Hawaii Calls xx-xx-xx Stamp Collecting

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio – Hawaii Calls: Stamp Collecting

Date: October 21, 2025
Main Theme:
This episode is a classic broadcast from the “Hawaii Calls” radio program, recorded beneath the banyan tree at Waikiki. The show blends island music, Hawaiian stories, and a special feature about the centennial of Hawaii’s first postage stamps. Listeners are treated to live performances, cultural anecdotes, and an opportunity to participate in stamp collecting history by receiving a special centennial cancellation.

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1. Main Theme & Purpose

• Celebration of Hawaiian Music & Culture: The show transports listeners to mid-20th-century Hawaii, featuring live music, local stories, and an authentic ambience with real Waikiki waves.
• Stamp Collecting Centennial: Highlighting the 100th anniversary of Hawaii’s first postage stamps (“Missionaries”) and inviting global stamp enthusiasts to join a special commemoration and obtain a unique postal cancellation.
• Listener Connection: Offers instructions for listeners to engage with Hawaiian history via mailed commemorative items.

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2. Key Discussion Points & Insights

A. Setting and Atmosphere

• Host Webley Edwards welcomes listeners from multiple countries and sets the stage at iconic Waikiki, referencing a recent broadcast from Volcano House.
  • [01:26] Webley Edwards: “Aloha... North America, mainland states and Canada. And to Australia, all three nations coast to coast.”
• Authentic Hawaiian music is woven throughout, with performances by island luminaries like Alfred Apaka and Andy Cummings.
• The blend of live crowd sounds and nature (notably real waves) enhances the immersive experience.
  • [12:37] Edwards: “Are these real waves whose sound we hear from Waikiki? We're asked. Yes, that is so.”

B. Island Life and Music

• Discussion and performances revolve around the unique spirit of Hawaii:
  • Songs about Waikiki, the emotional resonance of places (e.g., Paua Kalani), and playful slices of island life (“Sunshine the Beach Boy”).
  • [07:09] Edwards: “Now you must know our Waikiki beach Boys have varied and colorful names... Alex Anderson, Andy Cummings and Francis Ott Chong have put together an engaging little song called ‘Sunshine the Beach Boy.’”
• Musical highlights include hula-accompanied performances and traditional fare like “Kealoha”, "Song of the Parting Days," and the classic “Kaimana Hila.”

C. Notable Observations and Community Spirits

• Emphasis on sharing “aloha” and community:
  • [10:02] Edwards: “The word aloha has many meanings ranging from hello to goodbye. But the word kealoha means but one thing.”
  • Listeners are encouraged to reflect on friends far and near, enhancing the inclusive, heartfelt nature of the show.
    • [12:37] Edwards: "...we invited each. Each is thinking this moment someone you know."
• Local events and traditions are spotlighted, including the Rose Festival and the famous "Shower of Orchids" for visiting dignitaries.
  • [15:14] Edwards: “…I want you to take these thousand orchids, the flowers of Hawaii have just flown over from Hilo. Barely shower them on those gentlemen... and then see to it that every single lady and girl here in Hawaii called gets an orchid.”

D. Stamp Collecting Centennial Feature (Main Special Segment)

(Starts around [21:18])

• Historical Overview:
  • The first Hawaiian stamps, known as Missionaries, were created in 1851 by American missionaries, printed with a rudimentary hand press.
    • [21:40] Narrator: "Just 100 years ago, the first postage stamps were printed here in Hawaii…"
• Centennial Exhibition Invitation:
  • Stamp collectors are invited to Honolulu for a global exhibition marking the milestone.
  • [22:04] Edwards: “Here's our invitation to you. Thousands and thousands of stamp collectors to come over and see us. June 27 and 30…”
• Commemorative Cancellation Offer & Instructions:
  • Listeners can receive a one-of-a-kind “Centenary of Hawaii’s First Postage Stamps 1851-1951” cancellation by mailing a self-addressed envelope or postcard to Hawaii Calls. Detailed steps and postal rates are provided.
    • [22:13] Narrator: “Just send us a stamp self-addressed envelope or postcard...We’ll have it specially canceled and mailed back to you…address to Hawaii Calls, post office box 5368...Honolulu, Hawaii.”
    • [23:08] Edwards: “I think I’ll say that again. Hawaii Calls, Box 5368, Honolulu, Hawaii...”
• Significance:
  • This segment masterfully connects the world of radio, Hawaiian history, and philately; fostering cultural curiosity and cross-Pacific engagement.

