SMALL WORLD, BIG ISLAND
Western Aloha is inspired by life on the extraordinary Island of Hawaii -- ranching, rodeos, surfing, paddling, and enjoying time with friends and family. This is the life of the Paniolo, the Hawaiian cowboys who have been here since 1832.
Home to jagged lava rock fields and lush tropical rainforests and every landscape in between, the Island of Hawaii is as diverse as it is beautiful. In under two hours, you can drive from endless summer on a white sandy beach to the top of a snow-capped volcano.
THE PANIOLO
Ranching and rodeo may bring up images of the American West, but Hawaii's cowboys (the Paniolo) have been wrangling cattle in the Pacific for centuries--even before Texas was a State. The Paniolo are legendary in their grit, athleticism, and skill. But their hardworking, humble life is not without glory -- as far back as 1908, Paniolo were traveling to rodeos like Cheyenne Frontier Days and taking the top spots.
Our clothing tries to pay homage to these iconic cowboys, who fuse the spirit of the West with the Aloha Spirit. Our clothes are made to be durable, comfortable, and versatile. We use fabrics that wear in with softness over time, but last the long haul. Our prints celebrate Western wear, but also our home here in Hawaii.
THE WESTERN ALOHA BOAR
The boar featured in our photos and videos is named Humphrey. We photographed Humphrey surfing at the break at Honolii near Hilo, where he was taken in as a stray piglet by our friend, Shawn Pila. Humphrey loves to surf and in videos you can see him adjusting his weight on the board. But he weighs at least 350 pounds now and so has retired from the game. He spends his leisure time on a farm outside of Hilo with Shawn and his wife, Kelly.
“I grew up wearing Western
shirts and Aloha shirts, like
many people here. I live in the
upcountry town of Waimea,
on Hawaii Island. It’s a blend of
mountain and ocean – of
Western and Aloha. Coming up
with a name for our brand was
pretty easy.”
-Paul Sullivan, Founder
