So why the Makai name?
It has nothing to do with the spirit world or something from a Miyazaki film, but is from the Hawaiian language.
Makai literally means “towards the sea” in Hawaiian, since cardinal directions (e.g., North-South) can be confusing or even meaningless on an island. The opposite expression in Hawaiian is Mauka, which means “towards the mountains”. A local resident might actually use the word makai in giving directions (“go down Keeaumoku Street and it will be two blocks makai of King Street”). In a broader sense, the word makai relates to the Hawaiian ocean lifestyle and the islands’ relationship with the sea.
Makai Marine adopted the Hawaiian flag as its logo. It is the only U.S. state flag to feature the Union Flag of the United Kingdom, while the field of the flag includes eight horizontal stripes symbolizing the eight major islands of Hawai’i. Commissioned by King Kamehemeha I in 1816, it may have represented a compromise amidst lingering tensions between the US and UK that he faced at the time. Nevertheless, with senior Royal Navy officers advising Kamehameha, it bears a striking resemblance to the British East India Company flag of the time.
We selected the flag as our logo, since the Union Flag in the canton reflects our 15 years of shipping experience in the United Kingdom.
Jeff is a former Hawai’i resident (kama’aina), where he worked at Chevron’s Hawaiian Refinery on Oahu.