Updated October 2026 · By the AlohaClothes team, a family-owned shop on Maui since 1998

Most "best Hawaiian shirts" lists come from fashion sites, and they're mostly mall and designer brands. Some of those shirts look great. Few of them are made in Hawaii, and the lists rarely say. We sell aloha shirts every day from our shop on Maui, so this list works differently. Every pick is made in Hawaii (we flag the one exception), and every price and size comes straight from our own catalog.

Our picks at a glance

How we picked

We started with the things we check on every shirt that comes through the shop, then added one thing a magazine can't: what our customers actually buy.

• Where it's made. A Made in Hawaii label and a maker you can name. Hawaii law only allows that label when at least 51% of a product's wholesale value is added in the state (HRS §486-119).
• Fabric. 100% rayon or 100% cotton. Polyester doesn't breathe in Hawaii humidity.
• Construction. A matched pocket, where the print lines up so the pocket nearly disappears, and coconut shell or wood buttons.
• Size range. A great shirt that stops at XL isn't great for a lot of people. Every men's pick here goes to at least 3X.
• Sales. Units sold on AlohaClothes.com from October 2025 to September 2026. Online sales only; our Maui showroom isn't counted.

Best overall: Paradise Found Jungle Bird

100% rayon · made in Hawaii · S to 6X

Jungle Bird Men's Rayon Shirt (Magnum P.I.)

Red or black. Matches the women's Jungle Bird camp shirt.

From $85.99See the shirt

This is the shirt from Magnum, P.I., and it was our best-selling men's shirt online over the last 12 months by a wide margin, almost twice the units of the next shirt on the list. People come for the TV history. They come back because it's a genuinely well-made shirt: soft rayon that drapes and moves, made in Hawaii, with a size run all the way to 6X. That last part matters more than you'd think. A lot of the guys who want this shirt aren't a medium.

Skip it if you want something you can throw in the washer. Rayon needs a cold hand wash or the dry cleaner, and it can't go in the dryer.

Best classic cotton shirt: RJC Original Classic Hibiscus

100% cotton · made in Hawaii by RJC · S to 5X

Original Classic Hibiscus Men's Shirt

Royal blue, red or navy. Matched pocket, coconut buttons.

From $53.99See the shirt

If you picture "Hawaiian shirt" and see big white hibiscus on a bright background, this is the one you're picturing. RJC has made aloha wear in Hawaii since 1953, and this is their most famous print. It's cotton, so it machine washes cold and holds its shape, and it fits true to size with a relaxed cut. The same print comes in women's, kids' and baby sizes, so it's the easiest print we carry for matching a whole family.

Skip it if you want something nobody else at the luau will be wearing. It's a classic for a reason, and that reason is popularity.

Best handmade shirt: Pacific Legend Bird of Paradise Plumeria

100% cotton · handmade in Hawaii · S to 4X

Pacific Legend Bird of Paradise Plumeria

Cream or black. A luau shirt that also works at dinner afterward.

From $54.99See the shirt

Pacific Legend shirts are handmade in Hawaii in cotton, and for the price, the construction is hard to beat. The print here pairs two very different flowers (the spiky bird of paradise and soft plumeria) on a dark or cream ground, so it reads dressier than a bright floral. It's our pick when someone wants one shirt that covers a luau, a nice dinner and a flight home.

Skip it if you need bigger than 4X. Jump to the Jungle Bird (6X) or our big and tall pick.

Best rayon shirt under $70: Two Palms Hawaiian Orchid

100% rayon · made in Hawaii · S to 4X

Two Palms Hawaiian Orchid

Red, navy or white.

From $63.99See the shirt

You want the drape of rayon, but $86 is more than you planned to spend. This is the answer. Two Palms makes soft, light rayon shirts in Hawaii, and the orchid print is a safe bet for weddings and work as much as for the beach.

Skip it if you'll be washing it often. Same rayon rules apply: cold, gentle, never the dryer.

Best for a Hawaiian wedding: RJC Classic Hibiscus Wedding White

100% cotton · made in Hawaii by RJC · S to 5X

Classic Hibiscus Wedding White Shirt

White-on-white hibiscus. Matching ring bearer sets and flower girl dresses.

