Manu-o-ku & Hau Tree Blue Women\'s Kimono Sleeve Aloha Shirt by David Shepard

THE STORY BEHIND THE HAND-DRAWN DESIGN

A past Hawai’i echoes with visions of a future one. Manu-o-kū birds soar, nest, and fish amongst the coastal flowering Hawaiian hau trees. The hau flowers last only a single day each, going from yellow at dawn to orange and red as the day ends.The manu-o-kū, also known as the white tern, holds deep cultural and ecological significance to Hawai’i. When seen out at sea, these graceful birds are natural indicators to seafarers that land is near. Skilled fishers, the manu-o-kū go out to sea in the mornings to fish and return to shore in the evenings.  Once rare in Hawai’i, except in the remote northwestern Hawaiian Islands, the manu-o-kū\'s comeback in the 1970s in urban Honolulu is a testament to dedicated community conservation efforts, while echoing the timeline of the Hawaiian cultural renaissance. Honolulu has implemented measures to protect the hau trees from disturbance, where manu-o-kū are actively nesting,  marking them with a blue ribbon around the trunks.

PRODUCT SPECS

• 96% polyester and 4% elastane premium blend


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  Fabric is smooth, lightweight, and durable
  


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  Real coconut buttons
  


• Print-matched left chest pocket


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  Button-down shirt plus button on the back of the collar
  


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  Limited quantity print
  


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  Designed, cut, and sewn in Hawai‘i on imported fabric
  


• Fabric prints are hand-drawn