Hawaiian Shirt Research Paper

Much of Hawaiian culture has been adopted through the migration of various peoples and their interactions with the Polynesians, the islands’ prior inhabitants. Culture refers to an ordered system of beliefs, expressive symbols, values and knowledge in terms of which groups of individuals define their world, express their feelings, make their judgments, and cope with their environment. Biology is only capable of so much therefore, humans developed culture. Simply stated, culture is learned, shared behavior. The formation of the Hawaiian culture from past to present marked by rituals and trends in attire can best be attributed to the anthropological theories known as diffusionism and symbolism (Kottak). Much of modern-day Hawaiian apparel has …show more content…
Men and boys today wear the tropically designed “Hawaiian Shirts” on a daily basis, special occasions, and a weekly tradition known as “Aloha Friday”. Although the history of these shirts dates back to the early 1900’s and were composed of imported Japanese silks, Aloha Friday is the designated day for locals to show off their most brightly patterned, favorite Hawaiian shirt modernly made from polyester, cotton, or even authentic silk. Women and girls wear the “muumuu” on Aloha Fridays. The muumuu is a long, loosely fitting, dress with short sleeves also bearing the tropical prints worn by males. Christian missionaries designed the muumuu long ago in 1820 when they arrived to the islands of Oahu and Maui to clothe the native women clad in subliminal skirts (Clothing & …show more content…
Symbols are often borrowed from nature, jewelry, and tattoo art of their previous generations. For instance, the Hibiscus is representative of delicate beauty. Females fashioning the flower behind their right ear are known to be single whereas those who wear it behind their left ear represent a woman of romantic involvement. The hula dance, performed with the most precise of posture, sets the dance apart from other forms of Polynesian dances. Each movement, gesture, expression, and article of clothing has a specific meaning in which has been passed down and taught for generations (Hula). Another common symbol in Hawaiian culture is the circle. Often this closed circle, representing infinite longevity, appears in artwork and is even featured as popular jewelry pieces. It is believed that those who idolize or sport such symbols will generate the energy associated with said symbol, keeping tradition alive through the energy and remembrance (The Meaning of Hawaiian