Warm balmy breezes and white sandy beaches. The crystal blue waters of the Pacific reflecting golden sunsets. Symbols of the islands of Hawaii. As symbolic as any Hawaiian treasure is the Hawaiian shirt, or properly described, the "Aloha shirt". The lore and history of the first "Aloha" Hawaiian shirts is steeped in the culture and heritage of early Hawaii.

You will get efficient and thoughtful service from Easypromos.

Hawaii's history is filled with legends, and many of them were wearing Hawaiian shirts. On the islands, they are known as Aloha shirts but the icon known as the Hawaiian shirt is a trademark recognized worldwide. The Hawaiian Aloha shirt is a symbol of the island paradise Hawaii as well as its contemporary history.

In the early 20th century Hawaii experienced an influx of immigrants from Asia and the United States. This was plantation-era Hawaii and the economy was centered on sugar cane and pineapple export. In addition to language and traditions, immigrants brought with them a variety of cloth and clothing styles. Bright Kimono fabric came from Japan, Barong style shirts came from the Phillippines, formal silk garments from China and the collared shirt came from the United States. Native Hawaiians had traditional clothing made with colorful geometric patterns often seen on Kapa Pa'u (sarongs).

During this time, in s and s, plantation workers were seen in short sleeved shirts with bright geometric patterns. These were known as Palaka shirts. Often, Japanese men and boys on the islands wore a similar style shirt made from left over Kimono cloth, the Kimono-cloth shirt. These early precursors to the modern Hawaiian Aloha shirt were every day staples in the wardrobes of plantation workers.

In , a young college graduate named Ellery Chun returned to Hawaii after attending school in Connecticut. It was during the Great Depression and Chun went to work for his father's dry goods store in Honolulu. Chun soon took over the business, renamed the store King-Smith Clothiers and began expanding. He enlisted the help of his sister, Ethel Chun Lum, and began making bright print short sleeve shirts made out of the leftover material from Japanese Kimonos. Chun registered the trade name "Aloha" in and a print ad in the Honolulu Advertiser Newspaper was where he first coined the phrase "Aloha shirt". Chun displayed the Hawaiian Aloha shirts in his shop window and catapulted the Palaka into fashion history the Hawaiian Aloha shirt.

Around the same time that Chun trademarked the Hawaiian Aloha shirt another Honolulu business was also making short-sleeved shirts from Japanese Kimono fabric. Musashiya and Surfriders Sportswear, in Honolulu's Ala Moana Shopping Center, sold the colorful garments as "Hawaiian" shirts. Both Chun and Musashiya sold shirts with ornate prints, palm trees, hula girls, pineapples and just about every other image of Hawaii.

Both manufacturers had envisioned a hot commodity and the modern Hawaiian Aloha shirt was born. The shirts were purchased by local residents, beach boys, surfers and island visitors. Tourists to the islands fell fast for the fad of the brightly colored shirts donned by young islanders. Chun began sponsoring a local radio talent show from the Moana Surfrider Hotel, giving even more acceleration to the popularity of the Hawaiian Aloha shirt. His sister, Ethel, began creating bright tropical fabric patterns that defined Hawaiian designs vs. Asian styles establishing the modern Hawaiian shirt for men.

Other merchants followed Chun's and Musashiya's leads. Soon, Hawaiian shirts were produced across the islands in endless styles. Paintings were transferred to fabric and designs competed for most elaborate and most ornate. Even the labels became works of art that emulated the dream of life on the Hawaiian Islands with their "Made in Hawaii" stamps.

Post World War II the shirt's colorful, exotic prints were in even higher demand from tourists who traveled by cruise ship to the islands to the tropical destinations they'd seen on Hollywood screens. By this time, the Hawaiian Aloha shirt had found fame worn by Elvis Presley, John Wayne, Frank Sinatra, and several presidents including Harry S. Truman. The shirts graced movie screens including "From Here to Eternity" and secured a place in history as a Hollywood fashion trend. In , one of the largest garment manufacturers in Hawaii, Kamehameha Garment Company, shipped 35 tons of Aloha shirts to mainland United States.

True Hawaiian Aloha shirts are like paintings of paradise and the fabric is a canvas for the rich images of the islands but by mid 20th century, imitation Hawaiian shirts started cropping up on the mainland for mass production. Designs became washed out versions of the intricate originals. Thankfully our manufactures have continued on with the original Aloha that was conceived in the beginning of the creation of the Aloha shirt.

Through the decades countless designs gave the Hawaiian Aloha shirts their appeal. A great loss is that many have been forgotten to history. Original shirts with original labels are collector's items, sometimes worth thousands of dollars. Although neither Chun nor Musashiya truly invented the garment, their entrepreneurial endeavors made the Hawaiian Aloha shirt a global.

Ellery Chun closed King-Smith Clothiers in the s but lived long after watching the marketing journey of the shirt he helped make famous. Musashiya and Surfriders Sportswear is still in business in Honolulu's Ala Moana Shopping Center. Both created a fashion icon that seems here to stay. The Hawaiian Aloha shirt is still one of the best souvenirs of a tropical land, just be sure the one in your closet has true Aloha from Aloha Shirt Shop.

