But he offers him to become a Deacon in order to exploit its people (who are smoking, drinking alcohol, committing adultery, etc.), Keoki curtly declined, saying "I sought a way to serve my people... not to spy upon them".

Malama, on her deathbed, agrees to be baptized a Christian and renounce Kelolo as her husband as well ordering him not to knock his teeth or poke his eye out. As the natives foretold, upon an Ali'i Nui's death a whistling wind occurs, damaging Lahaina and blows the church away to its destruction, which Abner saw it in the distance. Kelolo, defying Malama's orders, knocks his teeth and pokes his eye out in grief.

Weeks passed, while Abner rearranged Malama's grave he hears drums beating on the distance. There he discovers Keoki, who disavowed Christianity and returned to his native religion, is marrying Noelani, who became the new Ali'i Nui. Abner interrupts the ceremony, shouting that Malama will curse them from her grave. Keoki reveals to him her last words that her people must become Christians, and she let Abner to bury her in a christian way as a example, then her family dug her bones and bury her in the old way. Noelani reveals that her bones are hidden away and her Kelolo will take her heart back to Bora Bora, and ordering the sentries to kick Abner out. Upon being dragged away he condemns their actions.

At sunrise, Kelolo, along with the shark god Mano sails to Bora Bora, the land of their ancestors, to take the image of Kāne and Malama's heart there. Also on that hour an enraged Abner destroys the altar, asking God to punish the natives. Nine months later, Noelani and Keoki's baby is born horribly deformed, which Abner believes it is God's punishment. Jerusha pleas to save the infant, but he refused, saying that they committed themselves to "apostasy and incest", and starts giving sermons targeting the couple. Then Keoki drowns the child, which its remnants were washed ashore and found by Abner, which as a result he no longer sees Jerusha or his children, while Jerusha refused to see him.

Years of overworking in the hot climate and childbearing have weakened Jerusha. John Whipple (who became a merchant after he left the mission) recommends to be at New England for a year or two, if Abner will refuse the plan, he will persuade him. Jerusha promises that she may talk to him and reveals that Micah has Measles, resulting Lahaina under quarantine. Abner reasoned that measles was a child disease but Whipple argued that it was a child disease but it may be deadly to the natives who lacked resistance. He plans that a percentage of Hawaiian children must be separated from their parents, or by a month one-third of the population will be dead, and asks any help. Help is arrived when Rafer Hoxworth personally presented himself, annoucing that he will start a harbor blockade, only to Abner confront him for Iliki's whereabouts: Rafer reveals that she is married to a English consul stationed in Santiago and became a Duchess. Angrily he orders him to leave Lahaina, but Whipple rebuffs him that he is quarantined along.

Exhausted by caring the sick, Jerusha is sent home on Whipple's orders, with assistance from Micah (who recovered first from the disease). Word came that the Hawaiians were digging holes and dying on the beach, so that Whipple, along with Abner tried their efforts to get them back to their homes. That fateful night killed hundreds by the disease, including Keoki, who dies renouncing God. Returning to his hut Abner began to rant, regretting that he called God to curse Keoki and his people, and his ministry is ended in failure. Jerusha consoles him that Keoki has found god, along with Malama, Kelolo, and to those who died. And calmly tells him that his ministry is not ended: he should take care and shelter the natives, as the bonds of charity are strong, the islands will be on God's hands forever. Abner asks how, she answered that he lacked love. Learned from his lesson, the two reconcile.

After the epidemic, Rafer presents Abner a blueprint of a New England house for Jerusha if she wants some comfort, but he declined. In rage he snatched back the blueprint, telling him that he shouldn't speak to him first. Asked where is Jerusha, Abner reveals that she is dead, which in rage results Rafer punches Abner so hard that he lost consciousness. Micah defends him but Rafer overwhelms him and, upon seeing Micah (whose resemblance is like his mother's) he is filled with remorse, orders him go to his father while he calls for help. Guiltily, Rafer leaves.

Seven years later, an aged Abner is visited by Reverend Immanuel Quigley, bringing the results of the annual meeting which Abner is absent. Abner reveals that he is unable to attend the annual meeting because he becomes more protective and loving to the natives, and joins them to curtail white settlers and plantation owners from taking more land (and helping them to draft a petition to the King). Reverend Quigley shows the results of the annual meeting: the ministers vote to own and profit from the land, which Abner opposes, reassigned to a church in Connecticut, which a minister from Kauai will arrive to succeed him, and a ship bound for New England is arranged for him and his children. He refuses to leave Hawaii, threatening to preach in the street, but Reverend Quigley warns him that if he remains, he will get no sustenance. Instead Abner sends his three children to the Bromley family in Walpole.

On the dock, Abner gave his children a blessing, and assures Micah that if he gradutes from Yale College, he will take over his ministry. But before they leave, Reverend Quigley asks if he regrets that he is alone, without support, no friends, Abner answered that Hawaii is the place where "I found God, Jerusha Bromley, and Ruth Malama Kanakoa. Beyond that, a man needs no friends". The Hale children and Reverend Quigley leave, and after seeing them sailed away he returns to his hut. There, Abner finds a young Hawaiian man waiting there who wishes to be his assistant. The aging and frail Abner is overjoyed upon realizing the young man is the disfigured baby that Jerusha saved from being drowned many years before.

