Island Slipper on the move

Nadine Kam photos
Dorothy Kohashi, left, daughter of Island Slipper founders Takizo and Misao Motonaga, and Geri Motonaga, wife of the couple's son and longtime designer Eddy Motonaga, were special guests at the soft reopening of the new Island Slipper store in its new location on the ewa end of Ward Warehouse.

Island Slipper celebrated a soft reopening and blessing of its store at Ward Warehouse on April 1, with a grand "Slippahpalooza" celebration to come, open to the public from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 16, with performances by Makana, Jeff Peterson, Puamana and Ernie Cruz Jr., throughout the day.

The store, at the ewa end of the mall, is easily double the size of its old quarters, and is full of dozens of men's and women's slippers and sandals, all still created in Hawaii, just as when company founders Takizo and Misao Motonaga started the company with the Baba family in 1946.

At the time, due to World War II, supplies were hard to find, so they used old tires to fashion the soles, and we can credit Takizo with the familiar left and right slipper shapes we see today. In his day, they had a symmetrical rectangular shape that was based on the Japanese zoris.

Anyone who grew up through the 1950s to 1970s are probably familiar with slippers adorned with floral straps because the slippers were widely carried by almost every large island retailer. The market wasn't divided into various niches the way it is today, so shoppers could find them at Liberty House, Sears, JC Penney, and, having grown up in Waipahu, I could only think my mom bought my pairs at Arakawa's. Dorothy Kohashi, the daughter of the Motonagas, and their daughter-in-law Geri Motonaga confirmed that Arakawa's was among their retailers.

Island Slipper has long been known for its brightly colored slippers in tropical, floral and Hawaiian motifs, including the kapa print fabric, below, at $51.95. The floral styles above are $64.95.

Geri and Dorothy said they never envisioned a day when the company would grow enough to have its own retail outlet. The family sold the business to John Carpenter in 1985. At the time, Geri's husband Eddy, a longtime designer for the company, felt the business was waning due to the arrival of cheap imports in the islands. Island Slipper's designer styles seemed to disappear amidst the sea of generic rubbah slippahs that could be had for a few dollars.

But Dorothy said, "John was a family friend who had terrific ideas. No one else could have done this. We're so proud and happy he did it. I'm so happy for him."

John said he is often asked why he doesn't move production to China for cost efficiency, but it's that kind of mentality and attempt at cost-cutting that has led to loss of jobs in this country, to the detriment of all. Besides, he said, "It would be like we lost our soul," and would no longer be able to call Island Slipper a kama'aina or Hawaii company. By continuing to operate a factory in Pearl City, he's able to say, "We're like Coke; we're the real thing."

Island Slippers are popular in Japan, and according to John, his men's styles will be appearing on Paris's runways this summer. They are definitely special, and have international appeal, with their contemporary designs and prints, and use of interesting materials including madras fabric and pony hair.

The Motonaga family sold the company to John Carpenter, above, with his wife Daisy, in 1985. At the time, Geri said, business was difficult because of cheap imports entering the market.

A 1970s Island Slipper advertisement showing sandals designed by Eddy Motonaga from the company's brochure.

Models from Paris admire Island Slipper's spring collection in a Halekulani photo that appears to date to the late '50s or early '60s.