Hawaii - Outrigger | 1960s

Hawaii, 1960s, by Stan Galli

This vibrant travel poster depicts an outrigger canoe riding a turquoise wave in the waters off Hawaii. Five figures are shown in the canoe—three tourists in yellow and pink swimwear alternating with two Hawaiian paddlers in dark skin tones and bright yellow shorts. The paddlers skilfully navigate the long, narrow vessel through the ocean spray, creating a sense of excitement and adventure. In the background, the iconic silhouette of Diamond Head crater dominates the shoreline of Waikiki Beach, rendered in deep green against a soft mint-green sky. "UNITED AIR LINES" appears in white text at the top of the poster, while "Hawaii" is boldly displayed in bright yellow at the bottom. The artist's signature, "Stan Galli," appears discreetly in the lower right corner.

This poster was created during a significant period in Hawaii's tourism history, following its statehood in 1959 when the islands experienced a boom in visitors from the mainland United States. Outrigger canoe rides had become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Waikiki during the 1950s and 1960s, offering visitors an exciting taste of Hawaiian culture and tradition. United Airlines, originally founded in 1926 as Varney Air Lines before later becoming United Air Lines (UAL), had established extensive routes to Hawaii as part of its expanding Pacific network. The airline commissioned several artists, including Stan Galli, to create promotional materials that would entice mainland Americans to fly to Hawaii during this golden age of air travel. The tradition of outrigger canoeing itself has deep cultural significance in Hawaii, dating back to the arrival of Polynesian voyagers around 200 AD, when these vessels were essential for transportation, fishing, and inter-island travel.

Stan Galli (1912-2009) was a prolific American illustrator whose career spanned multiple genres and decades. Born in San Francisco, California, he studied at the California Art Institute (now the San Francisco Art Institute) before establishing himself as a commercial artist. During World War II, Galli contributed to the war effort by creating technical illustrations of battleships for Navy training manuals. After the war, he became known for his advertising artwork, magazine illustrations, postage stamp designs, and particularly his travel posters. His work for United Air Lines during the 1960s captured the allure of destinations across America and beyond with a distinctive style characterised by bold colours, dynamic compositions, and an ability to distil the essence of a place into a single compelling image. Galli's artistic achievements have been recognised in prestigious institutions—his works have been displayed at the Smithsonian Institution, the New York Historical Society, and the Grand Central Gallery in New York, while his art is part of permanent collections at the Pentagon and the Baseball Hall of Fame.