The Men's Hawaiian Aloha shirts manufactured for local Hawaii residents are often dull in tone, if not uniformly colored or color-coordinated, and are adorned with traditional Hawaiian quilt designs or simple plant patterns in muted, non flashy colors. Hawaiian Aloha shirts and Ladies Hawaiian Dresses, manufactured for local consumption are considered formal wear in business and government.
The modern Hawaiian Aloha shirt was first manufactured commercially in the early 1930s by Chinese merchant Ellery Chun of King-Smith Clothiers and Dry Goods, a store in Waikiki. Chun began sewing brightly colored shirts for tourists out of old kimono fabrics he had leftover in stock. The Honolulu Advertiser newspaper was quick to coin the term Aloha shirt to describe Chun's fashionable creation. Chun trademarked the name. The first advertisement in the Honolulu Advertiser for Chun's Aloha shirt was published on June 28, 1935. Local residents, especially surfers, and tourists descended on Chun's store and bought every shirt he had. Within years, major designer labels sprung up all over Hawaii and began manufacturing and selling Aloha shirts, boys Hawaiian shirt, and girls Hawaiian Aloha dress.
The popularity of the Hawaiian Aloha Clothing boomed in the United States after World War II as major celebrities supported the tropical Hawaiian clothing. President of the United States Harry Truman wore Hawaiian Aloha shirts regularly during his tenure in the White House and in retirement. John Wayne and Duke Kahanamoku endorsed major designer labels while Bing Crosby, Arthur Godfrey and Johnny Weissmuller entertained while wearing them.