Eric Arakawa Rides the Wave Back to island Classics
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After decades, the surfboard shaper regains control of his iconic surf brand and looks to the future while honoring the past.
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For Eric Arakawa, surfing isn’t just a sport; it’s a legacy. After starting Island Classics in 1982, he recently regained creative control of the brand. In 2019, Arakawa officially re-acquired Island Classics from Hawaiian island Creations, 37 years after its inception.
Island Classics once boasted some of Oahu’s most respected surfers, including Michael Ho, derek ho, Ronnie Burns, Shawn Briley, and Dwayne Maki, all sporting the logo while riding the waves at Pipeline.
Earlier this year, Arakawa Surfboards launched the Island Classic Project with a limited run of exclusive t-shirts. These 2025 tees featured the iconic palm tree logo and were printed by the same company that handled the first run decades ago. According to eric, the goal was to be “as true and authentic as we could get to when we first started.”
A Vision for the Future Rooted in the Past
Arakawa’s current focus isn’t on aggressive expansion or revenue projections.Instead, he’s enthusiastic about the possibilities, such as recreating boards for legends like Derek Ho and Ronnie Burns. He envisions archival designs on merchandise and sharing compelling stories and images.
“I feel like ther’s a story to tell. And there are some cool stories.”
“I have two storage bins, basically my scrapbook, that are full of original photographs and magazines, original artwork, positives and slides,” Eric said. “I kept it.”
Nigel scot McNeil/Fairfax Media via Getty Images
The goal is authenticity, not retail dominance. “I just want to keep it authentic and keep it in the family,” Eric explained. “My son now manages the business, and this is something I can pass on to him. I just want to keep the brand true.”
Eric’s career has seen its share of challenges. after starting Island Classics in ’82, he co-founded Surf Co. Hawaii in 1986 with David Skedeleski. Their company invented the surfboard Nose Guard and had a vast network of accounts. However, a divergence in business philosophies led to a split, and Eric returned to surfboard shaping.
“I went from a good salary to overnight having no salary,” he said.”I had a wife, two kids, and a mortgage. I was scrambling. But I still had surfboards. It was a tough three years.”
in 1995, Hawaiian Island creations approached Eric, seeking his board-building expertise. The deal involved HIC acquiring Island Classics and its licensees.
“They said we’ll buy it from you,and just work for us,” Eric said.”You don’t have to work on marketing and admin. All you have to do is design, build boards and work with the team.”
Letting go of the brand was arduous. “It was really hard as I worked so hard with Island Classics,” Eric added.”Building that was my baby, and I had to let it go. It took me a few years to get over it.”
For a time, things progressed smoothly. Surfers like Ronnie Burns, Shawn Briley, Michael and Derek Ho, and Andy Irons rode Eric’s boards.
Kirstin Scholtz/World Surf League via Getty Images
Eventually, Eric and HIC parted ways due to disagreements over shelving Island Classics and HIC’s desire to produce cheaper boards overseas. Eric believed that producing low-quality boards would damage the brand and provide a subpar product.
By 2019, Eric was shaping high-quality boards under his own name and managing an international network of licensees. However, the desire to reclaim Island Classics persisted. He and HIC reached an agreement, and he regained control of his brand.
Even Eric’s staff is eager to learn about the brand’s history and future.
“The team at the factory is a young crew,” eric said. “And they’re just frothing. They ask stories, want to know the background on things, what this moment was like, how this board was made, that sort of thing. For me, it’s old news. But through these casual conversations at the factory over the years, when I share them, to my surprise, the young crew is interested. They’ve helped me to realize there is a story to tell. And that’s what I want to do with the brand.”
“I don’t have a grand business plan,” he concluded. “Like when I was 20 years old, I didn’t have a grand plan to grow this thing. I was just doing what I love to do. And that’s what I still do.”
Eric Arakawa will be at the 2025 Boardroom Show in Del Mar, California, on October 11-12, as this year’s Icons of Foam honoree. Tickets will be available online in September.
