An interesting name for a label, Authentic Hawaiian Print made in California! Originally perceived as an indigenous art form, unique to America's trust territory of Hawaii, these shirts took off after
US servicemen returned to Hawaii for R&R. They associated these shirts with leisure and their weekend pass to visit downtown Honolulu and the shores of Waikiki. When servicemen returned stateside wearing these shirts, they got the attention of large sportswear manufacturers from coast to coast.
Soon presidents were wearing them and Bing Crosby had his own line. Arthur Godfrey and Duke Kahanamoku promoted Hawaii and Duke's shirts that were actually made back East. Many companies and labels appeared claiming to be making authentic Hawaiian shirts even though they had nothing to do with the islands.
This company used the gesture of a lei and a stylized font to create the word Hawaiian, similar to how the name was being graphically used in Hawaii in the 1950's.
