# When are Hawaiian Shirts appropriate? (Other than Hawaii) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 28, 2010, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-hawaiian-shirts-appropriate-other-than-hawaii/551741 "2010-08-28T00:30:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-hawaiian-shirts-appropriate-other-than-hawaii/551741/61 "2010-08-29T22:02:14Z")
Hawaiian shirts are sometimes appropriate for funerals. Like my grandfather’s, where even the CORPSE was wearing a hawaiian shirt, and then buried in it. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-hawaiian-shirts-appropriate-other-than-hawaii/551741/62 "2010-08-29T22:22:36Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I have that same shirt! 😃 Ditto. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-hawaiian-shirts-appropriate-other-than-hawaii/551741/63 "2010-08-30T12:33:21Z")
Coincidentally, I did a kayak trip on a local river this weekend with a group of guys. We all wear old Hawaiian shirts when we kayak together. ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-hawaiian-shirts-appropriate-other-than-hawaii/551741/64 "2010-08-30T14:19:35Z")
For those of you who are fans of **Arrested Development** , George Michael wore a Reyn’s Hawaiian shirt in nearly every episode. A Reyn’s shirt and trousers were what my father wore to work nearly every day, and he was a physician at a large hospital in Honolulu. Back home, they’re basically standard business work attire. ---
**Author:** ![LadyJane84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@LadyJane84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LadyJane84)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-hawaiian-shirts-appropriate-other-than-hawaii/551741/65 "2010-08-30T14:20:23Z")
“There are only two types of people who wear Hawaiian shirts, Marge: gay guys and big fat party animals. And Bart doesn’t look like a big fat party animal to me!” It still gives me a chuckle whenever I see a Hawaiian shirt. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-hawaiian-shirts-appropriate-other-than-hawaii/551741/66 "2010-08-30T14:55:28Z")
Nobody’s mentioned a 1950’s Korean M_A_S\*H unit yet? ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-hawaiian-shirts-appropriate-other-than-hawaii/551741/67 "2010-08-30T15:01:54Z")
When are Hawaiian shirts appropriate? When it is 5 O’ Clock (somewhere), of course. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-hawaiian-shirts-appropriate-other-than-hawaii/551741/68 "2010-08-30T15:09:55Z")
Routine uniform for my Band, where it’s part of the costume called “Tacky Tourist.” And often includes plaid pants. [http://www.seedandfeed.org/media\_photos.php?page=1](http://www.seedandfeed.org/media_photos.php?page=1) ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-hawaiian-shirts-appropriate-other-than-hawaii/551741/69 "2010-08-30T15:31:27Z")
My uncle, a CEO of a medium sized company, wears Hawaiian shirts every day to work, weather permitting. If you’re the boss, you get to make the rules! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-hawaiian-shirts-appropriate-other-than-hawaii/551741/70 "2010-08-30T16:39:09Z")
They are appropriate anywhere outside of Hawaii when: You have balls the size of watermelons, or don’t give a shit what jealous, tictac-eating, self-centered fashionistas think of you. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-hawaiian-shirts-appropriate-other-than-hawaii/551741/71 "2010-08-30T17:01:04Z")
I’m a double winner! WOOT! ---
**Author:** ![clarkstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@clarkstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clarkstar)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-hawaiian-shirts-appropriate-other-than-hawaii/551741/72 "2010-08-30T17:04:30Z")
they’re fine to wear whenever one wants to. come on now, are you so fragile that you are bothered by someone else’s _shirt?_ ---
**Author:** ![txtumbleweed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@txtumbleweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txtumbleweed)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-hawaiian-shirts-appropriate-other-than-hawaii/551741/73 "2010-08-30T18:07:12Z")
**Gray Ghost** , I thought Ray Wylie was speaking to me when he sang that. Would love to know what the prompt was for writing that song. It sounds like the response to someone somewhere. I asked the security guys what gives with the pat downs because it is one of those things they apply seemingly at random. Some airports pass me without a glance, some don’t. As you surmised, it falls under the remove overcoats and sport coat rules to make concealment tougher. However, I’ve never been asked to remove the shirt, just that they’ll ahve to had search me unless I button the shirt before going through the metal detector, which doesn’t make much sense to me. I mean, if I were packing something I shouldn’t, does buttoning the shirt magically make it more visible to the metal detector? I usually just go through without messing with it because, hey, free massage. **silenus and kenobi 65** What?!? Tom made copies?!? He owes me some royalties! 