Hawaii was a drab place for any kind of a fashion statement until the immigrants came to the islands in the 1920's and 30's.
Now, mix and match the Japanese kimono, the Filipino Barong Tagalog (untucked shirt), the Chinese colored silk, and the plain collar shirt from the United States; whip in a tradional style Hawaiian geomitric design and voila! We got a "Palaka" shirt which resembeled a type of bright colored plaid.
After that the Hawaiian Print Shirt came along and is what the locals refer to as the "Aloha Shirt". You know, the flowery, "surfa" looking shirts to distinguish the locals and visitors to the islands. It is also widely worn by businessmen to work every day.
It is said that a man named Ellery Chun was the main reason the bright colorful printed shirts became so popular starting in the 1930's. Mr. Chun owned a dry goods store and sold these bright colorful printed shirts made from leftover Japanese kimono material and sold for 95 cents each! In 1936 Mr. Chun trademarked the name "Aloha Shirt" and from there it continued to take off in popularity.
Then, in the 1950's it went berserk! The Hawaiian print clothing became ever more popular with the tourists, Hollywood movie stars and the rich and famous visiting the islands and taking it back to the Continental United States (referred to by locals as the "mainland") In 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state. The "Aloha State" and brought even more tourists and visitors to the islands which increased more revenue for the famous "Aloha Attire".
And the rest is history. We now have everything made from the famous Aloha Print material. The Muu'muu for women (loosely fit dress for comfort), childrens clothes, bathing suits, swim shorts, car seat covers, blankets, curtains and more!
You name it; we most likely have it in the famous Hawaiian print.
Shopping for Hawaiian attire is no big secret and you can find shops all over Ala Moana Center, Pearlridge Mall, Windward Mall, Ward Center, Kahala Mall as well as other small shopping centers around the islands. Following are a couple well known designers of Hawaiian apparel:
Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Mililani Hawaii Real Estate Blog 2007
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Hey Sally, I love those mu mu's. Very comfy ! Thanks for the history.
I thought I'd do something different. Don't really have a bunch of stores over there like this huh?
Sally,
You are so creative, I love your localism post this one is very cool! :)
These shirts are all over Long Island in the summer :)! Thankfully, we don't see muu muus much anymore but "Hawiian" shirts are certainly big over here---my dentist wears one. What a cute post.
Suzanne: Would you wear that bright colored print (the pink one) haha! I love the little baby girl outfit though. :)
Carole: I thought gee....I really just wanted to put the little girl outfit because I see so many tourists dressing up their toddlers...so....another post about Hawaii....
That was really an interesting story. Never dreamed the design came from kimonos. Unlike Long Island, we don't see them too much here unless Jimmy Buffet is having a concert. ;-)
Elaine: Yeah, a lot of "stars" like to wear the Hawaiian print so they can act cool. It was actually the combination of ethnic ideas. If they just left it up to the Hawaiians I think we'd still be in grass skirts and coconut bras...haha!
Sally-This subject really cracks me up because I see such differences in the styles when I go to Waikiki! There is a BIG difference between an aloha shirt that a local businessman would wear compared to one that a tourist would wear. I dont know if it is the same with the womens blouses but for the men, there is a VERY toned down version of the Aloha shirt that the businessmen wear. I think you have probably seen them but they almost look as though they are faded. Another one of the things that I love about Hawaii is that wearing an aloha shirt is totally acceptable. Wearing a suit and tie is something that is very rarely ever seen. You too....good job posting to Localism! Have a safe evening.
David: lol! That's why I did the toned down look with the "matching outfits" (that me and Gary would never do haha) and then the bright floral print! Yuk! You too...have a safe evening!
Sally,
Great information. I guess I have to bring my printed shirt back out of the closet.
Hey Chuck: Why...we going to a luau or something?
Sally, I see my broker in his aloha shirts occasionally and I have always admired the style and design.
Sally....you never know. But I have to get to Las Vegas first. Or should I go to the luau first?
We have traditional West Virginia clothing, too. We call it "Levi's". ;o)
I get most of my Aloha Shirts at Walmart. Same shirts, better prices and close to home.
Sally, I never knew this! I miss Muu Muu's tho, they were so comfy! I remember everyone looked forward to Aloha Friday.
Sally, Thank you .... I never knew that..
Whenever I used to visit my friend in Florida..before I moved here...he had to take me to the store that sold Hawaiian shirts...it was very popular to me and my friends in the 90's we all wore them..I'll have to find a picture wearing one...that was the style..we usually found them at surf shops...no real history on them. I have only been to two lua and I loved them..I'd love to got to a real one with my shirt on.
Sally - During all my visits to Hawaii... my beloved (there is sarcasm there) has acquired atleast a dozen of these shirts... Some of which I want to KILL him for wearing and others are actually quite nice. When the weather breaks here in Jersey... what does that mean to Al (my other half)... The shirts come down from storage and on his back they go.
