Aloha Shirts?

The latest 2012 stamps announced today (08/26/2011):



It gets me wondering: Do we really need stamps featuring Aloha Shirts?

I could see it if the stamps would depict various Hawaiian things, but with no reference whatsoever to Hawaii on the stamps, it seems a rather unimportant subject when considering all of the worthy people, places and things that could more appropriately be depicted on stamps.

What do you think?

(Note: I just realized these are not the "Forever" stamps but are 29-cent post card rate stamps. So maybe the intent is that people will use them on picture post cards being sent from Hawaii or other vacation destinations.)

I hate 'em

I would much rather see something in a historically significant context, but I guess I'm in the minority.

What is someone's aloha shirt in Hawaii is another's bula shirt in Fiji - agree with you KirkS - there must better topics that could be used for Hawaii

Having said the above I do own a couple of over the top aloha/bula shirts that my good lady keeps trying to consign to the bin

OK I see both sides of the argument -
On the one hand, there are definitely more social and historically significant themes that could have been chosen -
On the other hand... Anything that makes folk notice the postage stamps that they are using every day by making them humourous or eye catching can't be a bad thing, can it?
That's the balanced view

Perhaps it is less hassle to print pretty pictures than to navigate the reefs and shoals of political correctness and decide what national events/topics/issues should appear on the nationas postage stamps.
That's the cynical view.

JMO but, just more labels coming out of the Post Office! This again shows why I stopped collecting new postage. UGLY!

Art

Rather have something historical.

Love the wikipedia reference -- my objection to these particular stamps is that there must be "vintage", "traditional", "historical" designs they could have used, and then they could have put a couple of words on, explaining them - a date when the design came into use, who wore it, or something. The wiki link has a photo of a vintage design and says:

"They have a loyal following, with vintage Hawaiian shirts sometimes being sold for thousands of dollars."

Someone could have researched the auction houses and found us something historical and beautiful. And if these shirts on the stamps *are* historical, they should be telling us so.

Don Ho ring any bells?? Think he could be the founding aloha shirt founder. If I recall these designed shirts were made for tourist and most native Hawaiians wouldn't be caught dead in one. BOOK EM DANO!!

"Do we really need stamps featuring Aloha Shirts?"

No, we don't need stamps featuring anything other than denomination. The USPS knows that there are millions of loyal collectors out there who will go out and buy every single stamp they release. It's just their way to get money. (But I can't really blame them, considering how much money they *don't* have...)

Well, I suppose I could focus on the Aloha Greeting and put the stamp in the context of the other "greeting" stamps that have been issued. I suppose the "Howdy", "HiYall" and "Yo" stamps will soon follow in a series.

I would rather have a good lei

bobgggg, that is too funny.

KirkS, I am in that same minority with you. I don't particularly care for the aloha shirt stamps. Having said that, though, if you look back at the history of US stamps, it appears that almost all significant events in our history have been pretty much covered.

I wonder if any back room deals have been made with the Pixar stamps. It wouldn't surprise me.

Another reason why I do not collect new issues.

I actually started laughing out loud when I saw them, thought they looked ridiculous.