Hawaiian Shirt

Say Aloha To Aloha Shirts

Nothing says ‘surf’ more than a colorful Aloha shirt and, as you head for the beach, spare a thought for this piece of fashion history’s colorful past…

Hawaiian shirts were popular long before Elvis Presley wore a red aloha shirt on the album cover for the “Blue Hawaii” soundtrack in 1961. In fact, the modern Hawaiian shirt came about in the early 1930s.

A Chinese merchant named Ellery Chun of King-Smith Clothiers and Dry Goods, owned a store in Waikiki. Ellery started to sew brightly colored aloha shirts for sale to tourists and fashioned them from old kimono fabrics he had leftover in stock.

The Honolulu Advertiser newspaper quickly coined the term ‘Aloha shirt’ and Ellery trademarked the name. The first advertisement in the Honolulu Advertiser for Chun’s Hawaiian shirts was published in June 1935. Local residents and as you’d expect…especially those in the surfing community, as well as tourists descended on Chun’s store and bought every shirt he had.

Withina short space of time, major designer labels sprung up all over Hawaii and began manufacturing and selling Aloha shirts en masse. Retail chains in Hawaii, even mass produced aloha shirt designs to use as their employee uniforms. At sites like Hawaiian Shirts Central you’ll see some of the best examples of Aloha shirts and apparel.

After World War 2, many servicemen/women returned to the USA from Asia and the Pacific islands with aloha shirts that had been made in Hawaii since the 1930s. Then as the tourists started flocking to Hawaii post WW2 in the 1950s, the colorful tropical-print shirts for men and sundresses for women became standard souvenirs for travelers.

In 1962, a manufacturing association called the Hawaiian Fashion Guild began to promote Hawaiian shirts and clothing for use in the workplace, particularly as business attire. In a campaign called ‘Operation Liberation’ the Guild delivered two aloha shirts to every member of the Hawaii House of Representatives and the Hawaii Senate. This was a complete success because soon a resolution was passed in the Senate recommending that aloha attire be worn throughout the summer in Hawaii.

In 1965, Bill Foster, Sr., the then president of the Hawaii Fashion Guild, led a campaign lobbying for an official and regular “Aloha Friday”, a day when all employers would allow their staff to wear Hawaiian shirts on the last business day of the week. In 1966 Aloha Friday officially began in Hawaii and has since spread worldwide – although now-a-days it is commonly referred to as ‘Casual Friday’.

Aloha Shirts of Hawaii

Hawaiian Tropical Fabric Tablecloth 60-inch By 84-inch (Honu Turtle and Monstera, Green Color) $26.95 Inspired by beautiful unique Hawaiian flora and sea animals, a Hawaii-based artist designed these tablecloth to create an inviting dining room full of ALOHA. (The traditional Hawaiian greeting means more than just hello and goodbye. It represents a spirit of harmony, affection and mutual respect.) Buy these tablecloth and bring freshness, tropical warm and style to your dining room. Also it is per…

Totally Bamboo Shirt Coaster Set $18.99 Hang out the lanai, break out the ukulele and enjoy your favorite drink on Totally Bamboo’s tropical themed Shirt Coaster Set. This set of four coasters includes a shirt-style hanger rack, for storing coasters when not in use. Coasters and rack made of organically grown bamboo, which is distinctively attractive, super strong, and totally green. Totally good for you and totally good for the environ…

Hawaiian Tropical Fabric Tablecloth 60-inch By 84-inch (Honu Turtle and Monstera, Brown Color) $25.98 Inspired by beautiful unique Hawaiian flora and sea animals, a Hawaii-based artist designed these tablecloth to create an inviting dining room full of ALOHA. (The traditional Hawaiian greeting means more than just hello and goodbye. It represents a spirit of harmony, affection and mutual respect.) Buy these tablecloth and bring freshness, tropical warm and style to your dining room. Also it is p…

Blue Hawaii $5.32 No Description AvailableNo Track Information AvailableMedia Type: CDArtist: PRESLEY,ELVISTitle: BLUE HAWAIIStreet Release Date: 04/15/1997…

Live at Texas Stadium $10.64 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed….

Jimmy Buffett – Live at Wrigley Field Double Header $13.95 LIVE AT WRIGLEY FIELD – DVD Movie…

Hawaiian Shirt and Surf Board Light Set – Beach Party Lights $7.95 Hip and swingin’ Light string of aloha shirts and surf boards. 10 lights on a string. These lights do NOT connect end to end, and they do NOT have an extra outlet on the first plug….

Hawaiian Floral Shirt Tiki Tropical Ceiling Fan Light Pull $6.88 Hawaiian Floral Shirt Tiki Tropical Fan Light Pull…

Hawaiian Shirt Ceiling Fan Pull $6.99 This fun little room accessory will remind you of your favorite vacation. Perfect on your ceiling fan or light, or even on a lamp with a pull chain. Measures approximately 2.25″ with a 6″ chain, which attaches easily to the end of your existing chain. Made of resin. This listing is for the HAWAIIAN SHIRT FAN PULL only. The additional picture showcases a decorative fan pull in use….

North Shore $8.20 A teenager from Arizona dreams of the Hawaiian surf and the thrill of riding the big waves and sets out in search of his goal, in this rousing drama that features breathtaking surfing footage. Matt Adler, Nia Peeples, Gregory Harrison star. 96 min.Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital Surround; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French; audio commentary; interviews; deleted scenes; al…