Quote:
Originally Posted by irishpipes
Not to further the hijack, but why aren't they Hawaiian? I am just curious. Around here anything with an island-flair is described as "Hawaiian." Are you reserving that description only for things actually made in Hawaii? I'm just curious because I hadn't heard that objection before.
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The prints and designs you're familiar with have their origins in the 1920's-30's when tourists started flocking to Hawai`i. Someone thought it'd be a good idea to design a shirt that had a bunch of pineapples and palm trees. Tourists wanted exotic souvenirs and the aloha shirt was born. It was officially registered in the mid-1930's IIRC. Call it an aloha shirt, just don't call it Hawaiian.
Just like with locals, they may be from Hawai`i, but not all of them are Hawaiian. They're "from Hawai`i."
Historically native Hawaiians didn't even wear them.
Men wore the
malo
And contrary to popular belief, the
mu`umu`u isn't truly Hawaiian either. It gets its beginnings from the dresses the missionaries' wives wore when they arrived in the mid 1800s.
I'm so sorry to hijack this thread some more. If anyone wants to know more, feel free to PM me.