| Bright in color and full of vivid design, | | | | extremely popular in Hollywood. Movie stars, |
| Hawaiian shirts are an immensely popular way | | | | singers, and politicians all donned the |
| to introduce yourself - and your clothing - | | | | prints. In the movie ""From Here to |
| at parties, the pool or the beach. They have | | | | Eternity,"" Montgomery Cliff, Burt Lancaster, |
| become an international symbol of Hawaii. | | | | Ernest Borgnine, and Frank Sinatra all wore |
| Although they continue to increase in | | | | Hawaiian shirts. The craze has continued on |
| popularity, Hawaiian shirts are not a new | | | | for years. Tom Selleck was seen wearing |
| trend or fad. In fact, the design of the | | | | Hawaiian shirts in ""Magnum PI.""Hawaiian |
| popular shirts has been around for | | | | officials have certainly encouraged the Aloha |
| decades.Hawaiian shirts got their start in | | | | shirt craze. In 1947, the Honolulu Board of |
| the 1930s, when clothing manufacturers on the | | | | Supervisors passed a resolution, encouraging |
| islands decided to produce a cloth that had a | | | | city and county employees to wear Hawaiian |
| design unique to Hawaii. Watumull's East | | | | shirts from June 1 to October 31 each year. |
| India Store led the pack by hiring artist | | | | Further, every Friday in Hawaii is considered |
| Elsie Das to create 15 hand-painted floral | | | | Aloha Friday, when locals and tourists alike |
| designs that were then printed onto silk. | | | | wear their favorite Hawaiian shirt or dress |
| Unfortunately for the store, the designs were | | | | with pride. The islands even have an official |
| not supposed to be printed on heavy silk. | | | | Aloha Week, where thousands of people dress |
| Although the manufacturer did not print the | | | | in Hawaiian pride.Today, Hawaiian shirts |
| shirts as had been requested, it turned out | | | | continue to be a symbol of relaxation in |
| for the best - the heavy silk shirts became | | | | tropical paradise. |