A 'Crazy' History: Rick Ralston On Building a Brand Legacy

You've heard of his shirts. Now hear his story: Rick Ralston joins SME Honolulu to share his experience creating his Crazy Shirts brand.
About this Event

Networking and Dinner: 5pm - 6pm

Introductions & Presentation: 6pm -7pm

Q&A and Raffle Prizes: 7pm - 7:30pm

Pau: 7:30pm

SME Honolulu is delighted to welcome Rick Ralston, founder of Hawaii's renowed Crazy Shirts brand, as our October 2026 speaker.

Rick's remarkable Hawaii story began in 1962, when, at just 20 years old with $60 in his pocket, he left Los Angeles for Hawaii and began hand-painting T-shirts and sweatshirts in Waikiki. Trained as an artist at Art Center School in Los Angeles but without formal business training, Ralston went on to pioneer the imprinted T-shirt industry and build Crazy Shirts from the ground up into a 65-store chain employing 1,100 people.

His entrepreneurial career extended into antiques, architecture and design, publishing, hospitality and cultural preservation. He founded Ralston Antiques & Collectibles, Pencil Pushers, the Lahaina Whaling Museum and Lahaina Grill, which was recognized as the No. 1 fine-dining restaurant in the United States by Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best in 2022. He also authored and published acclaimed books, including Cast Iron Floor Trains, and produced Whale Song, described as the world’s first desktop-published book.

Beyond business, Ralston has devoted decades to historic preservation and environmental causes. He helped save and restore numerous historic Hawaii properties, including the Manoa Valley Inn, Greystones in Makiki, Nutridge, and the Lahaina Inn, while restoring 11 early Oahu residences and other significant structures. His environmental philanthropy included funding Earth Trust research that helped document drift-net fishing and contributed to the United Nations ban on the practice, as well as the Flipper Seal of Approval campaign to protect dolphins. His achievements have earned numerous honors, including Marketer of the Year, Historic Hawaii Foundation’s Preservation Honor Award, Retailer of the Year, induction into the Junior Achievement Hawaii Business Hall of Fame, an Ethics in Business Award, and recognition from the Honolulu City Council. Today, at 85, Ralston and his partner Sue Jansen continue their commitment to Hawaii by caring for 14 acres of agricultural land in Palolo Valley, removing invasive trees and reforesting the property with koa and other indigenous plants.

Join Rick on October 20, 2026 for a special SME event on his journey into business, building a brand, and leaving a lasting imprint on Hawaii's business community.