Maui Jim Prescription Sunglasses in Kailua, Oahu
Born on a Maui beach and built for Hawaii light. Try them on in our Kailua boutique, then let us build your pair in your prescription, in your own colors with MyMaui, or both.
Hawaii Is Beautiful. It Is Also Blinding.
Stand on Kailua Beach at noon and look out toward the Mokuluas. The water should be five shades of blue. Instead, a white sheet of light sits on top of it, and you squint until your face hurts.
That white sheet is glare. It is sunlight that has bounced off something flat, like water, sand, a wet road, or the hood of the car in front of you. It carries no detail of its own. All it does is cover up what is underneath.
Ordinary dark lenses do not fix it. They turn everything down at once, the glare and the view together. The world gets dimmer, but it does not get clearer.
Glare Takes the Detail
You cannot see into the water, read the road ahead, or follow the ball.
Glare Takes the Color
Blues go grey. Greens go flat. The island you came for looks washed out.
Glare Takes the Comfort
A day of squinting leaves your eyes tired long before the sun goes down.
Born on a Maui Beach
Maui Jim started in the 1980s, selling sunglasses on Kaanapali Beach in Lahaina. The people behind it lived under the same sun we do. They wanted a lens that could take the glare off the water without dulling the colors that make Hawaii look like Hawaii.
First they solved the glare. Then they found a way to make color look richer through the lens instead of darker. They called the result PolarizedPlus2®, and it is still at the heart of every pair of Maui Jim sunglasses.
That is why we carry them. Maui Jim was designed for the exact light we live in.
What PolarizedPlus2® Actually Does
Every Maui Jim sun lens does three jobs at the same time.
- It removes the glare. A polarizing film inside the lens blocks the flat, bounced light from water, roads, and sand, so you see what is underneath it.
- It protects your eyes. The lens blocks 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Maui Jim sunglasses carry The Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation.
- It brings the color back. Maui Jim blends three rare earth elements into the lens to lift reds, greens, and blues. The view looks richer, not just darker.
Here is the test. Put a pair on and look outside. Take them off. Put them back on. That second look tells you everything.
PolarizedPlus2 by the Numbers
Figures from Maui Jim.
See What Each Lens Does
Pick where you spend your time, then try each Maui Jim lens color. Drag the handle to compare bare eyes with the view through the lens. Then open the lens up to see what is inside.
Drag to compare
Drag to turn the lens
Pick a lens color to see the layers change. On a mirror finish, watch layer 2.
Neutral Grey
Core lens color
What you seeTrue to life color with the most light reduction of any Maui Jim lens.
Best lightBright, direct sun.
Good forBeach days, boating, offshore fishing, and long midday drives.
On the water: The match. The darkest lens for the brightest light.
Nine layers, one lens
A Maui Jim lens looks like one piece. It is really a stack of layers, and each one has a job. Layer 1 faces the sun. Layer 9 faces your eye. Tap a layer to see what it does.
The outermost layer. Rain, salt spray, and sunscreen bead up and wipe off instead of smearing.
A mirror applied to the top and bottom of the lens, where the sky above and the ground below are brightest. Maui Jim says it squints for you. On lenses like Blue Hawaii, a color mirror sits here.
CLEARSHELL is Maui Jim's scratch resistant treatment. Here it guards the front of the lens.
Lens material blended with three rare earth elements that lift reds, greens, and blues.
The heart of the lens. This film blocks the flat, bounced light we call glare. Maui Jim says it removes 99.9% of it.
A second layer of color enhancing material, so the polarizing film sits sealed in the middle of the lens.
The same scratch resistant treatment, on the back of the lens.
Stops light that comes from behind you from bouncing off the back of the lens and into your eyes.
The same easy to clean finish, on the side that faces your eye.
This is an illustration, not an exact simulation. Real lenses look better than any screen, so come look through them in the shop. Lens details are from Maui Jim. The layer order follows Maui Jim's PolarizedPlus2 diagram for its lightweight lens materials, and glass lenses are built a little differently.