So for you its a symbol of your home... for me it means SUMMER!!!!! Thanks for sharing didn't know the background.
Sally... this was pretty interesting. I bought a really nice Hawaiian shirt in Key West one year. It seemed like these types of prints became a fad a few years back in stores. Thanks for sharing the history.
Sally, I always thought that the "Aloha Shirt" had been around a lot longer than just from 1920.
Geeeee now I can go impress my friends with my new found knowledge ............. LOL
Hi Sally, my husband is a BIG fan of Aloha Shirts. I think he actually wants to be Jimmy Buffett! Thanks for the fun post!
Mana: Over here it is just everyday casual or business wear.
Chuck: I think a luau should be first!
Sarah: That's right! :)
Randy: Gary doesn't wear them....just shorts and a Hawaii T-shirt....from WalMart....haha!
Lysa: Interesting, huh? I didn't know about Mr. Chun until I started reading. Funny how an idea can turn into a wealth of knowledge!
Mathew: :)
Neal: I'd like to see the picture in your Hawaiian shirt!
Desiree: You're welcome! I know you enjoy these after coming here so often and wanting to plan..yet another trip!
Jeff: I think it's been a fad at one point or another...Japanese men wear them around as well...especially the younger generation surfer's.
George: Well, the "legal" trademark is the deal here. I think back when the missionaries were here they made a muu muu.
Peggy: I think all guys want to be at one point or another :)
You never cease to impress me with your knowledge of Hawaii. Where do you find all this? I'm born and raised in the Daytona Beach area and don't know this much about it. And DO NOT tell my husband where to get more of these shirts! LOL
Lisa: I have to read up and research. That how I learn so I can pass it on. (I was like this in high school as well) I have some knowledge...but dates and stuff...gotta research.
Sally, I've always wondered about this. One more for the mental archives...
Sally- I've been wanting to do some posts about my area. I guess I'm going to have to dig a little deeper.
Jeff: That's funny. I didn't until the thought popped up....haha.
Perhaps that's because you see them all the time, hmm...? We don't get much call for Aloha shirts here in PA.
Jeff: Hey...maybe that's why :P ....ha! And it's a PA thing....even though my husband has lived her for over 10 years....he still doesn't wear flowery stuff...he can't stand when I do either...haha!
Without hawaiian prints, California ardrobes would be pretty bare!
Do you run around in Hawaiian sarongs too?
I love Hawaiian prints - I love bold colors - and I love the way you bring history to us about things we would never have a clue about - you rock Sally - hope your week is a successful one
Thesa: Hope yours is too! Thanks for your wonderful supportive comments...all the time!
I love this post too, actually I love all your posts about Hawaii or Hawaiian!
I never knew that about the history of the Aloha shirt even though I lived there for 5 years.
But I was busy and young and had other things on my mind besides appreciating all my history and blessings around me. Still was in that me focused stage I guess!
Katerina: Thanks for the nice comments!
Such an awesome post, WooHoo! Not long ago, I NEEDED a Hawaiian dress and, naturally, there ware NONE to be found HERE in the foothills--not REAL ones. I did some research and found some great sites online, but yours are even better. The problem? There are so many beautiful pieces to choose from!
Kat: The Mamo one is famous and my daughter loved the little girl muumuu's when she was small!
Sally - I missed this one - what a great history lesson into Hawiian Shirts (I thought Jimmy Buffet invented them - just kidding :-)) We love the tropical wear here - another gift from your great state.
Cyndee: I think it's just a "thing" around the beach areas huh?
Sally--My mom loved muu-muu's...updated from the 50's house dress! Beautiful story! Thanks!
Teri: Yeah, I think that's where the real muumuu's came from. Haha!
Sally - I buy those shirts like they're going out of style. They put me in my 'island time'. I just bought two on Sunday.
Cameron: In North Carolina? That's funny. I guess you must live by the ocean?
Love this post! Thanks for the history! Never been to Hawaii, but can imagine how beautiful it is. Believe it or not, I got married on July 11, 2004 and was going to take a honeymoon to Fiji, but never did. I should really consider going to Hawaii for one. It's much closer. ;)
Luisa: Thanks for dropping by and maybe you'll come visit us!
Interesting. I never really thought about how Hawaiian shirts came into being.
I am traveling to Maui this September. It will be my first time to any of the islands. I'm really looking forward to it.
Angie: Give a holler when you get here!
Hey...that's pretty neat....
Members: Check the link above me for the "tapa cloth" material that waveshoppe is planning on bringing back to create the "real" Aloha wear.
Thanks for reading and adding some info for our members and the consumer.
Interesting history about the shirts. One more reason (not that anyone needs one) but one more "great" reason to live in Hawaii - the mu'u mu'u!