Maui Jim sunglasses were born of necessity. In the first few years of the 1980s, entrepreneurs in Hawaii noticed that surfing was relatively difficult, given the intense and un-abating Hawaiian sun. Everyone on the beach needed better, more efficient, more sporty eyewear. Thus, Maui Jim developed patented equipment designed to help beachgoers relax without going blind. Needless to say, the brand quickly became very popular.

All told, Maui Jim sunglasses can be found in six different frame shapes. The company employs something called polarized plus technology, which basically blocks out certain wavelengths of sunlight so that harmful UV penetration doesn't damage the cornea. For years, Maui Jim sunglasses were only available in Maui, but the RLI Vision Corporation started distributing these revolutionary sunglasses to beachgoers outside of Hawaii in 1991.

Today, there are more than 50 styles of Maui Jim sunglasses the world over, and thousands of sun lovers benefit from their depolarized action. These glasses feature a number of interesting technologies, including a bronze tinting in the lenses that aids with contrast, and an extremely lightweight body for better wearability.

Maui Jim glasses also come with nose and ear rubber protection, and something called double gradient mirroring to dampen the negative effects of long sun exposure. Ever since the establishment of Maui Jim, Inc. in 1996, the company has expanded its market reach, and today enthusiasts around the world swear by these great glasses for long term protection from all sorts of beach elements.