This short-sleeved aloha shirt by Hookano is nod toward the Asian-inspired prints and fabrics that were popular in the ’30s, when tourism to Hawai‘i was booming. The patterns of these shirts depicted many different Asian symbols, from pine trees that represented long life to tigers that symbolized courage and strength. This shirt features the serene grounds of an ornate temple in the fall, surrounded by pine trees and red and orange maple leaves. Autumn is a natural dichotomy. It’s both beautiful and sad. There’s a quietness in this scene, punctuated by the bright colors of summer coming to an end.
