Junior Rasmussen
Elvis Presley fans will remember the Hawaiian Wedding Song from the 1961 film Blue Hawaii, a musical comedy starring the King of Rock 'n' Roll as Chad, a recent army veteran seeking fun and romance. The song was originally a 1926 love song called Ke Kali Nei Au (Waiting There for Thee) written by Charles E. King for his operetta Prince of Hawaii. The English lyrics, which are not a direct translation of the original, were written by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning in 1958.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the movie | Blue Hawaii |
| Year of release | 1961 |
| Genre | Musical comedy |
| Elvis Presley's character name | Chad |
| Other notable cast members | Angela Lansbury |
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What You'll Learn
Elvis Presley sang 'Hawaiian Wedding Song' in the 1961 film 'Blue Hawaii'
Elvis Presley sang "Hawaiian Wedding Song" in the 1961 film "Blue Hawaii". The song was originally entitled "Ke Kali Nei Au", which means "Waiting There for Thee" or "I Am Waiting" in Hawaiian. It was adapted from a 1926 love song written by Charles E. King for his operetta "Prince of Hawaii". The song was originally recorded by Helen Desha Beamer in Hawaiian and was later rewritten with English lyrics by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning and renamed "Hawaiian Wedding Song".
"Blue Hawaii" is a musical comedy film that follows Presley's character, Chad, a recent Army veteran who returns home and is looking forward to fun and romance. The film was shot on the Hawaiian islands of Oahu and Kauai, and the famous wedding scene featuring the song was filmed at the Coco Palms Resort Hotel on Kauai. The hotel was later devastated by a hurricane in 1992 and further damaged by a fire in 2014.
"Blue Hawaii" is considered one of Presley's most beloved films, with its colourful, exotic locales, fabulous soundtrack, and light-hearted storyline. It was the first of three films he made in Hawaii. The soundtrack features other popular Elvis tunes such as "Can't Help Falling In Love" and the title track "Blue Hawaii".
The "Hawaiian Wedding Song" has been recorded by several other notable artists, including Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, and Kong Ling. It has also been released as a single by various artists, with different versions charting in the US and UK.
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'Blue Hawaii' is a musical comedy
"Blue Hawaii" is a musical comedy starring Elvis Presley, released in 1961. The film features the iconic Hawaiian Wedding Song, originally entitled "Ke Kali Nei Au" (Waiting There for Thee). The song was adapted from a 1926 love song, written by Charles E. King and originally recorded by Helen Desha Beamer in Hawaiian.
In the film, Elvis plays Chad, a recent Army veteran who returns home to Hawaii. Chad is caught between his mother's wishes for him to join the family business and his own dream of working as a tour guide for his girlfriend's agency. The colourful backdrops, fun storyline and, of course, Elvis' singing, make "Blue Hawaii" a beloved film for many fans. The famous wedding scene, featuring the "Hawaiian Wedding Song", was filmed at the Coco Palms Resort Hotel on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.
The "Blue Hawaii" soundtrack is considered an important part of American pop music history and is a must-have for any Elvis fan. It features some of Elvis' most popular songs, including "Can't Help Falling In Love" and the title track, "Blue Hawaii". The film is the first of three that Elvis made in Hawaii, and it's a fun, light-hearted watch, perfect for lifting the winter blues.
The "Hawaiian Wedding Song" has been recorded by several other notable artists, including Bing Crosby, Andy Williams and Hong Kong singer Kong Ling. However, Elvis' version, featured in "Blue Hawaii", is undoubtedly the most well-known and has become synonymous with the film and the island setting. The song's English lyrics, which differ from the original Hawaiian, were written by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning and were not a direct translation of the original.