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3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Unifying Power of Music:
  • [04:09] Edwards: “Hawaiians delight in their lively songs. They sing of love and wear a dreamy look when they do it. But when they combine the love theme with a song of a place or region they love, then they're likely to sing with mist in their eyes.”
• On Hawaiian Hospitality:
  • [09:14] Edwards: “The kind of life to enjoy. Everyone is craving just to be behaving like sunshine, the beach boy.”
• On Stamp Collecting Centennial:
  • [21:40] Narrator: “Just 100 years ago, the first postage stamps were printed here in Hawaii. And the now famed and rare missionaries…this year, stamp collectors from all over the world will assemble here in Honolulu for a great Hawaiian centennial philatelic exhibition..."
• Listener Engagement:
  • [22:13] Narrator: “Just send us a stamp self-addressed envelope or postcard and we’ll take it down to the Honolulu Post Office and have it specially canceled and mailed back to you...”

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4. Key Timestamps

• [01:26] Friendly international greeting and intro to the stamp collecting feature.
• [04:09] Reflections on the emotional core of Hawaiian music.
• [07:09] Introduction of “Sunshine the Beach Boy.”
• [10:02] Meaning of “Kealoha” and its use in song.
• [12:37] Real Waikiki waves featured; reflection on friendships.
• [15:14] “Shower of Orchids” and Rose Festival remarks.
• [16:17] Musical segue: “Uhoheni” and “Surf Riders.”
• [19:12] Emotional “Song of the Parting Days.”
• [21:18] Introduction of main stamp collecting centennial feature.
• [21:40] History of the “Missionaries” stamps.
• [22:04] Invitation to the philatelic exhibition.
• [22:13] Instructions for commemorative cancellation.
• [23:08] Recap of mailing address and instructions.
• [26:32] Show closes with farewells and a call from all the people of Hawaii.

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5. Tone and Style

The show’s tone is warm, communal, and celebratory—evoking the golden age of radio, with friendly narration and musical interludes. The hosts speak with nostalgia and pride, blending history, personal anecdotes, and soft calls to action. The language is poetic yet approachable, steeped in the spirit of “aloha.”

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6. Conclusion

"Hawaii Calls" transports radio audiences to the heart of island culture with music, local stories, and a uniquely inviting approach to audience engagement. Through its special focus on the centennial of Hawaiian stamp collecting, this episode bridges the worlds of philately, history, and hospitality, making listeners feel part of a community—no matter where they are.

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Transcript

[A]

What's that sound? That's the sound of Downy Unstoppable scent beads going into your washing machine and giving your clothes freshness that lasts all day long. There it is again. It's like music to your ears. Or more like music to your nose. That freshness is irresistible. Let's get a Downy Unstoppables bottle shake. And now a sniff solo.

[B]

Nice.

[A]

With Downy Unstoppables, you just toss wash. Wow. For all day freshness.

[C]

This is Hawaii calling.

[D]

We say Aloha as Hawaii Call.

[E]

Hawaii calls Music of the islands.

[C]

From the islands and each week the friendly greeting of the friendly people of Hawaii. Now you're hosted by Key Webley Edwards.

[E]

Aloha.

[D]

North America, mainland states and Canada. And to Australia, all three nations coast to coast. Later on, we have something of interest. A stamp collection. That's right, stamp collectors.

[C]

So be alert for it.

