To mark our 90th Anniversary, we’re returning to the archival designs that shaped Kahala from the very beginning. One print will be released each month throughout the year, honoring a distinct decade and the evolving story of aloha.
Each reissue reflects its era—its influences, the craftsmanship of aloha wear in Honolulu, and its relationship to Hawai‘i at that moment. Together, these designs trace how the aloha shirt moved from everyday island life into a style recognized far beyond the islands.
Released monthly throughout the year.
1960s - Duke’s Pareo
EVERYDAY ALOHA
The 1960s marked a shift in how aloha was worn. It became part of everyday life in Hawai‘i—worn to work, out to dinner, and everywhere in between. As the Hawaiian Fashion Guild introduced Aloha Friday also known as Casual Fridays, workplace dress began to reflect the ease and identity of island life.
Duke Kahanamoku embodied that shift seen wearing these prints beyond the shores. Duke’s Pareo became recognizable for its bold scale and two-tone palette—an enduring design that stood out then and still does today as our most popular print.
Duke Kahanamoku and his surf team, circa 1965. Joey Cabell, Paul Strauch, Butch Van Artsdalen, and Fred Hemmings wearing Duke’s Pareo alongside matching Vans sneakers.
Duke Kahanamoku, 1960s.
Duke’s Boys, Outrigger Canoe Club, 1966.
1950s – KING'S SHELLS
THE GLOBAL SPOTLIGHT
The 1950s marked a defining chapter in aloha wear. As air travel expanded and Hawaiʻi entered a golden era of tourism, the aloha shirt stepped onto an international stage, evolving from a local expression of place into a global symbol of island life. Influenced by mid-century modern design, prints embraced graphic clarity and confident scale, rendering island motifs with a sense of balance and modernity.
Drawn from our 1950s archives, Kahala prints like King’s Shells were worn by some of Hollywood’s most recognizable leading men, marking the moment aloha shirts stepped firmly onto the global stage.
1940s – E KIPA MAI
WELCOME, ‘E KOMO MAI’
In the 1940s, aloha shirts began expressing a growing sense of place, hospitality, and cultural exchange. Featuring welcoming island iconography and hand-drawn motifs, print designs captured the spirit of arrival in Hawai‘i.
Left to right: Arrival in Hawai‘i, 1940s; welcoming ceremony aboard ship greeting visitors with Hawaiian music and hula, 1940s; Kamehahameha Statue at Ali‘iolani Hale in Honolulu.
1930s – HAJIME
THE BEGINNING
Hajime, meaning “the beginning” in Japanese, marks the origin of Kahala’s story. Based on an original 1930s print, it reflects a time when the first aloha shirts were custom made by Japanese and Chinese tailors in Hawai‘i—merging working class silhouettes with Japanese textiles and illustrative traditions.
Left to right: The Kahala trademark filing, Honolulu, 1936; early Kahala garments being reviewed by co-founder George Brangier during the brand’s formative years; a Branfleet Sports Wear advertisement introducing Kahala to Hawai‘i in 1939.
