OluKai has announced its partnership with the Malama Honua Worldwide Voyage, a prestigious three-plus year journey of sailing canoes built with the same ingenuity that brought the first Polynesians to the archipelago of Hawaii. The Orange Country, CA-based lifestyle brand will supply the watermen and women crewing the canoes with Spring/Summer 2015 products to wear test and share feedback on the performance of each shoe.
From the streets of Pa’ia to the trails of Haleakala, Hawaii is rich in local culture and natural history–something that OluKai Founder Bill Worthington has always celebrated and supported. This past weekend, the Irvine, CA-based brand did both, hosting its fifth annual Ho’olaule’a Ocean Festival in Maui. More than 2,000 locals and festival goers, as well as athletes and representatives from REI, Zappos and Sports Chalet, descended on the island for two days of canoe sailing, surfing, luau, hula and live music.
Born out of Hawaiian-bred founder Bill Worthington’s wave-chasing way of life, OluKai (which roughly translates to “comfort ocean”) launched in 2005 as a flip-flop brand that incorporated core comfort and it quickly garnered shelf space and luxury boutiques alike. For Fall ’13, the Irvine, CA-based brand continues to stretch its reach beyond the beach by expanding its closed-toe offering with wedges, slip-ons and lace-ups and putting a particular emphasis on boots.
Sign up to receive the digital edition of Footwear Plus, fashion news, and more.
