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By Ken Ige , Star-Bulletin
Jenny Joseph bought this shirt at the swap meet for
$10. She likes her shirts to be a bit off
from the mainstream.

Besides, they make for a
great company uniform

Aloha shirt always in fashion
Gov says: Aloha Shirt Y2K-OK

By Cynthia Oi
Star-Bulletin

Jenny Joseph has to wear an aloha shirt to work every day and she has only herself to blame -- or thank.

Joseph works the Honolulu Coffee Co. kiosk at Tamarind Square and an aloha shirt and khaki shorts are mandatory.

"We used to have to wear a white shirt with our shorts," she explained. But one Friday, bored with the bland, she put on an aloha shirt.

She told her bosses that because of the company's name and location, aloha shirts made more sense.

"They said yes, OK," she said with a big grin.

Few women wear aloha shirts unless it is a uniform with a tourist-related company. But Joseph finds them expressive.

Her lavender palaka with an overlaid print of hibiscus suits her coloring, said her friend, Valerie Mariano.

"She picks ones that are really feminine," Mariano said.

Joseph doesn't shop specifically for aloha shirts, "but if one catches your eye and it's a good price, you get it."

The lavender one was a bargain, Joseph said. "It was 10 bucks. You can get two for $20 at the swap meet. Ross also has some for $5.99 sometimes."

While bargains are a good thing, she likes shirts that are original. "You don't want one that everyone else has."

Joseph wears the shirts off the job, too.

"I wear a tank top and shorts and throw an aloha shirt over, in case it gets cold."

It's an only-in-Hawaii thing -- an aloha shirt to keep you warm.

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