The History of Aloha Wear

The original 1940s Kahala aloha shirt "Aloha Oe" 

Dive into the rich history and cultural significance of aloha wear in Hawai'i through the decades in a textile exhibition debuting at the Honolulu Museum of Art. "Fashioning Aloha" runs from April 12th to September 1st offering visitors a unique insight into the wider cultural impact of famous Hawaiian garments and exports beyond their fashion appeal. 

As part of this esteemed exhibition spanning 90 years of aloha shirts, holokū (gowns), muʻumuʻu, and holomuʻu (fitted dresses), Kahala is honored to contribute pieces from our archive as part of the curation. Among the highlights is the "Aloha Oe" shirt, our classic rayon filament design that we have reissued for our Spring collection available in stores and online today.

Shop the Men's Aloha Shirt	Shop the Women's Blouse

From traditional hula motifs to contemporary designs inspired by Hawaiian history and architecture, "Fashioning Aloha" celebrates Hawaiian designers past and present. To book your tickets and learn more about the exhibition, visit honolulumuseum.org.

Support for "Fashioning Aloha" is provided by NMG Network, with additional support provided by Tori Richard, JCB, the Jhamandas Watamull Fund, Laura Goo and Aqua-Aston Hospitality.