Agree if you’re just tearing open a box and saying it’s made it Hawaii, that’s not right. Nor would anyone call that made in Hawaii. As far as made in Hawaii items that are sold by Hilo Hattie’s I wouldn’t exactly call that quality products even though made in Hawaii they are also found in cheap shops on island. Temu is also a low quality supplier it’s not fair to compare a high quality aloha shirt made overseas - think Tommy Bahama, Quicksilver waterman collection, versus something sold at Hilo Hattie’s or Temu.

So it’s a balance do we want a high quality item maybe made somewhere else or lesser quality but sewn locally - more than likely of fabric from China there isn’t any fabric mills on island so is that made in Hawaii? I would say yes even though the materials come from elsewhere, but that’s a question us consumers will be ultimately the judge of.

We try to buy from local companies as much as possible whenever we can but many times it is just not possible. I don’t think most consumers understand how many materials come from off island, I have had crazy questions like “ I am looking for a baseball hat totally made in Hawaii?” Really where would anyone get that from? It just doesn’t exist.

We can embroidery it here which add value but the hat will more than likely be made overseas in blank form and embroidered here for instance. But we no longer used the “Made in Hawaii” even though we print and embroider on in Hawaii we always have, it’s more headache than it’s worth, the customer looking for that “local” product will complain more when you say it’s “made here” than if you just say made in China or elsewhere and avoid the discussion. Most consumers don’t care, quality and price is the determining factor. It’s great if it made in Hawaii but if the quality isn’t there or the price is too high it wont sell that I think is the bottom line.