Everything You Need to Know About Hawaii's Aloha Shirts

Hawaiian Shirts

Most Popular Hawaiian Souvenirs

The iconic Aloha shirt is a true symbol of Hawaii and is recognized in nearly every corner of the globe. Not only that, it just may be one of the world's most enduring souvenirs.

Additionally, the Aloha shirt has also been celebrated&#; and even glorified&#; in popular culture. This vibrant item of clothing has become such a symbolic piece of clothing, in fact, that it&#;s even been honored in a beautifully-illustrated book, "The Aloha Shirt: Spirit of the Islands" by Dale Hope.

So whether you&#;re a resident of the Hawaiian Islands or simply enjoying your vacation, it&#;s time to find your inner island spirit and get your hands on a brightly-colored Aloha shirt. Here is everything you need to know about the archipelago&#;s most celebrated garment.

What Is a Hawaiian Shirt?

So what exactly is the Hawaiian shirt and why is it such an important emblem of island life? The Aloha shirt (also referred to as the Hawaiian shirt) is a style of dress shirt that can often be worn for casual or smart/casual events. These shirts are printed with floral patterns, usually feature short sleeves, and have a collar.

Traditionally, they have been worn by men but women can also wear them. With so many different print designs available, there&#;s a Hawaiian shirt for everyone. And with the endless choice of prints and florals, there&#;s a sense that every single shirt is unique.

 

Image source: Hawaiian Shirts Online

Additional reading:
Moccasin Shoes

Want more information on Personalized Hawaiian Shirts? Feel free to contact us.

FREE DOWNLOAD

Hawaii Guidesheets!

Address

(Required)

Month of Visit

Which Island

Includes the top must-see & do attractions, best times to visit, where to stay briefing, airport detail, a monthly weather summary, and where to find the most noteworthy local ono 'grindz' (best eats) on each respective Hawaiian Island.

History of the Aloha Shirt

The first ever Aloha shirt came from Chinese influences. It was designed in the early s by Chinese merchant Ellery Chun of King-Smith Clothiers & Dry Goods (which was a store in Waikiki). The first ever advertisement of Chun&#;s Aloha shirt appeared in the Honolulu Advertiser in .

Tourists and local surfers loved Chun&#;s shirts so much that he was constantly selling out and having to make more. Within a few years, big name brands and retail chains started copying Chun&#;s Hawaiian shirt and the garment was soon produced en masse.

Following World War II, servicemen and women would return wearing Hawaiian shirts as a symbol of their love for their home islands. And with the Hawaiian tourism boom of the s, the shirt grew in popularity.

Why Are Aloha Shirts Called Hawaiian Shirts?

The meaning of the word Aloha runs deeper than just a greeting. It&#;s a way of expressing warmth and love, but Aloha is also a way of life. The 'Aloha spirit' or 'the way of Aloha' is the way we connect with ourselves, others, and the natural world. The name 'Aloha shirt' comes from 'Aloha attire', a code of dress that is suitable for events within the local community.

The Aloha dress code is all about relaxed clothing, and over the years the Aloha shirt became known as the Hawaiian shirt due to its popularity with tourists and visitors from around the world.

The Hawaiian shirt rapidly became a symbol of island life, vacations, exotic getaways, and faraway lands to holiday goers. Therefore, the shirt is better known as the Hawaiian shirt these days. And, of course, no trip to Hawaii would be complete without purchasing one (or several) as souvenirs for the trip home. 

What Are Aloha Shirts Made Of?

Silk and cotton were the first fabrics to be used for Hawaiian shirts. During the s and 40s, after Chinese merchant Ellery Chun made the first ever shirt, Japanese influences came along. So, silk would have been a material of choice for many during that time. Later on, the first synthetic fiber appeared&#;rayon&#;which made mass factory production possible.

Today, it is possible to find various fabrics to suit your personal preference, including cotton, silk, or synthetic. And for those who are after original designs and authentic garments, it&#;s also possible to shop for vintage Hawaiian shirts, too.

Who Can Wear Aloha Shirts?

As one of the most inclusive pieces of clothing in the world, anyone can wear an Aloha shirt! They come in a seemingly endless combination of colors, prints, and sizes; so everyone is sure to find the perfect Aloha shirt to suit them. 

While Aloha shirts have been featured in the media and popular culture (making them retro fashion statements), they are also casual everyday wear for islanders. It is common to see people from every walk of life enjoying the myriad of amazing activities in Hawaii while brightening up their surroundings with a colorful Aloha shirt! They are a great way of bringing islanders and tourists together.  

Over the years, many celebrities have been spotted wearing Hawaiian shirts, from the likes of Tom Selleck and Jon Lovitz to Jared Leto, Jack Black, Bruno Mars, and Tom Hardy.

Movies such as "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective", "Raising Arizona", "Runaway Bride", "Weekend at Bernie&#;s", "True Romance", "From Here to Eternity", "Pineapple Express", and "Blue Hawaii" with Elvis have helped to make the shirt even more widely known around the world.

The Aloha shirt will continue to be a symbol of the islands and will always have a place in popular culture.

About the Author 

Sam Butterworth is blog editor at Hawaiian Shirts Online.

For more information, please visit custom flannel shirts.