This short-sleeved aloha shirt by Kamehameha depicts life in Hawai‘i in ancient times, as created by celebrated muralist Eugene Savage, who painted a series of island-style paintings. This is part of a seven-color reproduction of Savage’s painting, “Island Feast.”
This looks like the start of a traditional lūʻau, a feast or party. A man wearing a malo (Hawaiian loincloth) uses a carrying pole to transport gourds. Another man prepares the kalo (taro) by pounding it into pa‘i‘ai on a papa ku‘i ‘ai (poi-pounding boards) with pōhaku kuʻi ʻai (food-pounding stones). Another brings a bounty of fish caught from the ocean and a group of mu‘umu‘u-wearing women carry tropical fruits and flowers. It’s a festive and lively scene, repeated throughout this shirt, making for a visually interesting and timeless design.
