Independent surfboard designer Eric Arakawa reflects on finding the path and passion that unintentionally led him to become a world renowned surfboard craftsman. Shot on location on the North Shore of Oahu, Eric Arakawa gives a candid account of the people who both inspired and guided him. From the novice fabrication of his first board, to shaping the late Andy Irons last custom job, Eric shares his hope to pass his knowledge on to his young employees and those around him.

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Eric Arakawa Surfboard Shaper

More about Eric Arakawa
A third-generation Japanese-American, Eric was born in 1960 to Albert and Jacalyn Arakawa in Honolulu, Hawaii. At 10 years of age, he was taught to surf by his father at “Walls” in Waikiki on a 7’0 round-tailed Barry Kanaiaupuni mini-gun, and by 1974 at the age of 14, he’d shaped his first board, a 5’8 round pin out of his family’s Pearl City home.

Shaping boards remained a hobby until 1977 when he began shaping professionally for the up and coming Hawaiian Island Creations (HIC). After graduating from Pearl City High School and spending two years studying business at Leeward Community College, Eric decided to find a place for himself in the surfing industry and formed Island Classics Surfboards in 1982. Shortly thereafter, he invented the Nose Guard and helped to establish SurfCo Hawaii, Inc., which evolved into wholesale marketing company with worldwide distribution of surfboards and surf accessories.

Two years after taking Island Classics back to being an independently owned company, in 1995 Eric joined forces with HIC, now significantly established globally in the surf industry. He would shape exclusively for HIC, who in return purchased Island Classics and its licensees, thus freeing Eric to concentrate not only on design and shaping techniques, but also to spend more quality time with his young family.

Today Eric resides on the North Shore of Oahu with his wife Sue and three children – Kelliann, Sean and Mariko, as well as a pet dog and two cats. He is still as passionate as ever about creating the perfect board for not only the top pros, but for anyone looking to improve the quality of their equipment for whatever the conditions or their abilities may be.