Choose Your Lens by Your Day
Maui Jim makes four core lens colors, and each one is tuned for a different kind of light. The right one depends on where you spend your time.
Neutral Grey
Best for bright, direct sunThe darkest Maui Jim lens, with the most light reduction and true to life color. Think beach days, boating, offshore fishing, and long drives at midday.
HCL Bronze
Best for everyday, changing lightHCL stands for High Contrast Lens. A warm tint that adds contrast from full sun to passing clouds. A strong pick for driving, hiking, and all day wear.
Maui Rose
Best for fast moving sportsA soft rose tint with the highest contrast Maui Jim makes, so the ball or the edge of the trail stands out. Think tennis, pickleball, and trail running.
Maui HT
Best for lower lightHT stands for High Transmission. It lets more light in while still adding contrast and color. Made for overcast days, early mornings, and the golf course.
Mirror Finishes
Maui Jim also adds mirror coatings over these colors. Blue Hawaii is a blue mirror on Neutral Grey. Hawaii Lava is a red mirror on HCL Bronze. Maui Sunrise is a pink mirror on Maui Rose. MAUIGreen is a green mirror. A mirror reflects more light away from the lens, and it changes how your sunglasses look from the outside.
Watch PolarizedPlus2® Work
A short look from Maui Jim at what the lens does to glare and color.
What the Lens Is Made Of Matters Too
Color is half the choice. The material decides how the lens feels on your face and how it holds up to real life.
- SuperThin Glass. The sharpest optics and the best scratch resistance Maui Jim offers. It is 32% thinner and lighter than standard glass.
- MauiBrilliant. Optics nearly as clear as glass, at about one third of the weight.
- MauiPure. Maui Jim's most popular material. Very light, with excellent scratch and shatter resistance.
- MauiPure LT. A version of MauiPure that is 35% thinner, for the lightest feel on your face.
- Maui Evolution. A high index material that blends the best traits of glass and polycarbonate. Light, tough, and scratch resistant.
Prescription lenses come in a shorter list of materials, and the best one depends on your prescription and your frame. We will walk you through it at the counter.
Maui Jim, Made in Your Prescription
For everyday glasses, we fit ZEISS lenses. Maui Jim sunglasses are the exception, because the lens is what makes a Maui Jim a Maui Jim.
Your prescription lenses are made by Maui Jim, in its own lab, with the same PolarizedPlus2 technology as the pair on our shelf. Single vision and progressive prescriptions are both available.
Try Them On
We keep Maui Jim frames in the shop, so you can see how each one looks and feels on your face.
Compare the Lenses
Our Maui Jim lens model lets you look at the lens colors and coatings in real light, and see how each one handles glare and reflections.
We Check the Fit and Measure
Before anything is ordered, we check how the frame sits on your face and where your eyes line up in the lens. Those measurements go to Maui Jim with your prescription, so your lenses are built for the way you actually wear the frame.
Maui Jim Builds Your Pair
Maui Jim makes the frame and the lenses, so it fits your prescription lenses into your frame in its own lab. The finished pair ships to us complete.
Cory Checks Every Pair
When your sunglasses arrive, Cory, our Master Lens Maker, inspects the frame and lenses, verifies the prescription, and fits the pair to your face before you take it home.
Need a Prescription? Do Not Buy Them Off the Rack.
It sounds like a smart plan. Buy a pair of Maui Jims at a sunglass shop, then take them somewhere to have prescription lenses put in.
But think about what you just paid for. The lens is the reason a Maui Jim costs what it does. The moment your prescription lenses go in, those polarized lenses come out, and they never go back. You paid for Maui Jim lenses you will never look through.
You Pay for Lenses Twice
Once for the polarized lenses that came in the frame, and again for the prescription lenses that replace them.
You May Lose the Maui Jim Lens
Many shops fill the frame with a different brand of lens. It is no longer PolarizedPlus2, so the view will not look the way it did when you fell for the pair.
You Skip the Fitting
Prescription sun lenses work best when someone checks how the frame sits on your face before the lenses are made.
So order the prescription pair from the start. You pay for one set of lenses, Maui Jim makes them, and they are measured for you.
