Aloha and mahalo!

The story line is a rather amusing one from the perspective those who know anything of Hawaii’s destination marketing efforts. Bing plays the PR flack responsible for bringing a “Pineapple Girl” out to the islands. She’s unimpressed, he sets up a bunch of fake adventures and fake press stories to make it look like she loves Hawaii and is having an amazing time. Some of the language is just like you’d see in any glowing story about Hawaii today. There’s a sumptuous luau, lots of flower leis, a hopped up superstitious plot, scads of scantily clad non-natives in grass skirts and tapa cloth. There’s also a surprising amount of Hawaiian language in the film, though I can’t vouch for it’s accuracy either in use or translation.

Only the silhouette of Diamond Head is recognizable in this black and white confection of a movie. The hula girls don’t look the least bit Hawaiian and the role of Kimo, the Hawaiian character with the most speaking lines is played by an ethnically ambiguous and oh so young Anthony Quinn.It’s a Hollywood frolic through and through. And while it’s the home of another crooning megahit, Sweet Leilani, it’s also the birthplace of Blue Hawaii.

Elvis, give it back.

Red Coral via Maverick 2003 on Flickr

• Hawaiiana beyond the Hula Doll: Better souvenirs via the New York Times. Though we have advice too.
• When the new moon comes, a coral’s fancy turns to thoughts of love. Or breeding, rather. On Hawaii News Now.
• Fantasizing about making the move? Consider this local boy’s reaction to the Hawaiian job market on NPR.
• Friend of bloggers everywhere, Wendy Perrin has publishes great advice for renting a villa in Hawaii. But never mind that. The best part is that she goes all in for her hula lesson. Watch the video on truth.travel.
• Huh. Native Hawaiians aren’t crazy about the Army shooting things up on sacred lands. Go figure. A difficult relationship on the Army Times.

East Moloka'i Surfer by Nerd's Eye View

• Radical, dude! Hawaii’s gov establishes two new surfing reserves.
• Talking photography with island shutterflies Monica and Michael Sweet on Digital Photography School.

Slight Detour by Kellan via Flickr/Creative Commons

• Making bread the Portagee way involves heat, a stone oven, and lots of hard work. Which is why it tastes so damn sweet and good. –  Hawaiirama
• People think, ‘What’s the big deal? It’s just an old baseball field,’ ” said county spokeswoman and former Friends of Moku’ula program director Mahina Martin. “They have no idea what’s underneath. . . . This is such an exciting time. — Maui News, hat tip to Hawaii Blog
• A tourist in Hawaii spends an average of $200 a day for a hotel room, meals and entertainment. But there’s another class of visitors given room and board, full health care benefits and more for just $3 a day. It’s not a luxury vacation package — just homeless benefits courtesy of Hawaii’s taxpayers. — NPR
• They said they’re never at a loss for work, considering how spiritual the Hawaiians have always been.”They believe everything, the rocks, the trees, everything has spirit,” said Galera. “All of that mana, all that power, that belief is still saturated here.” –Hawaii Ghost Hunters Profit From Spooks

• Gorgeous time lapse photography from The Aloha Robert (hat tip to Gadling).
• Here’s hoping this means better food choices in HNL.

Japanese Tour Group at the Pali Lookout from Nerd's Eye View

• Don’t ask, just eat: Maui eating places the tourists often overlook
• Free parking on the Pali: That’ll be three bucks, please.
• Top five favorite small towns in the islands. Hawi? Couldn’t agree more.
• Where did you track your tsunami news? If you’re like us, you used Twitter.
• Honolulu’s Chinatown Bars: The drinks are on Matador.