1968: I do not know what the title "Hawaiian Eye" refers to apart from Zappa, but in the context of the particular Fillmore East show, this title refers to an instrumental interlude that links "King Kong" to an early rendition of "Holiday in Berlin". Over a heavy and invasive drum beat, Frank starts playing some Hawaiian sounding guitar lines, flirting with a tango, and creating a short little passage reminiscent of the later "Sheik Yerbouti Tango". Frank's guitar lines hint at a recognizable melody (possibly the unknown "Hawaiian Eye"), but it is obvious that he is purposefully tweaking with the melody. This impromptu jam eventually leads into a short R&B flavored jam, complete with lyrics ("Let's Go Downtown"), with Frank superimposing the Hawaiian theme over this R&B passage. Eventually, led by Frank's guitar, this improvisation leads into "Holiday in Berlin". [Douglas O'Neill writes-> "Hawaiian Eye was a TV show starring Robert Conrad and Connie Stevens (Wednesday, 9:00 ABC—October 1959—September 1963 ). Most of these shows had a distinctive Theme Song to open the show, that is probably the tune Frank is playing. See http://www.tvparty.com/action2.html more info on the show."]
The first "Hawaiian Eye Theme" was composed by Jerry Livingston and Mack David in 1959. Mack David is also the composer of "The Bugs Bunny Show" theme song and "The Bugs Bunny/Roadrunner Hour" theme song. The second "Hawaiian Eye Theme" was composed by Paul Sawtell and Bert A. Shefter in 1962.
Hawaiian Eye, a TV detectives series with Robert Conrad and Connie Stevens, ran on ABC Primetime (produced by Warner Brothers) from 1959 through 1963. It was a spin-off of "77 Sunset Strip" (1958-1964), along with "Bourbon Street Beat" (1959-1960) and "Surfside 6" (1960-1962); Hawaiian Eye has been called "77 Sunset Strip played in Hawaii".
Base of operations for Tom Lopaka (Robert Conrad) and Tracy Stele (Anthony Eisley) was a swank, poolside office at the Hawaiian Village Hotel (now the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel). Their sidekicks were a pert, somewhat addled young singer-photographer named Cricket Blake (Connie Stevens), and a colorful cabbie named Kim (Poncie Ponce). Kim, the operator of a one-man taxi service, was especially helpful as he has seemingly dozens of relatives scattered around the islands ready to help if one of his employers needed some local assistance. Kim's trademarks were his 'pupule' (crazy) straw hat, dumb jokes, and ukulele.
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