Aloha Shirt featuring the SS Lurline

A symbol of adventure and romance in the South Seas

This rayon aloha shirt, or 'silkie', features the SS Lurline, a luxury ocean liner operated by the Matson Navigation Company. Matson dominated travel in the Pacific in the first half of the 20^th century. The Lurline was one of four first class ocean liners that transported excited holiday makers from California to Honolulu from 1930s to the early 1960s - a period considered to be the golden age of Hawai’i’s travel industry.

Matson’s publicity promised passengers an ‘ocean playland … filled with South Sea adventure and romance’, even claiming that 'The Lurline is Hawaii'. 

The lei, a symbol of welcome, frames the SS Lurline in this print. The lei is recurrent motif in Matson's advertising. During this period, lei vendors would line the pier in Honolulu to welcome both malihini (visitors) and kama'aina (locals) returning home.

The trip from California to Honolulu took four and a half days. Passengers then disembarked to spend nine days in Hawai'i. Lucky passengers may have even encountered a celebrity or two on board, as the liner was popular with Hollywood stars.  

A wearable souvenir

This shirt was produced as a souvenir of the SS Lurline experience. The fabric, which was not exclusive to Surfriders, was printed in a range of colourways, including red, white and black, and could be purchased in 'His and Hers’ styles.

A change of name

In 1963 the SS Lurline was sold by Matson Lines to Chandris Lines. Refurbished and rechristened the RHMS Ellinis, she continued to cruise the Pacific, including stops in New Zealand, until the early 1980s.

Co-collecting in Hawai'i