Aloha Shirts

In the early 80's during my teenage years I actually found an aloha shirt, a Hawaii Shirt, how we call them in Germany, in a boutique near Hamburg's harbor. My peers and I dressed a bit like the 50's and so this was a perfect addition. With this shirt I connected to a dream, a different culture and time.  

When I immigrated to the States and then landed on the islands, the aloha shirts and Hawaiian prints were very attractive to me and I enjoyed looking at them. Now after 13 years living on the islands I have learned to discriminate between wearing a symbol and wearing something, which actually looks great as well. I am noticing the difference in aloha shirt styles. The author of the article states, what I think: "who after a certain age actually looks good in an Aloha Shirt?"  Often the print and the colors are too overpowering and one just sees the shirt and not the person. Then the print pattern and the colors may not match the person's skin tone and features either.  I live here and am immersed in Hawaiian culture, so I don't need to wear Hawaiian prints. There are many solutions to taking Hawaii's amazing energy into the world: photos, the spirit of Aloha, art…consider an Aloha Shirt as just one option. 

Great article on the history of the Aloha Shirt:

www.coffeetimes.com/aloha.htm