Kalaukī Pullover Aloha shirt

Sig Zane

This aloha shirt is by Sig Zane Designs, a company founded by Sig Zane and wife Nalani Kanakaole in 1985 in Hilo on Hawai'i Island.

Botanical prints dominate their work as the company seeks to share 'the values of the Hawaiian people through art, by honoring the plants of the islands, and providing a unique experience that is enhanced by teaching the symbolism of the Hawaiian name of the plant, and giving insight to other aspects of our lifestyle that will build upon the experience: all to express gratitude, appreciation, and compassion for allowing a life in this island environment along with the hosts of this culture.'

In hula, when dancers wear lei made from plants, they become that plant.  Sig Zane applies the same philosophy to his clothing design: 'I like to think if I dress them with certain plants, then they become an element of that'.

 Kahuna Ti for protection

This shirt features leaves from a Kahuna Ti plant, which was gifted to Sig Zane many years ago:

"Its presence and wavy edges has made it a favorite plant in our yard. We have it planted around the house and at cardinal points."

Of the plant's significance he notes:

"Green Ti leaves are an essential plant in our lives, used in the kitchen, medicinally, and especially protection. Of the native varieties, the Kahuna Ti is highly regarded for its use in ritual and ceremony. Our name for this design, Ka-lau-ki, is the long form used in the Hawaiian language. Its contracted form is ka-a'i".

Co-collecting in Hawai'i

This shirt was acquired by Te Papa during a co-collecting trip to Hawai'i in 2017 based around the aloha shirt, and associated designs. Te Papa worked with Noelle Kahanu, a cultural specialist from the University of Hawai‘i, to develop collection that reflects the ways in which Hawaiian culture has been historically represented, and misrepresented, through the aloha shirt, and the ways in which contemporary native Hawaiian designers are utilising the aloha shirt to communicate indigenous cultural values.

Te Papa’s co-collecting programmes are guided by the principle of mana taonga – the sharing authority with stakeholder communities.