Hawaii: Today in History 5/8
5-8-1819 Kamehameha I, King of Hawaii (1782-1819), dies at 81
Kamehameha I (Hawaiian pronunciation: [kəmehəˈmɛhə]; c. 1736? – May 8 or 14, 1819), also known as Kamehameha the Great (full Hawaiian name: Kalani Paiʻea Wohi o Kaleikini Kealiʻikui Kamehameha o ʻIolani i Kaiwikapu kauʻi Ka Liholiho Kūnuiākea), was the founder and first ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaii. A statue of him was given to the National Statuary Hall Collection in Washington, D.C. by the state of Hawaii as one of two statues it is entitled to give.
5-8-1915 John Archer [Ralph Bowman], American actor (Destination: Moon, White Heat, Blue Hawaii), born in Osceola, Nebraska (d. 1999) Archer was born Ralph Bowman in Osceola, Nebraska, the son of Eunice Melba (née Crawford) and Joseph Emmett Bowman.[1] Archer moved to California at the age of five. He attended Hollywood High School and the University of Southern California, where he studied cinematography,[2] expecting work behind the camera. Blue Hawaii is a 1961 American musical romantic comedy film set in the state of Hawaii, starring Elvis Presley and directed by Norman Taurog. The screenplay by Hal Kanter was nominated by the Writers Guild of America in 1962 in the category of Best Written American Musical.[3] The movie opened at no. 2 in box office receipts for that week and despite mixed reviews from critics, finished as the 10th top-grossing movie of 1961 and 14th for 1962 on the Variety national box office survey, earning $5 million.[4] The film won a fourth place prize Laurel Award in the category of Top Musical of 1961.
