This short-sleeved aloha shirt by Kamehameha depicts life in Hawai‘i in ancient times. In one scene, men wearing malo (Hawaiian loincloths) prepare 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). In another, other men sift through the day’s catch in a large throw net. And in another, the village gathers to weave ‘ahu ‘ula (Hawaiian feather cloaks), symbols of the highest rank reserved for the men of the ali‘i (chief) class. It’s a festive and lively scene, repeated throughout this shirt, making for a visually interesting and timeless design.
