Aloha Shirt vs Hawaiian Shirt: Which is the Best Fit for Your POD Store?

Aloha Shirt and Hawaiian Shirt are two types of shirts that seem similar, but have different nuances that can affect the way you design, position, and market your products in your print on demand (POD) store. Both are symbols of tropical fashion: bright, playful, and evoking a sense of relaxation and vacation.

However, if you are a POD seller looking for the right product to welcome the summer or target the tourism segment, understanding the difference between Aloha Shirt and Hawaiian Shirt will help you make better choices, from design style to sales strategy.

Therefore, Merchize will help you better understand the differences between these two types of shirts, as well as determine which shirt is more suitable for your POD store in 2025.

Aloha vs Hawaiian Shirts: What’s the Difference?

Short Comparison

Before we go into a detailed comparison of the main aspects of Aloha and Hawaiian shirts, let’s take a look at the differences between these shirts in the table below:

Origin & History

Aloha shirt was born in the 1930s, associated with the revival of Hawaii’s indigenous culture. At this time, local artisans began to make shirts from colorful fabrics, imitating the beautiful nature of the island and expressing the Aloha spirit. Aloha is a Hawaiian word meaning love, peace, and compassion. These shirts were originally made from silk, printed with landscapes, flowers, and cultural symbols that strongly reflect the local identity. More than just clothing, the Aloha shirt is also a symbol of hospitality and community pride.

In contrast, the Hawaiian shirt is a broader concept, used to refer to any type of shirt with tropical motifs, often commercialized to serve the needs of tourists. These shirts appeared in the early 20th century, mainly aimed at tourists who wanted to bring back a little memory of Hawaii. Hawaiian shirts are often mass-produced with eye-catching tropical motifs but carry little specific cultural significance.

Cultural Significance

Behind the vibrant floral motifs and tropical colors of the Aloha & Hawaiian shirt is a profound cultural story. For the Hawaiian people and surrounding communities, this is more than just a shirt. Every design, every detail on the shirt is a tribute to the natural beauty of the island, from the mountains, the ocean, to the rich ecosystem of this land.

More than just a fashion product, these shirts are a symbol of Hawaiian heritage and the Aloha spirit – a philosophy of life that emphasizes kindness, harmony, and hospitality. When someone wears this shirt, they not only express their style but also send a message: openness, love of nature, and respect for indigenous culture.

Design and Style

When it comes to Aloha and Hawaiian shirts, it is easy to get confused because both are bright, tropical, and relaxing. But if you look closely at the design, you will see that each type has its own visual language, and that directly affects how you should design if you are selling POD.

Hawaiian shirt – Playful, approachable, summery

Hawaiian shirt is one of the perfect choices for those who are looking for a dynamic, bright, and summery style. These shirts often have:

• Popular motifs such as palm trees, pineapples, surfboards, coconuts, tropical flowers, etc.
• Bright colors, pastel tones, or energetic color combinations.
• Light, humorous atmosphere – suitable for trendy graphic design, pet prints, funny quotes, or popular beachwear designs.

This shirt is a great choice for seasonal POD campaigns (summer, travel, beach party…), easy to approach and flexible to customize with many customers.

Aloha Shirt – Deep, cultural, storytelling

In contrast to the easy-to-commercialize nature of Hawaiian shirt, Aloha shirt has a strong Hawaiian identity. Aloha designs often have:

• Motifs with deep cultural depth, such as Mauna Loa volcano, traditional rituals, Hula dancers, ukuleles, tiki, or native festival motifs.
• Visual storytelling style – each shirt can be likened to a miniature Hawaiian scene.
• Bold color tones, dense layouts, and intentional designs.

Aloha Shirt is often suitable for customers who love indigenous culture, like soulful products, and is a good choice for POD stores specializing in retro, vintage, or local identity.

Material and Comfort

One of the most important factors that make aloha and Hawaiian shirts so appealing is the comfort they provide, and that comes from the fabric. These tropical shirts are not only eye-catching in design, but also come in a variety of materials, giving both the wearer and the POD seller plenty of options.

Silk – Traditional, Luxurious Material

Originally, Aloha and Hawaiian shirts were made from silk, a light, soft fabric that gives an elegant look and a comfortable feeling in summer. This shirt is often worn on special occasions or formal events, a suitable choice for customers who love luxury and distinction.

Cotton – Popular, easy to wear, and care for

Over time, cotton has become the top choice for Hawaiian and aloha shirts with its softness, breathability, and ease of care. In summer weather, cotton helps the wearer always feel cool. In addition, cotton is very durable and not too picky about washing and ironing, so it is easy to use every day. This is a big plus for POD products aimed at the majority of users.

Rayon – Elegant like silk, with affordable

Rayon is a semi-synthetic material, soft and light with a natural drape like silk, but with lower production costs. For those who want to create a high-end feel while still optimizing production budget, rayon shirts are a worthy choice. This fabric is favored by many tropical fashion brands because easy to print patterns and holds color well.

