Debbie Martinson was an Aloha Airlines flight attendant. She recently donated her treasured collection of uniforms to the University of Hawaii, according to a news release. 

The airline operated from 1946 to 2008 before going out of business. The uniforms tell a story of the 60-year history of the airline and changing fashion trends along with the local designers and manufacturer who produced them. 

Martinson gave the collection of uniforms to UH Manoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Fashion and Design Merchandising Program, where they will be used for research and to preserve history. 

“It made sense for the UH Fashion Design and Merchandising program to maintain this collection and share the story of fashion trends and the value of branding through identity apparel,” Martinson said. 

UH will add the uniforms to its Historic Costume Collection, which already houses 10,000 items of dress from Hawaii and other places around the world. 

“The addition of the uniforms of Aloha Airlines adds a significant element to the collection and helps preserve the history of Hawaii's air travel,” said collection curator Andy Reilly of FDM. “I think everybody who has lived here during the time that it was in service has a memory of flying on Aloha Airlines and that it was so iconic and ingrained in the islands here.”

The Aloha Airlines uniform collection starts in 1946, when flight attendants wore form-fitting muumuu as they performed hula for guests. 

In the 1950s, Dior’s “New Look” collection inspired designers, with the uniforms comprising a classic suit with a pillbox hat. 

The Flower Power vibe that took over the fashion industry in the 1960s inspired Aloha Airlines’s Fun Birds uniforms in 1969. These uniforms included bell-bottom pants, miniskirts, bikini bottoms and a vinyl cape. 

In 1976, local designer Baba Kea created the Clouds in the Sky collection, featuring an orange skirt with a slight empire waistline, which had a reversible cloud print. 

Aloha Airlines introduced the Waves in Teal and Tan uniforms in 1983. These featured the obi belt look, with a splash of orange. The collection honored the company’s new flights to Guam and Taipei as the long dress style was reminiscent of uniforms worn by flight attendants for Japan Airlines and Singapore Airlines. 

Tori Richard created the airline’s last design, Banana Leafs, which was inspired by local artist Peggy Hopper.

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.