# Why I hate Hawaiian Shirt Day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 10, 2001, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-hawaiian-shirt-day/71995 "2001-07-10T21:30:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2001, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-hawaiian-shirt-day/71995/1 "2001-07-10T21:30:50Z")
So today is Hawaiian Shirt Day at Gulag Inc. Yes, thats right… Corporate Dungeons™ really _do_ sponsor tooth-shatteringly inane “fun” days… just like in Office Space. Lets go over the Pro’s and Con’s of Hawaiian Shirt Day. Pro: I got a lei. Con: I took flack for refusing to wear said lei. Pro: My supervisors are congregating near my desk to pop popcorn and hang metallic palm trees from the ceiling. Con: My supervisors are congregating near my deskto pop popcorn and hang metallic palm trees from the ceiling. Pro: Alot of people are getting lei’d. Con: Alot of people are walking around like tourists, eager to get to the newest Florida Theme Park: Gilligans Lost World. Pro: There are balloons and paper streamers everywhere. Con: They’re all yellow, orange and blue and its throwing off a creepy Hawaii 5-0 cast party vibe. Pro: My supervisors had to climb up ladders with palm trees in their clutches, intent on hooking them to our ceiling. Con: They succeeded in their quest and the palm trees are still hanging from aforementioned ceiling. Pro: Free Popcorn Con: Popcorn is a loud, obnoxious snack and the popper is less than 5 feet from my desk. Pro: There’s a huge tank of helium in the corner. Con: I cant play with it. Pro: I’ve only got an hour and a half left before I leave for the day. Con: I’m filled with an irrational fear of coming to work tomorrow morning to find that all Hawaiian paraphanelia remains in the office but has been transferred to my cubicle. Pro: There are inflatable fish, crabs and seahorses hanging from the ceiling in arms reach. Con: I’m not allowed to stab them with my pen. Theres a large cut-out of a palm tree on the wall next to me. The irony of this is that I can see 5 more real palm trees when I look out the window. The roasting pig with the apple in his mouth in the center of the room, skewed to death by two hi-lighter pens and rotating on a server rack donning the Gulag logo is a nice touch though. ---
**Author:** ![pezpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@pezpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pezpunk)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2001, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-hawaiian-shirt-day/71995/2 "2001-07-10T21:52:45Z")
[milton] That’s my stapler… [/milton] ---
**Author:** ![Mnementh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@Mnementh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mnementh)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2001, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-hawaiian-shirt-day/71995/3 "2001-07-10T23:02:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by malkavia \* > \*\*Pro: There’s a huge tank of helium in the corner. > > Con: I cant play with it.\*\* If you’re anything like me, Malk, playing with the helium would make the entire thing a happy experience. C’mon. You know you’d be giggling like you were five. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-hawaiian-shirt-day/71995/4 "2001-07-11T01:26:54Z")
I stand in awe of anyone who has to go through Corporate DressDownDays (as I sit here in my pajamas, having not bothered to get dressed today 😃 ). Nobody tells ME what to wear. Damn straight. But you, poor baby. Been me, I’d have found a way to pop at least one of those Oriental Trading crabs. You knew there was a reason you should keep a safety pin in your desk. 😃 ---
**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:** [July 11, 2001, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-hawaiian-shirt-day/71995/5 "2001-07-11T01:31:02Z")
That popcorn better have _kakimochi_ mixed in with it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-hawaiian-shirt-day/71995/6 "2001-07-11T03:37:57Z")
[Lumberg] "Oh- and remember. Next Friiiiiday is…um…Hawaiian Shirt Day. Sooooo…if you want to…go ahead and ummmmm wear a Hawaiian shirt and jeans. [/Lumberg] If we had Hawaiian Shirt day, I swear I would be forced to go around all day shouting “Lumberg fucked her!” and showing people my “O” face. Zette ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-hawaiian-shirt-day/71995/7 "2001-07-11T03:52:26Z")
I would _kill_ for a Hawaiian shirt day! The client I’m working for has the idea that dressing down is still business casual. I wear a suit four days a week (Mon-Thur.) Not that I mind, but if I’m supposed to be able to dress down, I wanna wear jeans or shorts or something. Oh yeah, I get to wear Dockers on Mondays if Dale Jarret places in the top 5 in the race on Sunday, too. Woohoo, UPS, you wild and crazy guys! ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-hawaiian-shirt-day/71995/8 "2001-07-11T06:16:23Z")
I’ve recently been given the priveledge to _buy_ (@ $16.95) a golf shirt bearing my employer’s logo to wear while at the public service desk on weekends. I make 12 bucks an hour. See as to how even McDonald’s will give it’s employees their cheesy uniforms gratis, I’ll keep my shirt and tie, thanks. Fuckers. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-hawaiian-shirt-day/71995/9 "2001-07-11T06:53:21Z")
I WOULD suggest that you find out in what the Hawaii Dept. of Corrections garbs its inmates, and that you aquire a similar garment for yourself (it technically still being a “Hawaiian Shirt’”), but, IIRC, the state of Hawaii, in order to save precious condo-space, airlifts its miscreants to Nevada for long-term incarceration. I have climbed the sagebrush hill in Carson City that overlooks the excercise yard of the state prison yard there, and can therefore personally attest that a dark-blue jumpsuit with “Samoan Pride” amatuer embroidery would say “Aloha” as surely as anything found at the rack at Hilo Hattie’s Kam Highway outlet. ---
