King’s Shells reflects Hawaiʻi in the 1950s, a decade when the aloha shirt stepped into the global spotlight. As air travel expanded and Hawaiʻi entered a golden era of tourism, aloha shirts began appearing in film, music, and popular culture, carried far beyond the islands. If you picture the era’s most iconic on-screen moments set in Hawaiʻi, this print feels right at home. Drawn from an original mid-century Kahala design, it pairs a shell motif with tapa-inspired patterning, emblematic of the era’s bold yet composed design language.
Reissued for Kahala’s 90th Anniversary, King’s Shells is crafted in our signature cotton broadcloth, a classic aloha shirt fabric known for its crisp structure and breathable comfort. Tailored with vintage-inspired details like coconut buttons, this silhouette closely mirrors the traditional styles that defined mid-century aloha wear.
This print is part of Kahala’s 90th Anniversary Through the Decades Collection. In 2026, we will reissue one archival print each month, each representing a defining decade in our history, honoring 90 years of aloha through designs rooted in their time and enduring in style.
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100% Cotton Broadcloth
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1950s original Kahala heritage print
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French front with matched front print
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Vintage-inspired button-down collar
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Discharge print technique
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Matched pocket
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Coconut buttons
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Made in Hawai'i
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Machine washable