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No visit to Hawaii is complete without bringing home some souvenirs, like carved tikis, flower leis, fresh pineapple, or an aloha shirt… What's an aloha shirt? Well, simply put, it’s an island-style dress shirt. Most are short-sleeved with a collar and buttons down the front. Traditional aloha shirts have tropical designs or Hawaiian items like canoes, flowers or ukuleles on them. These patterns can also be used on dresses and muumuus.
Folks have been wearing aloha shirts around here for over a hundred years. Nowadays, you can find aloha shirts everywhere with a whole variety of different styles and prints! The good quality shirts are rather pricey, and carry labels like Sig Zane, Tori Richard, Reyn Spooner and Tommy Bahama. One tip for wearing an aloha shirt: it’s not meant to be tucked in.
In the humid island weather, a shirt, coat and tie just don’t work. So, aloha shirts are considered normal wear in business and government. Most guys in Hawaii only wear a suit and tie if they have to go to court, or at funerals - their own funerals, that is!
So if you want to look like a local, pick out a subtle pattern and don’t be surprised if your shirt seems like it’s sewn inside-out. That's just how they make them in Hawaii! And, very important - never, ever call them Hawaiian shirts! They’re called aloha shirts, and nothing else!
Check out our Hawaii tours to learn more about Hawaii's history and culture!