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

"What shirt is this," "is this vintage," "how much is this worth." These questions show up again and again in the searches that bring people to our site. Somebody spotted a shirt on TV, in an old family photo, or at a thrift store, and wants to know what it is. Good news. Aloha shirts are one of the easier garments to trace, because the prints are distinctive and the old labels are loaded with clues.

How do I find a Hawaiian shirt from a picture?

1. Open Google Lens. It's in the Google app, and in Chrome and Google Photos on most phones. Point it at the photo or pick the image from your camera roll.
2. Crop to the print only. Drag the selection box so it covers just the shirt, not the person's face or the background. This makes a huge difference.
3. Add words. Type "aloha shirt" or "Hawaiian shirt" plus anything you can see: "rayon," "parrots," "orchid," the show's name.
4. Check a few results, not just the first. The same print is often sold by several stores, and reproductions of old prints show up alongside the originals.

Still stuck? Try a second photo from a different angle. Lens matches prints, and a folded sleeve can hide the part that matters.

What shirt did Tom Selleck wear on Magnum P.I.?

This is probably the single most searched "what shirt is this" in our world. The jungle-bird print Tom Selleck wore on Magnum, P.I. was made by Paradise Found, and several of the show's prints are still made today. We carry them in our Magnum P.I. collection, including the Star Orchid.

100% rayon · Paradise Found

Star Orchid Magnum P.I. Shirt

One of the prints worn on the show, still made today.

From $57.99See the shirt

How can you tell if a Hawaiian shirt is vintage?

Start at the collar and work down. Each detail below narrows the date.

The "T.H." clue is the strongest one. Hawaii became a state on August 21, 1959, and territorial labels stopped after that. A shirt reading "Honolulu, T.H." is at least that old, full stop.

Care tags help too, just in reverse. Standardized washing instructions only became common on US clothing in the 1970s, so a shirt with a detailed care tag is almost certainly newer than that. And a matched pocket, where the print lines up so the pocket nearly disappears, tells you the maker took care, though good modern shirts do this too. Our RJC rayon shirts, for example, are made with matched pockets.

Which vintage Hawaiian shirt labels are most collectible?

Collectors tend to chase the golden-era makers from the 1930s to the 1950s: Kamehameha, Shaheen's, Kahala, Duke Kahanamoku and Royal Hawaiian. A label from one of those, in rayon, with a T.H. address, is the kind of shirt worth getting a second opinion on. We wrote a longer rundown in the Hawaiian shirt brands to know.

How much is my vintage Hawaiian shirt worth?

Honestly, it depends on four things: the label, the age, the print and the condition. Size matters a little too, since large vintage sizes are scarce. A mid-century rayon shirt from a top label in clean condition can be worth real money. A 1990s polyester souvenir shirt usually isn't, no matter how fun the print.

The most useful thing you can do: search eBay for the same label and a similar print, then filter to sold listings. Asking prices tell you what people hope for. Sold prices tell you what the market pays. For anything that looks like a genuine T.H.-era piece, talk to a vintage clothing dealer or an auction house before you sell. We're a working Hawaii clothing store, not appraisers, and we'd rather point you to the right person than guess.

Can I buy a new version of a vintage print?

Yes. Paradise Found makes shirts in the Kamehameha tradition, reproducing classic prints in rayon. If you love the look but don't want to hunt thrift stores or pay collector prices, that's the way in.

100% Fujiette rayon · Paradise Found

Pineapples Original Kamehameha Shirt

The classic pineapple print in the Kamehameha style.

$148.00Shop vintage styles

Frequently asked questions

How old is my Hawaiian shirt?

Read the label first. "T.H." or "Territory of Hawaii" means before August 1959. No care tag suggests before the 1970s. A reverse print suggests the 1960s or later. Plastic buttons and polyester usually mean newer.

Who makes the best Hawaiian shirts?

For vintage, collectors favor Kamehameha, Shaheen's, Kahala and Duke Kahanamoku. For new shirts made in Hawaii, look at makers like Paradise Found, RJC and Pacific Legend, and check the label says Made in Hawaii.

Is a reproduction worth buying?

If you want the look to wear, yes. You get the print without the fragility or collector pricing of a 70-year-old shirt.

Can I find a shirt from a TV show or movie?

Usually. Use Google Lens on a clear screenshot, crop to the print, and add the show's name to your search. Fan sites and costume forums have often tracked it down already.