It was November 1928, and a woman from Hawaii—who clearly didn’t like saxophones—was visiting the mainland. June Sullivan loved the romance of Hawaii’s stereotypical canoes, paddled in the moonlit waters, to the sounds of traditional island music.
In an article from the November 17, 1928 edition of The Border Cities Star, Miss Sullivan bemoans the fact that this stereotypical island lifestyle, is being threatened by none other than saxophones. Yes, you read this right. Saxophones were a threat to Miss Sullivan’s idyllic, romantic Hawaii.
…jazzy saxophones blaring out “hot” songs which are replacing the lilting strains of native music played on guitars and mandolins, and even the hula is giving way to the Charleston and Varsity rag.
Ah yes, Miss Sullivan would have likely agreed with the Nazi’s view that saxophones were decadent¹. She would also, most likely, have whole-heartily approved of a plan that would see the offending instruments shipped off-island. The only requirement would have to be, that the chosen destination was far enough way to ensure their hot sounds were no longer audible on the idyllic, hula-lovin’ Hawaiian Islands.
Photography by: Andy Beal Photography Source: Flickr
Aloha. 
_______________________________________________________
