5 Stylish Aloha Shirts to Get Your Dad This Father’s Day

If your dad is anything like mine, he buys whatever he needs when he needs it, so finding a gift for Father’s Day can be a real undertaking. A new cooler? He got that last year for his birthday. A new pair of slippahs? For Christmas. So, what’s my go-to? An aloha shirt. It’s not only good for work, but pretty much any social occasion in Hawaiʻi. These fan-favorite local brands have the perfect aloha shirts for five different kinds of dads.

SEE ALSO: Father’s Day 2021: The Best Steak Restaurants (and Places to Get a Steak Dinner) on O‘ahu

Photo: Courtesy of Sig Zane Designs

For the Land Lover

Sig Zane Designs

Auwili Windbreaker, $210

Sig Zane’s life as a surfer, fisherman, hula dancer, artist and father is always incorporated somewhere in his celebrated designs. His latest release, the Auwili Windbreaker, is inspired by parents’ ideals that their child will follow in their footsteps—of course this runs true in his family since this design is one of the many collaborations Sig and his son, Kūha‘o, have created together over the years. Although not a traditional aloha shirt, the windbreakers feature the ʻulu leaves of Keaukaha, the cinder cones in the shadow of Mauna Kea, or the koa leaves of the upland forest on pure cotton denim.

Sig on Smith, 1018 Smith St., open Fridays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., sigzanedesigns.com, @sigzanedesigns and @sigonsmith

For the Standout Dad

Kealopiko

$115

Kealopiko’s shirts mesmerize locals with its bold and beautiful prints that focus on unique aspects of the Hawaiian culture: endemic plants and animals such as the lehua flower and ‘ulu, languages and practices, aliʻi and kūpuna, and moʻolelo of the people of Hawaiʻi. With that said, its styles are not for the shy guy, but rather for the dad who wants to be recognized for his cool clothing choices. And, Kealopiko’s All Aloha collection, released in very limited quantities, is handmade in Kalamaʻula on Molokaʻi. No two pieces are identical—details a fashion-forward faddah would appreciate.

1170 Auahi St., open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed on Tuesdays, kealopiko.com, @kealopiko

Photo: Courtesy of Reyn Spooner

For the Traditional Guy

Reyn Spooner

Surfin’ Snoopy, $119.50

Celebrate Reyn Spooner’s 65th anniversary with an aloha shirt for the same-ol’-style dad. The classic Spooner Cloth styles incorporate splashy tropical prints on iconic fabric that has been a favorite of Hawai‘i businessmen since the ’70s. We wouldn’t be surprised to see Grandpa today in a Reyn Spooner aloha shirt he bought in his early 20s. Reyn Spooner’s latest limited-edition capsule collection is a fun, colorful take on Peanuts’ Snoopy, featuring the famous beagle and Woodstock vacationing in Hawaiʻi. Designs capture Surfin’ Snoopy showing off his tricks including Hang Ten, cross stepping and 360s. The whole family can join in on the fun with options for both dad and son, with mother-daughter options coming out soon.

Multiple locations, reynspooner.com, @reynspooner

For the #boydad

Roberta Oaks

Net Fisher Pepper, $120

If you’re a mom helping your son find the perfect gift, nothing is cuter than matching daddy-and-me aloha shirts. Bonus: Mom can even join in on the matching extravaganza with options available for women. So, if dad enjoys fishing, Roberta Oaks’ latest design, Net Fisher Pepper, may be the perfect choice. The base color of the shirt is not quite black, not quite gray, but—you guessed it—pepper. Originally watercolor doodles in Oaks’ notebook inspired by old photos of fishermen, the aloha shirts’ designs feature scenes of fishermen, nets and tiny fish in hues of blue and ash. We also love Navigation Light Chamber—watercolor sketches of the Hawaiian Islands, a hula girl, outrigger canoes, palms, anchors and a compass cover a beautiful light blue aloha shirt and will remind Dad of home on his next vacation.

1152 Nu‘uanu Ave., open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Sunday, robertaoaks.com, @robertaoakshawaii

For the Adventurous Dad

Western Aloha

Solo Paddler, $155

In addition to being the star of Western Aloha’s logo, Humphrey the boar can be seen sporting a flower lei while showing off his smooth skills on a surfboard in real life. In Hawiian culture, the pua‘a is known as resilient and aggressive when hunted, but also friendly, intelligent, hardworking and adaptable. Sound like your dad? Get him one of Western Aloha’s latest prints: Solo Paddler. In collaboration with artist Mike Field, Western Aloha captures the beauty of a solo paddler enjoying a breezy Tahitian day on this sky-blue aloha shirt covered with billowing white clouds and textured ocean waves.

Multiple locations, westernaloha.com, @westernaloha