Blended Fabrics – Balancing aesthetics and convenience

In addition, many Aloha and Hawaiian shirts are also made from blended fabrics (usually cotton and rayon). This fabric combines softness, coolness with wrinkle resistance, ideal for travelers or people who like an active lifestyle. For POD sellers, blended materials help you create highly practical products while still maintaining fashion.

Fashion Trends and Customer Behavior

Aloha and Hawaiian shirts are a symbol of comfort, freedom, and the Hawaiian spirit. These shirts have come a long way in the fashion world, from wartime to family vacations, to red carpets and high-fashion runways.

Today, they are not only a holiday staple but also a staple in both casual and formal wear. Aloha and Hawaiian shirts are no longer just casual beachwear; they are now worn at events, festivals, and even formal occasions as statements of style, confidence, and individuality.

This explosion is largely due to celebrities, fashion icons, and influencers. They have taken these vibrant shirts from the beach to the red carpet, from streetwear to the music stage. It isn’t difficult to see stars wearing oversized Hawaiian shirts mixed with dress pants, or Aloha shirts combined with blazers. These things are proof of the unlimited transformation of this shirt style.

In addition, major fashion designers and international catwalks have repeatedly brought Aloha shirts back into the spotlight, refreshing them with modern materials, shapes, and patterns. This helps the shirts fit the popular retro, Y2K, and tropical fashion trends.

Which One Should You Sell on POD Store?

Choosing between Aloha shirts and Hawaiian shirts for your POD store depends largely on your target audience, brand direction, and design strategy.

Sell Hawaiian Shirts if:

• You’re targeting seasonal shoppers looking for fun, vacation-ready apparel.
• Your designs are centered around humor, beach vibes, travel, pets, or summer-themed graphics.
• You want a product that’s versatile, easy to customize, and works well in mass appeal markets.
• You’re planning marketing campaigns for events like Father’s Day, summer holidays, or festival wear.

Hawaiian shirts are ideal for scalable POD campaigns. Their bold, playful aesthetic makes them perfect for impulse buyers or people looking for quirky gifts.

Sell Aloha Shirts if:

• You’re catering to a niche audience that appreciates culture, storytelling, and meaningful art.
• Your brand leans into heritage, vintage, or location-based themes.
• You want to offer designs that stand out with authenticity and cultural relevance.
• You’re creating a premium collection that values design depth over mass appeal.

Aloha shirts aren’t just fashion, they’re wearable storytelling. For POD sellers with a creative or artistic edge, this is your playground.

Pro Tip: Why Not Offer Both?

You don’t have to choose one over the other. Many successful POD stores create two separate collections:

• A “Hawaiian Fun” line: Bright, humorous, perfect for summer buyers.
• A “Aloha Heritage” line: Elegant, cultural, meaningful for niche collectors and retro lovers.

By diversifying your product lines, you can reach more customer segments and increase your chances of success in both trend-driven and evergreen niches.

Sell Hawaiian Shirts with Merchize

If you are planning to launch a Hawaiian Shirt product line for your print on demand store this summer but have not found a reliable fulfillment partner, don’t worry – Merchize is the solution you are looking for! Hawaiian Shirt is one of the featured product lines at Merchize, featuring a variety of designs, materials, and production sources, ready to meet all the business needs of POD sellers from all over the world. Currently, Merchize offers up to 8 Hawaiian Shirt models, including:

• All-over Print Short-sleeve Hawaiian Shirt
• All-over Print Regular Fit Hawaiian Shirt
• All-over Print Hawaiian Shirt (Made in EU)
• All-over Print Pocket Hawaiian Shirt
• All-over Print Pocket Regular Fit Hawaiian Shirt
• All-over Print Hawaiian Shirt (Made in China)
• Hawaiian Set
• All-over Print Comfort Short-sleeve Hawaiian Shirt

With many options for materials (cotton, rayon, silk …), designs (regular fit, comfort fit, with pockets …), and origins (Vietnam, EU, China), you can completely choose the product that best suits your target market, brand positioning, and pricing strategy. 

Don’t miss the opportunity to increase your revenue this summer with colorful Hawaiian shirts – and let Merchize accompany you on your POD business journey!

FAQs

1. What is the main difference between Aloha shirt and Hawaiian shirt?

The core difference between Aloha shirts and Hawaiian shirts lies in the depth of design and cultural significance. Both are distinctly tropical in style, but Aloha shirts often feature intricate, symbolic patterns that reflect Hawaiian stories, rituals, and heritage. Meanwhile, Hawaiian shirts tend to use more common tropical patterns that are decorative and entertaining, not necessarily tied to indigenous culture.

2. What kind of shirts should I choose to sell for my POD store?

This depends on your target market. If you are targeting customers who love culture, indigenous products with depth, choose Aloha shirts. If you are targeting a larger market, summer vibe, beachwear, or fun graphic, then Hawaiian shirts will be more accessible and easier to sell.

3. What are the common materials for Aloha and Hawaiian shirts?

Common materials include silk (luxurious, soft), cotton (breathable, durable), rayon (light, smooth), and blends. Let’s choose the appropriate material depending on the intended use and the market you are targeting.