In 1915, Jhamandas Watumull, a 29-year-old Indian entrepreneur, and his partner Dharamdas established a retail shop, Watumull & Dharamdas, in Hawaii‘s O’ahu island. After Dharamdas’ death in 1916, his brother, Gobindram, joined to manage the store. Over the years, the family business expanded into a major department store known as East India Store and diversified into garment manufacturing, real estate, education, and arts.
The Watumull family became deeply embedded in Hawaii’s history, and were known for their pioneering role in introducing the “Aloha shirt”, as well as their contributions to Indian independence efforts and various philanthropic endeavors. Despite facing discrimination and immigration challenges, the family succeeded and continued to focus on the welfare of both India and Hawaii. They established the Watumull Foundation for educational and cultural exchange.
The last Watumull retail store closed in 2020. Today, the Watumulls remain one of Hawaii’s wealthiest families, focusing primarily on real estate development while continuing their philanthropic work in education and arts.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
