Dakine
Kite Brand
Primary market
Global
Origin
United States
Founded
1979
Headquarters
Torrance, California, United States (founded in Haiku, Maui; Hood River, Oregon from 1986)
Dakine is a Kite Brand profile on KitesurfingOfficial with a focus on harnesses, accessories and bags. Founded in 1979 in United States. Explore the linked listings to see where this brand appears across kite shops, schools and trips in the KSO Trusted Network.
Brand overview
Dakine makes harnesses, bags, packs and accessories for kiteboarding, windsurfing, surf, snow and bike sports.
Dakine is one of the oldest names in board-sports accessories, founded in 1979 in Haiku on Maui by Rob Kaplan — first with tougher surf leashes, then with the windsurfing waist harness in 1982 and the sport's first seat harness a year later. The brand moved to Hood River, Oregon in 1986 and its harness know-how carried straight into kiteboarding, where its waist harnesses, travel bags and accessories are still widely ridden. Today Dakine belongs to Marquee Brands and is headquartered in Torrance, California.
Brand focus
About the brand
Dakine was founded in 1979 in Haiku on Maui by Rob Kaplan, who started out building tougher surf leashes. The brand introduced a waist harness for windsurfing in 1982 and the sport's first seat harness in 1983, then moved its base to Hood River, Oregon in 1986 as windsurfing boomed in the Columbia River Gorge. Its name comes from the Hawaiian Pidgin phrase "da kine". After years under Billabong (2009) and Altamont Capital (2013), the brand belongs to Marquee Brands today, with headquarters in Torrance, California. Kiteboarding harnesses and travel gear remain a core part of the range.