Surf and Win With Maui Jim® and Soul Surfer

PEORIA, Ill., April 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Maui Jim, Inc., today announced a new promotion, "Surf and Win with Maui Jim,"  that lets fans of the new movie, Soul Surfer: The Inspiring True Story of Bethany Hamilton, win a new pair of sunglasses and one of two surfboards used in the movie and autographed by cast members. Maui Jim glasses are the official sunglasses of the movie Soul Surfer. The movie will be distributed as a wide release via TriStar Pictures on April 8 with a broad-based and integrated marketing campaign managed by FilmDistrict. Visit mauijim.com to register to win through April 30, 2011.

Soul Surfer is the true story of teen surfer Bethany Hamilton. Bethany lost her left arm in a shark attack and courageously overcame all odds to become a champion again, through her sheer determination and unwavering faith.

Bethany (AnnaSophia Robb) was born to surf. A natural talent who took to the waves at a young age, she was leading an idyllic life on Kauai, participating in national surf competitions with her best friend Alana (Lorraine Nicholson), when everything changed. On Halloween morning, a 14-foot tiger shark came out of nowhere and seemed to shatter all her dreams.

Soul Surfer reveals Bethany's fight to recover from her ordeal and how she grappled with the question of her future. Strengthened by the love of her parents, Tom (Dennis Quaid) and Cheri (Helen Hunt), and supported by her youth group leader Sara (Carrie Underwood), Bethany refuses to give in or give up, and begins a bold return to the water.

The sunglasses featured in Soul Surfer are the latest styles from Maui Jim that arrive in stores this spring. The company's patented PolarizedPlus®2 technology reduces glare from above, below, in front and behind each lens. UV ray reduction is unparalleled because Maui Jim uses up to 9 layers of protection built into each lens. Plus, the company uses three rare earth elements in each lens to produce the truest colors of all lenses on the market.

Tickets to Soul Surfer can be purchased at Moviefone.com, MovieTickets.com or Fandango.com. No purchase is necessary to participate in "Surf and Win with Maui Jim." Official sweepstakes rules can be found at mauijim.com.

About Maui Jim, Inc.

Maui Jim began as one man selling sunglasses on the beaches of Maui, Hawaii, back in the early 1980s.  As local demand grew for sunglasses that provided advanced protection from the severe glare and UV rays of the Hawaiian sun – without distorting the beautiful colors of the Islands – the  company developed proprietary technology – PolarizedPlus®, which was later patented and subsequently enhanced to create the company's newest technology, PolarizedPlus®2. 

Maui Jim was "born" with an original line of seven sunglass styles.  At first, the sunglasses were exclusively sold in Maui, Hawaii.  In 1991, the company was purchased by Hester Enterprises, and in 1994, Hester enlisted RLI Vision Corporation of Peoria, Illinois, to be the mainland distributor of Maui Jim Sunglasses for the ophthalmic market.   Maui Jim, Inc. was established in December 1996, when Maui Jim Sunglasses acquired RLI Vision.  This provided the financial resources and infrastructure to accommodate the phenomenal sales growth of Maui Jim Sunglasses.   Today, the company sells more than 70 styles and 200 SKUs and is the fastest growing polarized sunglass maker in the world.

SOURCE Maui Jim, Inc.