From Tiki Bars to Bing Crosby: The Real Story of Hawaiian Christmas Music

from Tape Spaghetti · host Blake Wyland & Scott Marquart

In this year’s Tape Spaghetti Christmas special, Scott & Blake ask a question that you’ve probably never considered – but won’t be able to unhear afterward: why does Christmas music sound so… Hawaiian? Unraveling X-Mas tunes’ tropical DNA takes us back to 19th-century Hawaiian royalty, to the invention of the steel guitar, through WWII, tiki bars, surf rock, and suburban America’s obsession with escapism. Along the way, elements of Hawaiian music quietly crept into mainstream country, pop, and holiday standards, making classics like Blue Christmas and Mele Kalikimaka feel downright cozy and festive. Grab an eggnog, get comfy, and prepare to forever change how you hear Christmas music.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Dec 16, 2025

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From Tiki Bars to Bing Crosby: The Real Story of Hawaiian Christmas Music

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