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'Hawaiian Wedding Song' was originally a 1926 love song
The "Hawaiian Wedding Song", originally entitled "Ke Kali Nei Au" (translated as "Waiting There for Thee" or "Where Are You?"), was adapted from a 1926 love song. It was written by Charles E. King and originally recorded in Hawaiian by Helen Desha Beamer. The song was composed for King's operetta "Prince of Hawaii". The English lyrics, written by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning in 1958, are not a direct translation of the original Hawaiian version.
The song has been covered by many artists, including Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, and Elvis Presley. Andy Williams' version, released in 1958, reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 27 on the R&B chart. In the UK, a version by Julie Rogers went to number 31 on the UK Singles Chart in 1965.
Elvis Presley sang the song in the 1961 film "Blue Hawaii". The final 20 minutes of the movie were filmed at the Coco Palms hotel on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. The song has become a staple at weddings in Hawaii and around the world, and is often played during the ceremony or the first dance.
The lyrics of the song describe the beauty of Hawaii and the love between two people. The Hawaiian language is known for its poetic and romantic nature, and the Hawaiian Wedding Song is a symbol of love, unity, and the beauty of the Hawaiian islands.
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The song was adapted and renamed in 1958
"Hawaiian Wedding Song" was adapted and renamed in 1958 from the original 1926 love song "Ke Kali Nei Au" (Waiting There for Thee). The original song was written in Hawaiian by Charles E. King and first recorded by Helen Desha Beamer. In 1958, Al Hoffman and Dick Manning adapted the song into English, giving it the new title "Hawaiian Wedding Song".
The English version of the song became popular and was recorded by several notable artists. Andy Williams' version, released in 1958 with backing vocals by Anita Wood, reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 27 on the R&B chart in the US. This version also featured an orchestra conducted by Archie Bleyer. In the UK, a version by Julie Rogers reached number 31 on the UK Singles Chart in 1965.
The song's Hawaiian title, "Ke Kali Nei Au", translates roughly to "I am waiting" or "Where are you?". Charles E. King wrote the song while recovering in a Honolulu hospital in 1926 for his operetta "Prince of Hawaii". King's friends joked that he should return to the hospital to write more songs like it.
While the song is now commonly known as the "Hawaiian Wedding Song", King himself never referred to it by this title. It gained this name because it was often sung at Hawaiian weddings. King stated that he didn't mind this new title but maintained that the song was actually about the call of one lover to another, rather than specifically a wedding song.
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The film was shot in Oahu, Kauai and the Coco Palms Resort Hotel
The 1961 film "Blue Hawaii", starring Elvis Presley, was shot on the Hawaiian islands of Oahu and Kauai. The famous wedding scene, in which Elvis sings "The Hawaiian Wedding Song", was filmed at the Coco Palms Resort Hotel on Kauai. The hotel, located on the east coast of the island, was devastated by Hurricane Iniki in 1992 and further damaged by a fire in 2014.
Several other locations on Kauai were used for filming, including Waikiki Beach, where the opening driving scenes and an office scene were shot, and the Hilton Hawaiian Village, where the scenes of Chad's clients staying in a hotel and Chad picking up his tour group were filmed. The film also features views of Diamond Head as it appears from Waikiki and downtown Honolulu, although these were inaccurately portrayed as being visible from Kahala, one of the most exclusive areas of Honolulu.
"Blue Hawaii" is a musical romantic comedy -drama directed by Norman Taurog. The film stars Presley as Chadwick "Chad" Gates, a recent Army release who returns to Hawaii to work as a tour guide and spend time with his native Hawaiian beach friends and his mixed-race girlfriend, Maile Duval. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising the colourful, exotic locales and fabulous soundtrack, while others found the plot uneventful and harmless. Despite this, the film was a commercial success, finishing as the 10th top-grossing film of 1961 and 14th for 1962 in the Variety national box office survey, earning $5 million.
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Frequently asked questions
The song features in the 1961 film Blue Hawaii.
The song was originally written in 1926 by Charles E. King for his operetta, Prince of Hawaii.
The song has been recorded by several other artists, including Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, and Kong Ling.
