The renowned sportswear manufacturer Kahala was founded 1936 when a French man, George Brangier and Nat Norfleet Sr. from Los Angeles, California combined their skills and names to create their parent company, Branfleet.
Norfleet was once quoted, "We began like everybody else in the business, not with a pair of shoestrings, but with one shoestring between us". Their first shirts were inspired by silk kimono cloth shirts sold at the 1932 Olympics in Japan.
They sold their original collection at a stand on Waikiki beach that also sold coconut milk and pineapple juice. Eventually, their now prestigious and collectable "The Kahala"
red labeled shirts were sold at leading stores in Honolulu.
