Palaka Shirts

Palaka Shirts

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      The palaka is a traditional Hawaiian shirt that finds its origins in the shirts worn by English and American sailors landing in Hawaii (known to them as the Sandwich Islands) in the early 1800s. 

      Unlike the light, colorful kimono fabric used for the Aloha shirt, the palaka was woven of heavy duty, cotton twill fabric, yarn-dyed in a plaid design. This sturdy fabric was soon traded between sailors and local Hawaiians, and the palaka eventually became the standard work shirt for plantation workers and paniolos.

      Our palaka is inspired by an old pineapple worker's jacket.  But rather than using the traditional fabric, our palaka is made of versatile and lightweight Cowboy Cloth, while retaining the original’s colors and twill weave.