When you walk into the unassuming building on the east corner of the now-dormant Wailua Sugar Mill, you’re walking into a space steeped in history yet still pursuing modernity. This factory is the HQ of Eric Akawara Surfboards, and while it may not have the brand awareness of the world’s largest surfboard companies, it has a storied legacy and the product is every bit as trustworthy for pros and joes alike.
The man at the helm of the operation, Eric Arakawa, is this year’s Icon of Foam honoree at the 2025 Boardroom International Surfboard Show in Del Mar, California. A board builder of five decades, Arakawa’s astute eye will judge eight shapers in man-on-man round robin heats and replicating some of Arakawa’s signature designs.
“I am surprised but stoked to be honored at this year’s Boardroom Show,” Arakawa said in a release. “I love the craft as much or more than when I started 50 years ago. I am looking forward to the Boardroom opening day in October. Aloha.”
Arakawa’s insight is just one of the draws of the annual Boardroom Show. Hailed as the world’s largest marketplace for surfing hard goods, it’s a chance for surfers of all levels and experience to interact with and learn from those who have dedicated their lives to building surfboards. The two-day event runs on October 11 and 12 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Tickets will be available in September and can be purchased online here.
Related: Michael Arenal and Nick Heinrich Take Home the Honors at the Boardroom Show
“There is a demand by core surfers to meet with the shapers; the builders and designers of our sacred crafts,” said the Boardroom’s Executive Director Scott Bass. “The Boardroom highlights the utilitarian core of the surfing experience – surfboards and the people who build them. It is from this nexus that our culture flows.”
The other main pillar of the event is the Best In Show Board Build-Off, where any shaper is free to display their quiver so long as it meets the event criteria. This year, participants are asked to build a fish that includes “wood accents and meaningful symbology.” The Best in Show boards will be judged in a split vote between the public and credential judges. The winning shaper will receive $1,000 cash and a complimentary booth at the 2026 Boardroom Surfboard Show. Keep in mind that with these entries, like all boards, practicality is just as important as the aesthetics.
“With the board build-off, we don’t want to turn it into an art contest,” Bass said. “This is about functionality. The board has to work, first and foremost. It should be a rideable, rippable fish surfboard. In addition, we’re asking you to add wooden accents and meaningful symbology, whatever that means to you. It’s not like it should be the craziest thing ever. They can be wallhangers, but they’d better surf well.”
Speaking of boards that surf well, let’s circle back to Arakawa. Arakawa is perhaps most widely known for his work with the late, great world champions Derek Ho and Andy Irons and Triple Crown legend Michael Ho. Andy Irons famously rode Arakawas at the end of his historic 2003 world title run that culminated in the Pipeline final victory over Kelly Slater.
But decades later, Arakawas remain a go-to when the North Shore comes alive each winter. Eala Stewart, an understated but seriously tapped Hawaiian surfer, won the Wave of the Winter for rolling his Arakawa into an outrageous second reef Pipeline bomb. But the guy shapes it all. From small-wave twin fins to midlengths to cutting-edge Pipeline stepups, the quiver runs deep.
The company even has a tiny but mighty presence on the WSL’s Championship Tour. For events where waves pack serious punch, they are the boards Jack Robinson trusts above all others. Pipeline, Teahupo’o and thundering Kirra, Jack will pack a quiver.
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
SURFER will be doing a deeper dive into the history, ethos and vision of Arakawa in the coming months. Below is a short summary from the Boardroom Show that gives some context to the shaper’s storied career.
“Born and raised in Hawaii, Arakawa was taught to surf by his father at the age of 10 in Waikiki on a 7’0” round-tailed Barry Kanaiaupuni mini-gun. At the age of 14, he’d shaped his first board, a 5’8” round pin out of his family’s Pearl City home. Today, with over 50 years of experience and having shaped boards for over ten World Champions, including Hawaiians Derek Ho and 3X World Champion Andy Irons, Eric Arakawa is a designer dedicated to the innovation and advancement of performance surfboards. He has also been honored by the surfing media for his achievements, including Surfing Magazine’s Shaper of the Year in 2003.”
To catch Arakawa and dozens of dedicated board builders at the 2025 Boardroom Show this October, be sure to get tickets when they drop in September, here.
Past Boardroom Show Icons of Foam Honorees
- 2007 – Mike Diffenderfer
- 2008 – Bill Caster
- 2009 – John Bradbury
- 2009 – Dick Brewer
- 2010 – Renny Yater
- 2010 – Simon Anderson
- 2011 – Doug Haut
- 2011 – Cark Ekstrom
- 2012 – Mark Richards
- 2013 – Rich Price
- 2013 – Terry Martin
- 2014 – Ben Aipa
- 2015 – Rusty Preisendorfer
- 2016 – Gerry Lopez
- 2016 – John Mel
- 2017 – Al Merrick
- 2018 – Marc Anderini
- 2019 – Wayne Lynch
- 2019 – Japan
- 2020 – COVID
- 2021 – Pat Rawson
- 2022 – Timmy Patterson
- 2023 – Bing Copeland
- 2024 – Bob McTavish