On 4 Dec 1959, DV announced that producer Jerry Bresler’s next project would be Gidget Goes Hawaiian, a sequel to 1959’s Gidget (see entry), set to shoot in Honolulu, HI, and surrounding areas on the island of Oahu. According to a 15 Jul 1960 DV news item, the picture was one of Bresler’s first two productions made under a deal with Columbia Pictures, in addition to Diamond Head (1963, see entry). Although the 29 Dec 1959 DV reported that Sandra Dee would reprise her starring role as “Gidget,” she did not remain with the picture. One hundred and fifty potential replacements were auditioned, and eighteen-year-old Deborah Walley won the role, as stated in a 4 Nov 1960 DV brief. The film marked Walley’s feature motion picture debut. Shooting was scheduled to begin on 28 Nov 1960. However, a 25 Nov 1960 DV production chart listed a start date of 26 Nov 1960. On 16 Nov 1960, DV noted that Walley had recently traveled to Los Angeles, CA, to begin rehearsals. Walley performed her own surfing scenes, according to the 22 Mar 1961 Var, which were “all ‘live-action’ with only two process shots used for closeups.”
       After location filming was completed on Oahu, cast and crew were slated to return to Los Angeles, for interior shooting on Columbia’s studio lot.
       A 13 Dec 1960 DV brief stated that tensions arose on set when director Paul Wendkos reprimanded the actors for “fooling around too much.” Actor Michael Callan allegedly responded by walking off the soundstage and demanding an apology from Wendkos before returning to work.
       According to the 14 Dec 1960 Var and 28 Dec 1960 DV, game show host Johnny Gilbert and fifteen-year-old Mimsy Farmer were expected to make their feature film debuts in the picture. A 6 Oct 1959 DV item stated that James Shigeta would co-star, and a 25 Jun 1960 LAT news brief noted that a part had been written especially for musician Duane Eddy.
       According to an item in the 30 Dec 1960 DV, Columbia planned to shoot seven movie trailers spotlighting Deborah Walley, with co-stars Michael Callan and James Darren introducing the actress. The trailers were set for release four months prior to the picture’s opening.
       In the 15 Mar 1961 DV, music composer George Duning was quoted as saying he had to throw out at least six original songs due to bad recording and because they did not fit into the film. Duning stated that the project marked his first foray into writing Hawaiian music, which proved difficult.
       Bantam Books planned to release two paperbacks in conjunction with the theatrical release: Frederick Kohner’s 1957 novel, Gidget, and his novelization of Ruth Brooks Flippen’s screenplay for Gidget Goes Hawaiian, as stated in a 21 Feb 1961 DV brief. Walley was set to be featured on both book covers. The 7 Jun 1961 Var noted that 400,000 copies of the Gidget Goes Hawaiian paperback had been ordered for an initial run.
       A preview screening for an all-teenage audience at the Academy Theatre in Los Angeles was attended by Bresler, Callan, Darren, and Carl Reiner, as stated in a 16 May 1961 DV news item. The Los Angeles opening took place on 21 Jun 1961 at twenty-one theaters, on a double bill with Jazz Boat (1960, see entry), as stated in the 17 Jun 1961 LAT.
       Gidget Goes Hawaiian was followed by Gidget Goes to Rome (1963, see entry), also directed by Wendkos. Although a 25 Jul 1961 DV item stated that Walley would reprise her role, she was replaced by Cindy Carol. James Darren reprised his role, as did Joby Baker, who, like Darren, appeared in all three pictures. Several television movies and two series were also based on the Gidget character. Among the best known is the ABC series Gidget, which ran from 15 Sep 1965--1 Sep 1966 and starred Sally Field as Gidget.