Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: One of the earliest ways the U.S. gained knowledge of Hawaii was through sheet music distributed across the mainland. Through the lyrics of the songs and the images on the covers, sheet music also brought the “hula girl” to the attention of American audiences. Analyzing how the hula girl is constructed through sheet music demonstrates the efforts of the entertainment industry to fit Hawaii and its native population into broader American understandings.