If you’ve ever visited Hawaiʻi, chances are you’ve seen an aloha shirt. Bright colors, tropical flowers, ocean scenes, kapa-inspired patterns and island landscapes have made the aloha shirt one of Hawaiʻi’s most recognizable symbols.
But there’s much more to the aloha shirt than a colorful vacation souvenir.
This week, visitors to Maui have a chance to explore the history and artistry behind this iconic piece of island style at the “Keoni of Hawaiʻi: Art of the Aloha Shirt” exhibition at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Schaefer International Gallery. The free exhibition runs through October 3, 2026.
Meet Keoni of Hawaiʻi
At the heart of the exhibition is John “Keoni” Meigs, an artist and textile designer who helped shape the early look of the aloha shirt.
Meigs arrived in Honolulu in 1937 and initially worked as a newspaper reporter. A self-taught painter, he began creating textile designs in 1938 under the name Keoni of Hawaiʻi. His designs drew inspiration from Hawaiian subjects, including kapa patterns he studied at the Bishop Museum.
During his 13 years in Hawaiʻi, Meigs created roughly 300 aloha print designs, many of which became iconic.
The exhibition gives visitors a fascinating look at how those designs came to life. Instead of simply displaying vintage shirts, it shows the creative process through original artwork, sketches, fabric swatches, advertisements and vintage aloha shirts.
More Than a Shirt
The history of the aloha shirt is also a story about Hawaiʻi itself.
The shirt developed nearly a century ago through the work of local designers and shirtmakers, incorporating influences from Polynesian tapa, Tahitian pāreu and Japanese kimono and yukata. Its popularity grew as Hawaiʻi’s economy shifted toward tourism and hospitality in the late 1920s and 1930s.
Over time, the aloha shirt became part of everyday island life and a way to express Hawaiʻi’s landscapes, culture and sense of place.
That makes this exhibition especially fun for visitors. You aren’t simply looking at old clothing. You’re seeing how artists translated Hawaiʻi into patterns, colors and fabric.
Plan a Visit
The Schaefer International Gallery at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center is located at One Cameron Way in Kahului.
The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and also before select Castle Theater shows. Admission to the exhibition is free.
The exhibition closes October 3, so if you’re visiting Maui this week, it’s a wonderful opportunity to add a little art and history to your island adventure.
And of course, you don’t have to wait until you reach the gallery to appreciate the aloha shirt. Take a look at the shirts you see around Maui. The patterns may be flowers, waves, fish, palms or other island imagery, but each one is part of a much bigger story.
Staying in South Maui? Pick up your rental car from Kihei Rent A Car and make the drive to Kahului for the exhibition. Along the way, you can explore a few of Maui’s other favorite spots and turn a gallery visit into a full island day.
Because on Maui, even something hanging in your closet can have a story.
Get in the car. Follow the road. Discover Maui.
