IN 1980, THREE YOUNG SURFERS FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MADE A PAIR OF MADRAS BOARDSHORTS,  TOOK THEM AROUND TO LOCAL SCHOOLS AND FAIRS AND THE KIDS LIKED THEM SO MUCH, THEY STARTED MAKING MORE.  IN ASKING EVERYONE, PEOPLE TOLD THEM THEY WOULD BE NUTS TO PUT A BIG LOGO ON THE BACK POCKET OF A PAIR OF BOARDSHORTS, BUT THEY DID IT ANYWAY.  THEN,  THEY ADDED A SHARK LOGO AND FINALLY SHARKMAN.  SHARKMAN WAS, AND STILL IS, KNOWN FOR ITS AWESOME DESIGN AND SUNGLASSES. Three surfers from Corona del Mar, California wanted a piece of the entrepreneurial pie that the financially prosperous 80s were serving up. After a failed attempt at a gourmet cookie business, the three friends finally tasted success with an apparel business. Maui and Sons, aptly named after Yokoyamas Hawaiian heritage, produced their first product in 1980, dishing up a heaping serving of stylish surf wear. Their 60s-inspired madras print Bermuda short became a hit, and the Maui and Sons cookie shaped emblem was gobbled up by surfers and non-surfers alike. The novelty caught on, and soon the boys were expanding into other apparel. They also adopted a new mascot, the cool sharkman, a ferocious, sunglasses wearing shark who loved to surf. Maui and Sons focus on exciting graphicsand the charismatic sharkman helped to propel the surf wear to the top of a mountain of competitors. Originally sold only in specialty surf shops, Maui and Sons went big time when the founders sold off the licensing rights to an outside investor. Now Maui and Sons can be found in retail stores from coast to coast and across the world, as the company keeps a strong toehold in the wave of fashion. WHAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, IS THAT THIS COMPANY HAS NOW BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR MORE THAN 28 YEARS AND HAS LOCATIONS IN NORTH AMERICA, SOUTH AMERICA, ASIA, THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA.