OUR FAVORITE MENSWEAR BRANDS & BOUTIQUES IN HAWAII
Between the heat and the waves, men’s fashion in Hawaii is decidedly paired down. Most days, board shorts, a T-shirt and slippers will do (in fact, the latter two are optional). Aloha attire covers any other scenario. However, a crop of local designers and boutiques are giving guys a fresh, stylish take on island wear. We’ve rounded up our favorites below.
Our go-to for the men in our lives is Salvage Public. Despite being coveted by every girlfriend on the island, the brand sticks to menswear with a line of clean and sporty surf-inspired clothing. The founding Hawaiian trio, brothers Noah and Joseph Serrao, and Napali Souza, infuse pieces with true Hawaiian culture (not appropriated slogans). Plus, they do so with a modern cut and aesthetic that make it both incredibly stylish—they’ve drawn a loyal Japanese following for their more fashion-forward pieces—and sentimental for locals. Visit their store in the South Shore Market in Kaka’ako, or their outpost in the ‘Alohilani Resort.
Looking for classic aloha shirts for the modern man? Look no further than Roberta Oaks, our favorite local designer for this Hawaiian staple. Roberta transformed the ubiquitous Hawaii businessman attire into something hipper, thanks to her signature tailored fit. Prints range from the classic subdued inside-out florals, to loud ‘80s brights, to limited-edition vintage textiles. Her cool Chinatown boutique also carries an assortment of aloha-print and palaka ties and bowties for all those dapper dudes, too.
Oliver, a men’s boutique in Kailua, opened in 2012 next to Olive, its womenswear counterpart owned by a husband-and-wife duo. The cozy boutique, located on a side street in Kailua, carries coveted Hawaiiana decor, vintage items, and surf-inspired basics from cult labels available nowhere else on the island. Think aloha shirts by Far Afield and board shorts by Saturdays. Hit up their outpost townside, Olive & Oliver, in the Surfjack Hotel for a selection of their best sellers (and a great cup of coffee).
Ever since opening a showroom alongside partner and fellow designer JaxSea at the Andaz in Wailea, Billy Aloha has taken Maui by storm. Founder Billy Taylor combined his good Australian fashion sense and love of punk rock, creating a line of menswear inspired by the tropics, but with clean, modern lines. He describes the brand as “Hollywood on vacation.” Cool logo tees and loose button-downs have a decidedly rock-and-roll edge that go beyond the alohawear boardrooms of Hawaii—they’re actually wearable stateside, which is why he’s drawn a loyal following from locals and visitors alike.
No trip to the Garden Isle is complete without a stop at chic boutique Shipwrecked Kauai in old Kapa’a town. Thankfully, they have mens section big enough to keep your boyfriend occupied with logo and tie-dyed hemp T-shirts, a selection of our favorite Banks Journal board shorts, and sunnies by Valley Eyewear.