Maui Jim

The company's roots began in 1980 when a fisherman named Jim Richards began selling sunglasses on the beaches of Maui, Hawaii.[1][3] He was known as the original "Maui Jim".[1] Several years later, the company developed polarized sunglasses to protect eyes from glare and ultraviolet rays.

In 1991, Walter Hester, a boat captain turned oilman, purchased the company after trying the sunglasses.[3] He named the company Hester Enterprises, Inc.[4]

In 1994, Illinois-based RLI Vision became the mainland distributor for the company, then called Maui Jim Sunglasses.[1]

In 1996, the company bought RLI Vision from its parent company, Peoria, Illinois-based RLI Corp., and named the new combined entity Maui Jim Inc.[5] The transaction was structured such that RLI Corp became a major shareholder in Maui Jim, and the company moved its headquarters to Peoria.[3] The company kept an office in Maui.[6]

In 2004, the company opened a distribution center in Braunschweig, Germany, a location that eventually became its European headquarters.[7]

In June 2006, the company opened its first prescription lab in Peoria, IL.[8]

In 2011, the company bought Zeal Optics, a Boulder, Colorado-based designer and manufacturer of action-sport polarized goggles and sunglasses.[9][10]

By 2015, the company had approximately 500 employees.[1] Also in 2015, the company became the title sponsor of college basketball's Maui Invitational Tournament.[11]

In March 2018, the company started selling optical eyeglasses.[12] In July, the company opened its first prescription lab outside of Peoria, located at its European headquarters in Braunschweig.[7]

As of 2016, the company sold 125 different styles of polarized sunglasses in over 100 countries.[13][14] In addition to their non-prescription sports and fashion sunglasses, Maui Jim also produces prescription lenses for their designs including progressive lenses.[3][12]

The company's glasses incorporate a patented polarization technology called PolarizedPlus2.[15]

Besides its Peoria headquarters, Maui Jim maintains an office and store front in Lahaina, Hawaii, a Canadian office in Mississauga, Ontario, and a European headquarters in Braunschweig, Germany.[6][7][16]

The company sponsors college basketball's Maui Invitational Tournament, called the Maui Jim Maui Invitational.[11] The company also sponsors the Australian Sailing Team[17], professional marathoner Meb Keflezighi, golfer Ernie Els, and kiteboarder Dave Shah, who are brand ambassadors.[18][19]

• Official website