[D]

Now we're back from a pretty fine trip to the Big island in the Volcano House, where we had our Hawaii calls broadcast for about a thousand people. We have about that many here beneath the big banyan tree at Waikiki this week. So let's send from Waikiki some songs. Old timers, about Waik.

[E]

I found that day.

[D]

I.

[C]

Begin.

[D]

Hawaiians delight in their lively songs. They sing of love and wear a dreamy look when they do it. But when they combine the love theme with a song of a place or region they love, then they're likely to sing with mist in their eyes. Paua Kalani is perfumed from the heavens. We sent it from Hawaii by Alfred Apaka and the Hawaii called Sa.

[B]

O.

[D]

SA Got a new song for you from Hawaii this week. First time ever sung on the air. Now you must know our Waikiki beach Boys have varied and colorful names. Sometimes even their closest friends have to pause to remember their real names. Our Alex Anderson, Andy Cummings and Francis Ott Chong have put together an engaging little song called Sunshine the Beach Boy. That's his name, Sunshine. And here's Andy Cummings. Tended to you across the sea.

[E]

Oh, to be a K Hawaiian fish boy like the one I met at Waikiki I would certainly give the world to be as joyful and happy as he.

[C]

Is.

[E]

Down in Honolulu out on the beach lived a life full of joy Always serenading While it's promenading Sunshine the beach boy Never has a worry Never.

[D]

A care Belongs to fish and his.

[E]

Boy Always looking snappy Always feeling happy that sunshine the beach boy Molly has come from far off places to get away from it all when they see her smiling happy face is sure to make them fall that Hawaiian way of.

[C]

Living.

[D]

The kind of life to enjoy Everyone is craving just to be behaving like sunshine.

[E]

The beach boy.

[D]

The word aloha has many meanings ranging from hello to goodbye. But the word kealoha means but one thing.

[C]

Love.

[D]

Kealoha is the title of a good swaying Hawaiian song for dancing the hula. So as we send the song to you, three lovely Hawaiian hula dancers join us as part of our rhythm section. From Hawaii, Kalaha Ten Kapu and the.

[C]

Girl.

[D]

Sa Nikana sa.

[E]

Jes.

[D]

Are these real waves whose sound we hear from Waikiki? We're asked. Yes, that is so. The melody of David Cayley's steel guitar is answered now through our microphone by the water's edge and by the sound of the waves of Waikiki. Melody and waves remind us this is our time for remembering friends we've met in these Hawaiian islands with a thought too for our own people who are away and these many hundreds of visitors from many states and province Here with us beneath the old banyan we invited each. Each is thinking this moment someone you know.

[B]

That big bargain detergent jug is 80% water, right? It doesn't clean as well.

[D]

80% water.

[B]

I thought I was getting a better deal because it's so big. If you want a better clean, Tide pods are only 12% water. The rest is pure, concentrated cleaning ingredients. Oh, let me make an announcement. Attention shoppers, if you want a real.

[C]

Deal, try tide pods.

[B]

Stop paying for watered down detergents. Pay for clean. If it's got to be clean, it's got to be tide pods. Water content based on the leading bargain liquid detergent.

[F]

Every now and then I rinse it out and I need tummy rinse tonight and I need it more. My kid wets are bad and the smell never leaves. I don't know what to do. I'm always in the dark. The sweat and dance.

[D]

That downy rinse fights stubborn odors in just one wash. When impossible odors get stuck in all of us. Wish you were with us here in Hawaii this fine day. Look at that sunshine. It. He loved it. Rain and fun. But they kept saying we ought to come up to their rose festival in Portland this June.

[E]

Roses.

[D]

Roses which I love, don't misunderstand. But now, hula girls, I want you to find Mr. Aaron Frank, the big merchant, and Mr. Jimmy Richardson, the Multnomah Stadium man. Both rose festivalers from Portland. I want you to take these thousand orchids, the flowers of Hawaii have just flown over from Hilo. Barely shower them on those gentlemen if you can find them and then see to it that every single lady and girl here in Hawaii called gets an or. There it is. The Hawaii clothes Shower of orchids. Let him go now. Jim, what's the weather report?

