Beyond Words

Dale Hope was born in Honolulu and grew up in the garment industry of Hawaii. In 1953, his father, who had been a textile salesman for one of the early suppliers of Hawaiian printed fabric, established a women's garment manufacturing company, Sun Fashions of Hawaii. While Dale was attending college in Switzerland, his father summoned him back to the Islands to join him at Sun Fashions. Dale agreed, but only if the company would expand into men's fashions. Their first shirt label, HRH-His Royal Highness, was launched in 1973.

A short time later, after his father's untimely death, Dale assumed full responsibility for both Sun Fashions and HRH. Both companies grew under Dale's direction as leaders in Hawaiian men's and women's apparel. HRH became a popular brand in Hawaii and an important vendor to many of the larger retailers in Hawaii. In 1986, Dale purchased the legendary Kahala label, one of the earliest names in the Hawaiian garment industry, and lead the resurgence in popularity of the Kahala name, generating more than $8 million in sales.

Dale has a vast amount of experience in the Hawaiian prints industry and is widely recognized as an authority on Aloha shirts. In 1987, he received the first Governor's Cup for "Hawaii Apparel Manufacturer of the Year" and is a member of the Committee of the Hawaiian Fashion Industry Association. Dale has recently been featured in such industry publications as The Surfer's Journal, Morning Calm (the in-flight magazine of Korean air), Seasons (a visitor industry publication), and he was interviewed for an in-flight video running on Japan Airlines. An avid surfer and outrigger canoe paddler, Hope is now the Art Director for Kahala and oversees the creation and manufacture of 150 new Aloha shirt designs annually.