Aloha From the Parking Lot: Hawaiian Chrome Emblems
It's early November in Northwest Indiana. The sky is the color of a wet sidewalk, the windshield needs scraping, and somewhere a leaf blower is losing a fight with the wind. Then a car rolls past with a little chrome shaka on the back, and for one second the whole street feels like it has a beach nearby.
That's the whole job of a Hawaiian chrome emblem: a small, shiny reminder of your favorite island state (or the vacation you're still dreaming about) that rides along on your vehicle all year.
Meet the island crew
The Hawaiian collection is made up of single-design emblems, so you pick the one that fits you. The lineup includes:
- Shaka Outline and Hang Loose, the universal "all good" hand signs.
- Turtle Outline, a sea turtle in clean tribal-style lines.
- Hibiscus Flower and Triple Hibiscus for the flower fans.
- Hula Girl, Tubular Girl and Surfer Dude, the people of the beach.
- Sandals Outline, for anyone whose real personality is flip-flops.
What you actually get
- Triple chrome-plated ABS plastic. That's a bright, mirror-like finish on a tough, lightweight body.
- 3M automotive-grade adhesive backing. It's peel-and-stick, with no drilling and no holes.
- Weatherproof and car-wash safe. That matters when your car sees road salt in January.
- Sold individually. Each emblem is its own item, so a matching pair for two vehicles means two orders.
Sizes vary by design. The shaka outline, for example, measures 3 x 4 inches, so check the size on the product page of the emblem you pick before you hold it up to your trunk lid.
Where they look best
- Rear hatch or trunk lid, off to one side of the model badge.
- Front fender, behind the wheel opening, for a quiet little wink.
- Cooler, golf cart, tackle box or camper, anywhere with a smooth, clean, hard surface.
Skip textured plastic, seams and sharp body lines. The adhesive needs a smooth surface it can hug.
Putting one on
- Wash the spot, wipe it with rubbing alcohol and let it dry.
- Hold the emblem in place without peeling it, then step back about ten feet and check that it looks straight.
- Peel the backing, press the emblem on and hold firm pressure for 30 seconds.
- Give it a day or two before the car wash so the adhesive can set up.
Adhesive likes a mild afternoon. If it's freezing out, work in a garage so the panel isn't ice-cold.
The easiest gift on the list
Know someone who just got back from Maui, or who's saving up for the trip? Holiday gifting is a few weeks away, and a small chrome emblem fits in a stocking or a card. Hawaiian emblems are in stock and ship the next business day, and standard shipping is free on U.S. orders over $55, so it's easy to add a second emblem or two. Quantities are limited. Once they're gone, they're gone.
Browse the full set in the Hawaiian chrome emblem collection at ChromeAutoEmblems.