[C]

A web our thermometer crew, headed by our girl Emily had just come in from the waves in Waikiki. The report Temperature of the air 75 degrees. Temperature of the water 75 degrees.

[D]

Temperature of the air 75. Temperature of the water 75. Well, spring is a coming in, but if it's still cold where you are we wish you were here where we are. Come over and see us sometime. A man writes us that instrumental number you put in there for a little bit. Doesn't have any words and can't we.

[C]

Hear all of it?

[D]

Well, thank him for reminding us for it does indeed have words. And it's a good song. The Hawaiian shouting song called Uhoheni and Andy Bright Lila. Oh, boy, look at throwing those orchids. Andy Bright Lila the Waikiki girl Singing Surf riders Everybody joins in attendance from Hawaii. La j away when you come to Hawaii and one day you will. You'll treasure many experiences. Your arrival will be a thrill. But you never in all your life will forget what we call here in the islands. Your parting days. When you go away decked with flower leis, your eyes glistening as you go. Alfred Apaka sings from Hawaii Song of the party days.

[E]

On this our parting day. Please take my flower and wear it through the day. Sweet one Sweet mild roses to each petal fit with dew. They all look well on you, sweetheart when you go sailing far my.

[D]

My.

[E]

La may bring you back to me and the will you always in my.

[D]

Heart.

[E]

Until we meet, sweetheart. Thunder when you go sailing far away My late may bring you back someday to me until we meet, sweetheart.

[D]

So I'm gonna call Andy Cummings back for one of the songs everybody always asks him to sing. Kaimana hila and some hula dancing with it. First that word for stamp collectors. Now, this happens only once in a hundred years.

[C]

So listen. Just 100 years ago, the first postage stamps were printed here in Hawaii. And the now famed and rare missionaries they're printed on a rude hand press in the year 1851 by the American missionaries here. And this year, stamp collectors from all over the world will assemble here in Honolulu for a great Hawaiian centennial philatelic exhibition to observe the anniversary of that famous story in stamp.

[D]

Here's our invitation to you. Thousands and thousands of stamp Collectors to come over and see us. June 27 and 30. Come over and see our stamps. Now here's what we want to do for you right now.

[C]

This week the Honolulu Post Office will set up a special cancellation. It says centenary of Hawaii's first Postage Stamps, 1851-1951. Now if you would like to have this unusual cancellation mark on an envelope or a postcard, Hawaii calls and the stamp clubs of Hawaii will be glad to help you. Here's what you do. Just send us a stamp self addressed envelope or postcard and we'll take it down to the Honolulu Post Office and have it specially canceled and mailed back to you. Remember this though, you put these self addressed envelopes, $0.03 surface mail, $0.06 air mail, $0.01 postcard. You put these in another envelope and address this to Hawaii Calls post office box 5368. 5368, Honolulu, Hawaii. We take the envelope or postcard out of your letter to us and have it mailed back to you with this special cancellation of the 100th anniversary of Hawaii's first postage stamp.

[D]

I think I'll say that again. Hawaii calls, Box 5368, Honolulu, Hawaii. Honolulu, Hawaii, USA and now to our music again, Andy Cummings and all the singers. The song that describes Diamond Head, which Hawaiians call Kaimanahila.

[C]

Have come beneath the big banyan tree right on the beach at Waikiki. The program is produced and narrated by Wetley Edwards. The Hawaiian music and the direction of Al Kalama Perry. Hawaii calls ascent from the island through facilities of Radio Hawaii, KPOA of Honolulu. Thence by short wave to the mainland. Jim Wall speaking. And now back to Webb Edwards.

[D]

Until we meet again when Hawaii calls again. Here's good luck and much happiness to you, wherever you may be. And now Ana, Lou and Annie speak for all the people of Hawaii. This program came from Hawaii.