Waikiki Dreams

More about the book

The book explores the cultural appropriation of Native Hawaiian culture by white Californians in the 1930s, particularly through the lens of surfing. It examines how surfing became a symbol of an idealized Indigenous lifestyle, overshadowing authentic relationships with Native Hawaiians amidst settler colonialism. Patrick Moser highlights key figures in the rise of beach culture, while critiquing the commercialization and romanticization of Hawaiian identity through media and tourism. This analysis reveals the complexities of identity and cultural exchange in a time of economic turmoil.