• Julie Andrews as Jerusha Bromley Hale
• Max von Sydow as Reverend Abner Hale
• Richard Harris as Capt. Rafer Hoxworth
• Gene Hackman as Dr. John Whipple
• Carroll O'Connor as Charles Bromley
• Jocelyne LaGarde as Aliʻi Nui, Malama Kanakoa
• Manu Tupou as Prince Keoki Kanakoa, Narrator on the Prologue
• Ted Nobriga as Prince Kelolo Kanakoa
• Elizabeth Logue as Noelani Kanakoa
• John Cullum as Rev. Immanuel Quigley
• George Rose as Capt. Janders
• Lou Antonio as Rev. Abraham Hewlett
• Torin Thatcher as Rev. Dr. Thorn
• Michael Constantine as Mason, sailor
• Malcolm Atterbury as Gideon Hale
• Diane Sherry as Charity Bromley
• Lokelani S. Chicarell as Iliki
• Robert Oakley as Micah Hale (5 years old)
• Henrik von Sydow as Micah Hale (7 years old)
• Claes von Sydow as Micah Hale (12 years old)
• Bertil Weriefelt as Micah Hale (18 years old)

Bette Midler also had her first on-screen movie appearance as an extra in the film (She can be seen behind a woman covered in a white shawl during Abner's sermon). Heather Menzies (who co-starred with Andrews in The Sound of Music a year earlier) appears as Jerusha's sister Mercy Bromley. The film's costume designer Dorothy Jeakins makes a small role as the Hales matriarch Hepbizah Hale.

The film was based on the book's third chapter, From the Farm of Bitterness, which covered the settlement of the island kingdom by its first American missionaries.[3] There are some differences between the novel's third chapter and the film, such as Abner, who was already lame when the time they landed in Lahaina, the riotings already started before Malama enforces laws in the Island, Urania Hewlett's difficult childbirth was changed into Jerusha's, Rafer's character was introduced earlier in the novel (before the missionaries landed in Hawaii), the novel's depiction of the whistling wind scene was more chaotic in the novel than in the film (which several whaling ships sunk) and it occurred the day after Malama's funeral, and other key scenes (such as Rafer bombarding Lahaina and damaging the Fort and the Mission House) were omitted for the film.

Needing a Polynesian female for the key role of Malama, the Alii Nui, the producers hired a native Tahitian for the role. French-speaking Jocelyne LaGarde had never acted before and could not speak English; however, her screen test showed a powerful presence, and the producers hired a coach to train her phonetically to handle the character's dialogue. Of the all-star cast, LaGarde would be the only one to earn an Academy Award nomination and the only one to win a Golden Globe Award. Making early screen appearances in this film were Bette Midler, John Cullum, and future Oscar winner Gene Hackman.

Originally, it was to be directed by Fred Zinnemann, and intending to cast Audrey Hepburn and Alec Guinness as leads. But Zinnemann had fought with United Artists a few years before the film was made and left the production to go to England, to work on A Man for All Seasons. Director George Roy Hill was subsequently asked to work on the film, which he agreed to do, and the film became the only epic he directed. To cast the lead roles, Julie Andrews, fresh from her role as the titular character in Mary Poppins, signed in December 1964 while Max Von Sydow and Richard Harris on February and March 1965 respectively. The film would also feature appearances from Henrik von Sydow and Claes von Sydow, the real sons of star Max von Sydow, who play Abner's son Micah at different ages.

The film was filmed in various locations throughout Oahu in the state of Hawaii, the perfect replica of Lahaina during the 1820s is built on Makua Beach and the surrounding Makua Valley.[4] Despite the Hawaiian setting and filming locations, a significant portion of the props used in the film were imported from Mexico, Taiwan, Ireland, Hong Kong, Japan, and the Philippines.[5]

Principal Photography began in April 1965, on Location in Old Sturbridge Village for scenes set in Walpole, New Hampshire and the Hales' farm (Interiors where filmed in Hollywood soundstages for seven weeks, along with scenes set in Yale College and onboard the Thetis). Then on location in the island of Oahu in Hawaii in June. Location filming in Oahu bogged down with heavy rain and tidal wave alerts, which caused the budget to balloon to over $10 million; despite this Producer Walter Mirisch sacked Hill as director, and intended to hire Arthur Hiller as director. Polynesian extras protested and refused to work with another director, so Hill was hired back. Principal Photography ended on November 1965.

Andrews received top billing around the world except in continental Europe, where Sydow's contract stipulated that he receive first and same line billing.[6]

Hawaii had its premiere at the DeMille Theatre in New York City on October 10, 1966. It also opened the same week at the Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles.[7][8] It expanded into five further cities the following week, including Honolulu, and another three the following week.[9]

• List of American films of 1966
• "Hawaii" (Elmer Bernstein song), the theme song from the film.
• The Hawaiians, a 1970 sequel, which covered later chapters of James Michener's book
• Hawaiian religion
• Kapu, the ancient Hawaiian code of conduct of laws and regulations
• Ancient Hawaii
• Carthaginian, the 1921 ship converted to a square-rigged whaler for the film

• Hawaii at the American Film Institute Catalog
• Hawaii at IMDb
• Hawaii at Rotten Tomatoes
• Hawaii at the TCM Movie Database