Santa Wears a Special Suit in Hawaii

Here are seven photos by Dennis Oda of the Honolulu Star Bulletin, of Santa Claus visiting Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. There is special significance in the checked suit worn by Santa in these photos. The first Hawaiian shirts - and some say the "real" Hawaiian shirts - were those worn by workers on Hawaii's sugar cane, coffee, and pineapple plantations, who came from Portugal, Japan, the Philippines, and other countries. Those shirts were known as palaka, and they were made of a very rugged blue and white checked fabric. The first Asian print Hawaiian shirts were made using recycled kimono fabric, and later Hawaii-specific prints were designed and made into the type of aloha shirts that are popular today.

Photos of Santa Visiting Honolulu

Photo of an Authentic Palaka Shirt

Books About Hawaiian Shirts