A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE
Eric Arakawa is one of the prominent surfboard shapers of our time. He has been living out on the North Shore since 1982, initially moving to a place at Velzyland and shaping out of a little room next to his house. His dedication to perfection and his knowledge of curves has made Eric’s boards a hot commodity. He’s shaped surfboards for Andy Irons’ world title runs, the late great Pipe Master Ronnie Burns and former World Champion Derek Ho to name a few. Currently he shapes for HIC (Hawaiian Island Creations), but his surfboard factory is his main focus.
Eric is a very “hands on” type of guy. He recently opened a glassing facility so he can control the development of his surfboards from start to finish. “We have been developing a bunch of new technologies that’s been in the works for a few years now, and now that we got our new glassing facility it’s given us more room to work on some stuff,” explains Eric. He also has a new surf project in the works called Alcomi. It’s something their whole factory team has been working on and it’s going to blow people’s minds.
Eric is connected to the North Shore. He has lived and worked there for over two decades. He has seen the changes and remains to live his life consistent with his beliefs.
Zen: What are the biggest changes you have seen on the North Shore?
Eric Arakawa: As far as real estate, me and my wife used to live at a house (that is the Joneses’ house now) at Rocky Point for $425 a month. Now you can’t even get a room for that. There has been lots of development but the things that would have ruined the North Shore have been prevented. I think it’s good that we get enough traffic down here to sustain a full working community all year round.
You have your factory in Waialua, how is it going?
Back in the day Waialua was the prominent town on the North Shore, because of the plantation it was very busy down here. When the plantation closed down, that’s when it kind of died. Now we seem to have bunch of creative people starting to do great things down here. It’s still a diamond in the rough.
How’s your surfboard production?
It is going really well. Right now I think people are really open to riding all kinds of boards so we have been developing all sorts of designs. I have been working on a board without any fins, its pretty interesting. With Kelly riding funky boards, everyone is willing to try anything.
Who are your main team riders now?
With HIC, I have Joel Centeio, Kekoa Cazimero, Megan Abubo and during the winter I do a bunch of boards for the traveling pros. I still have a pretty good relationship with Andy. Reef McIntosh just got on our factory team and he’s been really good with feedback and has helped us out a lot. He’s been a real breath of fresh air in the way he approaches surfing and his work ethic.
What do you think of all the homeless now on the North Shore?
When I was growing up I would never see homeless people. These days it is a common thing, the only thing we can do is to reach out and help them out as much as we can. At the end of our lives we can’t take anything with us. Sometimes I feel it is my responsibility to help people that I can help out. The tables could be turned very easily. That could be us out there. All the people that are on the streets, none of them intended to end up where they are.
What keeps you on the North Shore?
What we have here is very very unique. The surf culture here is unlike anywhere else in the world. This place is beautiful, I have been to many other places all over the world, but I always want to come home. I feel that this is where I’m supposed to be. This is where I been planted to do what I do. If I didn’t feel that, I would have left already. I’m planted here to be a part of the community here and make a positive difference.
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エリックアラカワ
NorthShoreに1982年から住んでサーフボードのシェイプをしているエリック。彼の板でAndyIronsは世界タイトルを取っていた。今では自分の工場をワイアルアに持ち新しいブランド「Alcomi」を始めようとしている。NorthSHoreを自分の居場所と確信している。
