Why "Aloha Friday???"

Have you ever wondered why we have casual Friday? Do you wear jeans to the office on Friday? Do you lighten your work load in preparation for the weekend? I know I do... And here is why:

Back in 1946, when the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce first considered the wearing of aloha shirts during the summer months, the business community was still of a missionary mindset: Never mind how hot it is, a proper businessman wears a suit and tie.

However, the City and County of Honolulu - and later territorial government offices - employees felt very different. In Hawai'i, life is meant to be celebrated with one's ohana (family or tribe) and weekends are cherished down time meant for relaxation and enjoyment. These early pioneers of Human Resources began to allow employees to wear sport shirts from June through October yearly and "Aloha" shirts were allowed only during Aloha Week each fall.

Fast forward to the early ‘60s, and then designers had creatively designed button-up collard "business-like" work shirts in dignified, subdued designs. When many clothing manufacturers’ banded together, they formed a group to launch the first ever Public Relations campaign to institute "Aloha Friday." And the tradition was born... It officially began in 1966 when Wilson P. Cannon, Jr. - a Maui boy who was president of the Bank of Hawai‘i - started wearing "Aloha" shirts to the office on Friday's as a way of celebrating his village traditions of honoring the weekend. #TrueStory

Today, most all Hawaiian companies have adopted the #HumanResources policy and allow their employees to “dress down” on the last day of the workweek – on Aloha Friday. And the concept of Aloha Friday spread even to the Mainland - as a result of #Tourism - as “casual Friday,” and in some places in corporate America the trend has moved to wearing Hawaiian-style shirts or dresses in the workplace.

A local singer, Kimo Kahoano, recorded a song called ?? "Aloha Friday." And more than two decades after its release, Islanders and vacationers still sing ?? along to the cheerful tune that begins, “It’s Aloha Friday, no work till Monday,” and many - including me - celebrate the end of the work week with a Pa'u Hana (pronounced "pow hana," it is a Hawaiian phrase literally meaning, "finished work") drink (with or without alcohol), family and good friends, and a whole lot of talkin' story. #ThisIsAloha #IntentionalLiving

Today, aloha shirts and dresses are everyday business wear, but knowing that it’s Aloha Friday still gives Islanders - and weekend warriors - a little head start on the freedom of the weekend. From me to you... Happy Aloha Friday, Mate!!! ??????  #CarpeThatDiem

#happyalohafriday #AlohaVibes #ThisIsAloha#LiveYourAloha #learn2loveYOU  #MySweetestAloha #IntentionalAloha #aloha #quoteoftheday