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Lakai is a footwear company based in Torrance, California that creates shoes designed for skateboarding. Lakai was founded by professional skateboarders and Girl Skateboards co-founders Mike Carroll and Rick Howard in 1999. The company was formed after both riders left DC Shoes.
The name Lakai is short for Malachai which is Mike Carroll's nickname. On May 1, 2006, Eric Koston officially signed with Lakai after leaving éS Footwear and Ashton Keown one of Koston's good friends. At the end of 2005 after choosing not to renew his contract when éS owners Pierre André Senizergues and Don Brown declined to give Koston part ownership in the company. On April 13th 2009 Eric Koston left Lakai Limited Footwear.
Their first full-length video Fully Flared premiered on November 16, 2007. It was released on December 7, 2007.
Lakai is part of the Crailtap family, which also includes Chocolate Skateboards, Girl Skateboards, Royal Trucks, Four Star Clothing, Ruby Republic, and Skate Mental.