🙂 Seriously, though, you can get your picture taken a bunch in the Smithsonian if you wear that shirt to the Hawaii display and stand by the case. It was weird and yet strangely ego satisfying. ---
**Author:** ![Staver808](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@Staver808](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staver808)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-hawaiian-shirts-appropriate-other-than-hawaii/551741/74 "2010-08-30T21:48:48Z")
I feel the need to defend my home state in saying that while yes, people do wear aloha shirts to funerals, they are very different from the style people normally associate with aloha shirts. They are often more somber and have a lot of dark blues and blacks in the design. A common one I’ve seen is a mountain at twilight. There might be some reds and yellows from the sunset, but the design is not nearly as loud as shirts I’ve seen people wear in movies and tv shows. Aloha attire is also business appropriate, but then they’re usually reverse print shirts or again more somber than the usual shirt seen in the movies. I personally normally wear long sleeve shirts with the occational tie. I have a suit or two, but aside my time as pall bearer, I’ve never worn them. It’s just too hot. Even just wearing a long sleeve shirt and tie is dressier than any of my bosses and I work in a bank to boot. Our current CEO is a mainland transplant, though he’s been here for a long enough time he’s like a local, and I think the only member of senior management I’ve seen wear anything other than an aloha shirt at work. Just so you don’t think we wear neon greens and eye searing reds to funerals. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-hawaiian-shirts-appropriate-other-than-hawaii/551741/75 "2010-08-31T00:17:07Z")
I wear one everyday to work, as does my husband. I’m a college prof., he’s an on-site engineering professional. We both have shirts appropriate for the funerals of _our_ friends and families\*. He has shirts that work for weddings and I have silk dresses in subdued prints suitable for weddings. Every day is an Aloha day if you want it to be.🆒 \*let’s not start that thread again. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-hawaiian-shirts-appropriate-other-than-hawaii/551741/76 "2010-08-31T00:22:25Z")
This was one of my favorite things about sitting around downtown Honolulu during lunchtime-- men everywhere, of all ages, walking around in tasteful aloha shirts, neatly-pressed slacks, and nice shoes. Men in suits stood out as overdressed, oblivious to the tropical climate, and probably from the mainland. They are worn for all but semi-formal/formal occasions, so you see them at high school events, weddings, funerals, job interviews, and in the workplace. I miss seeing them around. ---
**Author:** ![RedWood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f08c70/32.png) [@RedWood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedWood)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-hawaiian-shirts-appropriate-other-than-hawaii/551741/77 "2010-08-31T05:23:54Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Always. They are never inappropriate. I haven’t worn anything but in…10 years? I can go an entire semester without repeating a shirt. > > Not GAY, but if Alton Brown ever asks… > eta: A correction. I wore a plain shirt at my uncle’s funeral in deference to my aunt. But I got married in a Hawaiian shirt. I hosted my father’s memorial service in a Hawaiian shirt. My wife has already said she is going to stash my urn on the mantle, decked in a Hawaiian shirt. I think I may have met you… I have never seen one dear friend of mine in anything but a Hawaiian shirt! ---
**Author:** ![alindallas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@alindallas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alindallas)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-hawaiian-shirts-appropriate-other-than-hawaii/551741/78 "2010-08-31T12:55:26Z")
My Hawiian shirts were made in Indonesia and purchased in Cancun. Do the Hawiians actually _manufacture_ any of these shirts? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-hawaiian-shirts-appropriate-other-than-hawaii/551741/79 "2010-08-31T15:39:59Z")
> [@alindallas](#): > > My Hawiian shirts were made in Indonesia and purchased in Cancun. Do the Hawiians actually _manufacture_ any of these shirts? Are they actually marketed as Hawaiian shirts? There is a batik style native to Indonesia, Malaysia and southern Thailand that often looks similar. I have several of those I’ve picked up in the area, but I’ve never seen them billed as Hawaiian shirts. ---
**Author:** ![alindallas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@alindallas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alindallas)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-hawaiian-shirts-appropriate-other-than-hawaii/551741/80 "2010-09-01T13:42:57Z")
Ahhh… Good point! Nothing says informal like wearing a Thai! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-hawaiian-shirts-appropriate-other-than-hawaii/551741.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-hawaiian-shirts-appropriate-other-than-hawaii/551741.md?page=5)