From $61.99See the shirt

Grooms and groomsmen here wear "wedding white": a white aloha shirt with a white print, usually with white or khaki pants. This is the standard version, and because it runs S to 5X, the whole wedding party can wear the same shirt. Our aloha attire guide covers what guests should wear.

Skip it if you're a guest. Guests usually wear color, and it's polite to check with the couple before wearing white.

Best if you don't want flowers: Classic Paniolo Palaka

100% cotton · made in Hawaii · S to 3X

Men's Classic Paniolo Palaka Shirt

Nine colors, from royal blue to brown.

From $95.99See the shirt

Palaka is a sturdy plaid cotton that plantation workers and paniolo (Hawaiian cowboys) adopted as a work shirt in the 1800s. Locals still wear it, and it's about as Hawaiian as a shirt gets without a single flower on it. Good pick for the guy who says he "doesn't do Hawaiian shirts."

Skip it if you're shopping for a luau theme. Palaka is understated, and next to a table of hibiscus it can read as a regular plaid shirt.

Best for big and tall: Go Barefoot Land of Aloha

Cotton/rayon blend · made to order in the USA

Go Barefoot Land of Aloha, Big or Tall

2X to 6X Big, or Large to 4X Tall. Blue or purple.

From $93.00See the shirt

This is the one exception to the made-in-Hawaii rule, and it's here on purpose. Extended sizes like 3X or 4X are the regular pattern made bigger. Go Barefoot cuts big and tall as separate patterns: Big adds room through the chest and belly, Tall adds length to the body and sleeves. If regular sizes ride up on you or pull across the middle, that difference is the whole point. It's made to order in the USA in a 55% cotton, 45% rayon blend.

Skip it if a regular 5X or 6X fits you fine. The Jungle Bird and Classic Hibiscus are made in Hawaii and cost less.

Best for women: RJC Pineapple Hibiscus Camp Shirt

100% cotton · made in Hawaii by RJC · XS to 3X Plus

Pineapple Hibiscus Women's Camp Shirt

Black, slate blue or red. Side slits and bamboo buttons.

From $50.99See the shirt

A women's camp shirt is cut for women's shoulders, which a men's shirt in a small size never is. This one is relaxed, cotton, machine washable, and it runs up to 3X Plus. Our women's Hawaiian shirt guide compares camp shirts with fitted and sleeveless blouses.

Skip it if you want a shaped fit. Look at a fitted blouse instead.

What makes a Hawaiian shirt worth the money?

A shirt from a mall brand can cost the same as a made-in-Hawaii shirt, so price alone doesn't tell you much. Turn the shirt over and look at three things. The label should say Made in Hawaii and name a maker. The fabric should be 100% rayon or 100% cotton. And the pocket should line up with the print. Matching a pocket takes extra fabric and extra cutting time, so factories cutting corners skip it first. Our guide to buying an authentic Hawaiian shirt has the full checklist.

Rayon or cotton: which is better?

Rayon is softer, lighter and drapes better, which is why the dressier shirts on this list are rayon. Cotton is easier: it goes in the washer on a cold gentle cycle and holds its shape. If you're buying one shirt and wearing it a lot, buy cotton. If you're buying it for a wedding or for the look, buy rayon. Our care guide covers washing both without shrinking them.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Hawaiian shirt brand?

For shirts made in Hawaii, we'd point you to RJC for classic cotton prints, Paradise Found for rayon and the Magnum P.I. shirts, Pacific Legend for handmade cotton, and Two Palms for soft rayon. For the history of the collectible labels, see the Hawaiian shirt brands to know.

What is the most famous Hawaiian shirt?

The red Jungle Bird shirt Tom Selleck wore on Magnum, P.I. is one of the most recognizable. Paradise Found still makes it in Hawaii, in red or black.

How much should a good Hawaiian shirt cost?

At our shop, most made-in-Hawaii men's cotton shirts start between $54 and $63, and most rayon shirts start between $61 and $90. Much cheaper usually means polyester and an overseas factory.

Where can I buy these shirts in person?

At our MauiShirts showroom at 66 Wailani St in Wailuku, Maui. Appointments are preferred; see where to buy authentic Hawaiian shirts for hours and booking.

Do Hawaiian shirts run big?

They're cut relaxed on purpose, but they should still fit at the shoulders. Check the chest measurement on the size chart rather than going by the letter size.