Hawaiian T-shirts can be found in a wide variety of colors and styles. The popular design can be found in everything from $2 cotton to $100 silk. Some of the more expensive Hawaiian shirts, also considered to be the highest quality, are border Hawaiian shirts.

Border Hawaiian shirts are a luxury because so much fabric is wasted in making them. This well thought-out type of Hawaiian shirt has sleeves, sides, and hems that are identical. Pockets will usually match the shirt pattern perfectly. Some of the better border Hawaiian shirts have designs that never repeat themselves. Another unique trait of the border shirt is its length - they are generally much longer than other Hawaiian shirts in order to show off the fabric's images. Because of the purpose of their length, border Hawaiian shirts are never meant to be tucked in.

Another ""high quality mark"" of a Hawaiian T-shirt is the ""Made in Hawaii"" label. Even if a shirt is not a border shirt, the ""Made in Hawaii"" label ensures its authenticity and separates it from other cheap imitations. The label became a staple for shirts made on the island in the 1950s, when a trade commissioner from Los Angeles realized that identifying locally made Hawaiian shirts could increase their value.

Although the ""best"" Hawaiian T-shirts are considered to come from Hawaii, quality shirts with the Hawaiian design can be found in all types of stores and markets across the world.