**Author:** ![darian00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dfb087/32.png) [@darian00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/darian00)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-hawaiian-shirt-day/71995/10 "2001-07-11T07:00:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pezpunk \* > \*\*[milton] > That’s my stapler… > [/milton] \*\* [milton] I could burn down the building…[/milton] ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-hawaiian-shirt-day/71995/11 "2001-07-11T11:40:30Z")
We had a “Wacky Hat” day where everyone was encouraged to wear “wacky hats”. I thought I was in Hell. Now, reading your post, I see I was only in Hell’s waiting room. You have my sympathies. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![don\_Jaime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b4bc9f/32.png) [@don\_Jaime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_Jaime)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-hawaiian-shirt-day/71995/12 "2001-07-11T13:43:04Z")
Well, poor fuckin’ baby. Do you hate kittens and puppies, too? Go over there and play with the damn helium, already, 'cause whining sounds worse in a baritone. Okay, I shouldn’t talk. There’s no dress code here and for me, every day is Aloha Day. But we need to make it okay to wear normal clothes to work, so if your dipshit boss gives an opening, exploit it. Here: [http://www.hotshirts.com/](http://www.hotshirts.com/) Use it well. Use it in peace. Have and Aloha Day. Mahalo. ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-hawaiian-shirt-day/71995/13 "2001-07-11T14:05:52Z")
The original plan was to go find Japanese Fighter Pilot uniforms to wear on Hawaiian Shirt Day. The idea was proposed to several people. My roomate and I were the only two who laughed. ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-hawaiian-shirt-day/71995/14 "2001-07-11T14:56:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > \*\*We had a “Wacky Hat” day where everyone was encouraged to wear “wacky hats”. I thought I was in Hell. > \*\* Didn’t Marge suggest this at SNPP in the episode when Burns fell in love with her? ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-hawaiian-shirt-day/71995/15 "2001-07-11T16:32:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flymaster \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > > \*\*We had a “Wacky Hat” day where everyone was encouraged to wear “wacky hats”. I thought I was in Hell. > > \*\* > > Didn’t Marge suggest this at SNPP in the episode when Burns fell in love with her? \*\* Yes. Also, on Wacky Hat day, they were playing Tom Jones’ “What’s Up Pussycat?” song. It showed a shot of the employees trying various methods to drown out their depression. One was drinking (wearing a moose hat) and another was trying to kill himself, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-hawaiian-shirt-day/71995/16 "2001-07-11T16:37:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by neptune\_1984 \* > \*\*another was trying to kill himself, I think. > \*\* Not quite. He was polishing a gun while muttering “I am the angel of death.” ---
**Author:** ![Jorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@Jorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jorge)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2001, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-hawaiian-shirt-day/71995/17 "2001-07-12T08:12:37Z")
1. no seahorses here. 2. Hawaiian shirts are something between “business casual” and formal wear, here. If the intent was Hawaiian casual, it oughter be T-shirts with comm’l logos, Bob Marley and leaf border, or anything with fish on it, or a plain white Fruit of the Loom tank top. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2001, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-hawaiian-shirt-day/71995/18 "2001-07-12T13:45:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flymaster \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by neptune\_1984 \* > > \*\*another was trying to kill himself, I think. > > \*\* > > Not quite. He was polishing a gun while muttering “I am the angel of death.” \*\* And “The time of purification is at hand…” ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2001, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-hawaiian-shirt-day/71995/19 "2001-07-12T14:15:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anthracite \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Flymaster \* > > \*\* > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > \*Originally posted by neptune\_1984 \* > > > \*\*another was trying to kill himself, I think. > > > \*\* > > > > Not quite. He was polishing a gun while muttering “I am the angel of death.” \*\* > > And “The time of purification is at hand…” \*\* Dammit…I knew there was something else, but I couldn’t quite think of it. Good call. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2001, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-hawaiian-shirt-day/71995/20 "2001-07-12T17:26:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Here: [http://www.hotshirts.com/](http://www.hotshirts.com/) The cheapest shirts on that site are $50! I think I’ll keep my crappy $10 Walmart Hawaiian shirts over dropping that kind of dough. Maybe they’ll go bankrupt and have a clearance sale… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-hawaiian-shirt-day/71995.md?page=2)