The Vintage T-Shirts Expedition

Time flies. It’s already been over a month since our scouts were on Oahu looking for the top landmark establishments on the island. Until recently, our Hawaiian t-shirt collection has been predominantly from Kona on the Big Island. But our scouts finally had time to do a little island hopping, and we’re slowly rolling out the new designs.

Our latest additions include: Honolulu Scuba Co., Matsumoto Shave Ice, Like Like Drive Inn.

And coming soon to a t-shirt near you:

• Kualoa Ranch
• Rainbow Drive-In
• Waiola Shave Ice
• Lulu’s Waikiki Surf Club

After years of faithful service, our Outfitter Dept. has reluctantly listed Expedition Vehicle No. 1 on ebay. It’s usefulness has expired as gas prices have leveled off at unobtainium, and guilt over greenhouse gas emissions has rendered our scouts incapable of driving the old tank. Ah well, we’ll miss you “Sandcruiser”. We wish you the best in your new life (hopefully, in some collector’s barn). Win this patina-red 1986 Landcruiser FJ60 on ebay and guess what? We’ll send you (5) t-shirts of your choice as part of the deal!

As our t-shirt scouts head into some new terriotory in the coming weeks and months, Arizona and Kauai in the current and near term, I’ve been on the lookout for resources to help plan their missions. Finding places that locals love and patronize can sometimes be a challenge, particularly if they’re off the beaten path, but not anymore…

Tripadvisor has frequently been a top source of research for us, but now that we’ve ventured into their forums there’s no turning back. I posted a request for suggestions before we head over to Kauai in a couple weeks, and the response has been phenomenal. Check out all of the cool t-shirt ideas these knowlegeable locals threw out there for us.

We’re sending out the t-shirt scouts again, and this time they’re off to Arizona. Matt and Co. are currently en route to Flagstaff, and I’ve been compiling a list of cool places for them to visit. Naturally, we always welcome suggestions. So, if you know of any cool locally-owned places in Flagstaff, or anywhere in The Grand Canyon State for that matter, please leave us a comment and fill us in…

The guys will be checking out out this handful of locally-loved establishments in the next day or two:

• Beaver St. Brewery - award-winning beer, popular spot, great food and a cool t-shirt already for sale.
• Macy’s European Coffeehouse - great logo and a wildly popular Ultimate Cup T-Shirt!
• Charley’s Pub - in the ground floor of The Weatherford Hotel, live local music and great snacks.
• Monte Vista Cocktail Lounge - renowned local spot said to draw folks from all walks, live music and pool.
• Kathy’s Café - super-poular quality breakfast spot, and everyone raves about their cinnamon rolls and coffee.

Let us know if there are other spots we need to check out!

With a couple hours to kill before hopping on his plane bound for the mainland, Matt stopped in to check out the Hawaiian Lifeguard Surf Instructors head quarters. He was fortunate to meet much of the family behind the operation, and Rick, the owner, pulled in just in time to seal the deal.

What better way to learn to surf than from this group of super-cool, laid-back lifeguards…

These lifeguard t-shirts are going to look great up on the wall in the Kona Store.

Fishing boat t-shirts have been selling like crazy at the Kona store. So, Matt spent some time at Honokohau Harbor today, talking story with the fishermen and signing up a couple more fishing boats: Alibi and Reel Class Sport Fishing. We hear he scored some fresh ono too, lucky bastard.

After all that excitement, Matt headed over to talk with his new buddy Uncle Bo from Kai’Opua. We’re excited to report that we are now an official sponsor of the most prestigious canoe club on the Big Island, Kai’Opua Canoe Club. The Desteenation Kona Store will soon become the new Kai’Opua gear shop, where new members go to get all their canoe club merchandise. So, look for their awesome t-shirts and gear in our stores and online soon.

Matt’s back in Kona this week, signing up new places, putting some finishing touches on the store and, get this, filming our first commercial. All of our Hawaiian business-owner friends have recommended doing an ad on the local TV station, Big Island TV, and we’re actually filming next week. It’s very touristy, but hey, tourists like cool t-shirts and they need to know where to find the coolest ones in town.

This legendary café/bar was originally built for the hands on the Slash X Cattle Ranch in the mid 50s, and now it’s a major off-road rider destination. Matt had a great meeting with the owners, learned a lot about the history and took some great shots. Look for this cool t-shirt on the site soon!

Matt just sent in some shots from the road. He’s planning to stop in and talk with some businesses on the Route 66 trail when he’s on the way back, later in the week.

Matt’s heading down to Vegas right now to check out the Magic show, and he’s planning to take a detour on Route 66 between Barstow and Victorville. Hopefully, he can fit in a tour at the museum.

In just two years collecting real t-shirts, we’ve already been confronted with some of the harsh realities facing locally-owned businesses—a few of our member business have been forced to close up shop. Naturally this makes us even more committed to doing whatever we can to promote our members. It also makes us wonder about what kind of cool businesses might still be doing their thing on the legendary Route 66.

We’re all excited to see where Matt’s detour might lead…