The 20 Best Hawaiian Shirts to Wear This Summer

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The Hawaiian shirt has a long, sometimes-checkered history wrapped up in cultural interchange, colonial pain, long artistic traditions, and so much more. We recommend you look into the longer story, because it's a genuinely fascinating one. But we'd also venture to guess you're here not for a history lesson but for some shopping advice. So, let's focus less on the academics and more on what you want to know about what a Hawaiian shirt—or aloha shirt, depending on your preferred terminology—means for your wardrobe this summer.

Hawaiian shirts are cool. Yes, they are in style. No, you do not need to look and behave like your drunkest uncle at the family BBQ to wear one. Because despite their "zinc oxide-covered tourist with a camera slung around his neck" connotations from decades past, Hawaiian shirts came roaring back onto the scene with a vengeance a few years ago and they're still going strong.

The most outlandish designs have been replaced by ones more subtle, more intricate, and more wearable than their predecessors. The fits haven't been trimmed down to #menswear slimness, but the best Hawaiian shirts on the market right now flutter in the breeze with a certain aplomb instead of billowing out like a parachute. They're light. They're interesting. And, yeah, they're cool.

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The BBQ Shirt

Of course, surfing great Kelly Slater has a selection of Hawaiian shirts, which are ideal for cookouts, luaus, and, as the name plainly implies, summer BBQs. This lightweight button-up will help kick things up a notch this summer and put some liquid smoke into your wardrobe.

Le Sirenuse

A shirt perfect for the island life, made by Tombolo, a brand that'll have everyone asking, "Where'd you get that?" This print is engineered from a commissioned work of art by Lucio Liguori, making it truly a one-of-a-kind garment.

Veracruz Cay Floral Short Sleeve Button-Up

A classic, laid-back floral button-up. It's flowy and lightweight, so it'll put you at ease instantly. Because if there's one thing Tommy Bahama does best, it's a Hawaiian shirt.

Kaza Floral Print Relaxed Fit Shirt

All Saints does the (nearly) impossible and makes a loud, beach-y print cool and chic. In this option, vivid florals stand out against a bold base, making it one that's worthy of all the attention.

Pet-Print Shirt

A twist on the classic Hawaiian shirt, this one is printed with dogs all over. We may be biased, but we think it would definitely win best in show.

Banana Leaf Cuba Terry Shirt

Made of terrycloth, this soft, comfy option is perfect for dozing on a lounge chair by the water. Just remember to put on your SPF before you snooze.

Floral Shirt

Pair this one with swim trunks or regular shorts for an instant summer vibe. Made with quick-to-dry polyester fabric, it'll keep you sweat-free all season long.

Paradise Shirt

This is the classic Hawaiian shirt look—timeless, tested, and true. It can be part of your day-to-day wardrobe (and not just a Halloween costume), and the cotton rayon fabric will keep you comfortable no matter where you wear it.

Stretch Riviera Shirt

Counting down the days until it's hot and sunny enough to wear this every damn day (we're almost there, we can fucking feel it)! Available in multiple prints, the Riviera shirt fits like a glove, and trust us, you'll want to buy it in every style.

Tropical-Print Terry Shirt

A beach scene complete with palm trees. If this doesn't instantly transport you to the Pacific, what will (probably a plane, but we're trying our best here, okay?).

Botanical Camp-Collar Shirt

The flowers on this one even work for spring, TBH. The Botanical Camp-Collar shirt is made from super-soft and breathable Tencel, which gives it a stylish drape, and it's cut with a clean, modern fit, so you'll always make an impact.

Printed Avery Viscose Shirt

Rag & Bone takes a Hawaiian shirt, adds some sharp flowers to it, and boom—even the sleekest and edgiest of dressers now have a go-to option. You're welcome.

Buzz Around Town Shirt

A Hawaiian shirt covered in espresso martinis? Sign us the fuck up. This Kenny Flowers option is incredibly soft, has a sunglass loop so you'll never lose your shades (even when you're five spressy marteens in), and will bring the party wherever you go.

Floral Terry Camp Shirt

Leave it to Polo Ralph Lauren to add some elegant, stylized appeal to a Hawaiian shirt. Currently on sale, this option is made with a lightweight cotton blend and is guaranteed to stay soft wash after wash.

Isle Floral Mens Button Up Shirt

Rhythm is a contemporary surf brand based in Australia, so when it comes to a floral fit, these guys know what they're talking about. This option is specifically created for dudes who are stoked about embracing and embodying the coastal lifestyle.

Short-Sleeve Breeze Shirt

For sun-drenched days, this shirt is crafted from a super-soft custom fabric made primarily from linen. Lightweight with a bit of stretch, its unique feel gives Faherty's signature travel-inspired prints an added natural texture.

Music For The People Shirt

Inspired by Nigerian culture, Casablanca's 'Music For The People' shirt is printed with an array of instruments and motifs borrowed from '70s vinyl records. In other words: you'll bring the vibes wherever you roam.

Aloha Shirt

Whether you're taking a trip to Hawaii (we're jealous) or are throwing your own backyard Luau (we're a little less jealous), this shirt will become your ultimate grab-and-go option.

The Windward Shirt

This style is going to become your new favorite warm-weather essential. Designed by Fair Harbor, the Windward shirt has a subtle print and modern silhouette, so you can wear it anytime, anywhere—just hopefully, it's after 5 o'clock.

Journey Shirt

This option by Roark is the perfect design for someone who never thought they’d wear a Hawaiian shirt. It has a great fit, is extremely comfortable, and is an easy pack-and-go style. So basically, you’ll become a convert in no time.

Why You Should Trust Us

We’re not going to say something is great unless it’s actually great.

Every product in Esquire’s round-ups is carefully curated by our fashion and e-commerce teams. When it comes to Hawaiian shirts, you can rest assured that we’re hand-selecting styles that we’ve personally tested, tried, and loved, along with styles that the rest of our stylish colleagues here at Esquire endorse for their own wear.

We’ve had to go through a lot of trial and error, and these Hawaiian shirts are the ones that are simply the best. Every pick on this list (and our other lists!) comes from years of wearing different things, seeing what we love and what we don’t, and going from there. No two tastes are the same, and no two men are the same. Your proverbial mileage may vary. But if you’re looking for the right place to start, with advice from folks who and care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to be.

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