In Hawaiʻi an aloha shirt goes almost everywhere. It goes to the office on a Friday, to a party in the yard, to dinner in town and to a wedding by the water. Many people know it as the Hawaiian shirt. Whatever you call it, wearing one well comes down to four things: the fit, the hem, what you wear with it, and the print.

This guide is about the shirt itself. If you are reading an invitation that says aloha attire, our guide to aloha attire dress codes explains what casual, crisp and formal ask of you.

The Pōhaku shirt in Coral Tide Liko, worn untucked.

The Pōhaku shirt in Mocha Lehua Blossom, with dark trousers.

Start with the fit

A good aloha shirt starts with the fit. Check four places in the mirror.

The shoulders. The shoulder seam should sit at the edge of your shoulder, not partway down your arm. Get the shoulders right and most of the rest follows.

The chest and body. Buttoned, the front should lie flat with no pulling between the buttons. An aloha shirt is meant to hang with a little ease, so it moves with you on a warm day. Our Pōhaku shirt is cut in a traditional fit and falls straight from the chest to the hip, and you will find it with the rest of our aloha shirts.

The sleeves. Short sleeves should end above the elbow and sit close enough to the arm that they do not flare.

The length. Worn untucked, the hem should cover your belt and stop before it covers the seat of your pants. Much longer, and the shirt starts to look borrowed.

If you are between sizes, try both. You can try shirts on at our Waikīkī shop in the Moana Surfrider or at Ala Moana Center, and if you are looking for a particular size, call ahead and we will check for you.

Tucked or untucked

A hem that curves at the sides, cut to wear untucked.

Aloha shirts were first made to hang outside the pants, and that is still the easy way to wear one. Look at the length first. A shirt cut to wear out stops around the hip, and our Pōhaku shirt's hem curves at the sides so it wears untucked. Long tails that fall well past the seat are cut to be tucked in.

Tuck it in, and press it, when the occasion asks for a sharper look, with slacks, a belt and closed shoes. Some people read crisp aloha attire as a tucked shirt, so if the invitation says crisp and you are unsure, tuck it.

Leave the top button open unless a dress code asks otherwise. On a shirt with a button-down collar, like the Pōhaku, the buttoned points hold the collar in place when it is open.

What to wear with an aloha shirt

Let the shirt carry the print. Plain colors underneath keep the outfit easy to read. The simplest way to choose a color is to take one from the print, or to go darker than the shirt.

Shorts. Tailored shorts in khaki, navy or olive, for the weekend, the beach and the backyard.

Chinos or linen trousers. For dinner out, the office and most parties.

Dark trousers. For the evening, and for a shirt in a rich, dark print.

Jeans. Plain, dark denim for a casual evening.

Over a tee. Worn open over a plain tee with shorts, an aloha shirt becomes a light layer for a day at the beach.

For shoes, slippers or sandals go with shorts. Leather slippers, loafers or boat shoes go with chinos. With dress slacks, wear closed shoes.

Choosing a print

Fine-line leaf buds in the Coral Tide Liko print, with coconut-style buttons.

The print is the reason to wear an aloha shirt, so choose one you enjoy looking at. Every print we make is our own original artwork, each drawn from a real place, plant or person in Hawaiʻi.

Scale. Large motifs read from across a room and make the shirt the center of the outfit. In our Ember Glow Kupukupu print, large kupukupu fronds run the full height of the shirt. Fine-line motifs read quieter, like the leaf buds drawn in fine lines across our Coral Tide Liko print.

Ground color. A light or bright ground suits the daytime. A dark or rich ground carries a shirt into the evening.

One print at a time. Wear one print in your own outfit. If your family is dressing together, one print shared across the ʻohana looks deliberate in photographs, and several of our shirts share their print with dresses.

When a polo is the better choice

The Active Polo in Mocha Lehua Blossom.

Some days call for a knit collar instead of a woven one, like an early tee time or a family dinner after a round. A polo in an island print keeps the print and changes the shape.

Our Active Polo is a light performance knit with stretch, with a spread collar and a three-button neck. Its collar is cut from the same print, so the pattern runs unbroken to the neck. The hem is cut straight, so it wears tucked or out, with khaki shorts for the course or chinos for dinner after. In Mocha Lehua Blossom it shares its print with the Pōhaku shirt. See all our polos.

Caring for your aloha shirt

Read the care line on the label or the product page before the first wash, because it can change from shirt to shirt. Many of ours say hand wash cold, line dry. Our shirts come in cotton blends and in rayon, so follow each label for washing, drying and pressing.

Common questions

Aloha shirt or Hawaiian shirt? Both names are used for the same shirt. Here in Hawaiʻi we call it the aloha shirt.

Can I wear an aloha shirt to a wedding? In Hawaiʻi, often yes, when the invitation says aloha attire. Our aloha attire guide walks through what each level asks for.

Is it all right for visitors to wear one? Yes. Here it is everyday wear. Wear it the way people here do, as clothing, not as a costume.

The short version

Get the shoulders right, wear it out unless the occasion asks for a tuck, keep what you wear with it plain, and choose a print you love. Shop our aloha shirts, browse the Men's collection for aloha shirts and polos together, or visit us in store at the Moana Surfrider in Waikīkī to try one on.