Already own a pair of Maui Jims you love? Bring them in. We will look at them with you and tell you plainly what your options are.
MyMaui: Build a Pair That Is Only Yours
Sometimes the frame you love comes in the wrong color. Or it comes with a lens made for the beach when you spend your days on the golf course. MyMaui is Maui Jim's custom program, and it lets you put the pieces together your way.
You choose the frame, the frame color, and the lens color. Maui Jim then builds that exact pair for you, with the same PolarizedPlus2 lenses as every other Maui Jim. It works with your prescription too, so you can have your own colors and clear vision in the same pair.
Pick Your Shape
Try frames on in the shop until one feels right on your face.
Pick Your Frame Color
Choose from the colors Maui Jim offers for that style, including ones that are not on our wall.
Pick Your Lens
Match the lens color to how you spend your time. Our lens model makes the choice easy to see.
We Measure and Order
We take your measurements, add your prescription if you need one, and place the order. We check the finished pair and fits it to your face when it arrives.
Maui Jim offers MyMaui on most of its sunglass styles, and a custom pair takes a little longer to make than one from stock. Ask us what is possible for the frame you have in mind.
Maui Jim at Out to See
You will find Maui Jim at our boutique in Lau Hala Shops in Kailua. Styles rotate, so text us if you have a specific pair in mind and we will tell you what we have.
Frames to Try On
See how each shape looks and feels on your face before you decide.
All our sunglasses →A Lens Model to Compare
Compare Maui Jim lens colors, coatings, and reflections side by side, in real light.
Cory, Our Master Lens Maker
Cory checks every prescription pair for accuracy and fits it to your face. Adjustments are always free.
See inside our lab →We accept HSA and FSA. Curious about the price? Read why Maui Jim prescription sunglasses cost what they do.
Maui Jim: Your Questions, Answered
Can Maui Jim sunglasses be made in my prescription?
Most styles can. It depends on the frame and your prescription, so we check both before you order.
Who makes the prescription lenses?
Maui Jim does. Your lenses are made in Maui Jim's own lab and fitted into your frame there, so you get authentic Maui Jim lenses, not a copy.
Can I buy Maui Jims somewhere else and have prescription lenses put in?
We do not recommend it. When you buy a pair off the rack, you pay for polarized lenses that are removed and never used once the prescription lenses go in. If you need a prescription, order the pair with prescription lenses from the start. If you already own a pair, bring it in and we will go over your options with you.
What is PolarizedPlus2?
It is the lens technology in every pair of Maui Jim sunglasses. It removes glare, blocks 100% of UVA and UVB rays, and enhances color, all in one lens.
Which Maui Jim lens color is best for Hawaii?
It depends on your day. Neutral Grey is made for bright, direct sun and time on the water. HCL Bronze suits everyday, changing light and driving. Maui Rose adds the most contrast for fast moving sports. Maui HT is made for lower light and golf.
Are Maui Jim lenses glass or plastic?
Both. Maui Jim makes SuperThin Glass lenses and several lightweight materials, including MauiBrilliant, MauiPure, and Maui Evolution. Prescription lenses come in a shorter list of materials, and we will help you choose.
What is MyMaui?
MyMaui is Maui Jim's custom program. You choose the frame, the frame color, and the lens color, and Maui Jim builds that exact pair for you. It works with prescription lenses too, and we place the order for you here in the shop.
Can I get Maui Jim progressives?
Yes. Maui Jim prescription lenses are available in both single vision and progressive designs.
What do you measure before you order?
We check how the frame sits on your face and where your eyes line up in the lens. Those measurements go to Maui Jim with your prescription.
Why not put ZEISS lenses in a Maui Jim frame?
For everyday glasses, ZEISS is all we fit. With Maui Jim sunglasses, the lens is the reason people buy them, so we order the real thing from Maui Jim.
What happens when my sunglasses arrive?
Cory, our Master Lens Maker, inspects the frame and lenses, verifies the prescription, and fits the pair to your face. Adjustments after that are always free.
How long does a prescription pair take?
Timing depends on the lens and the prescription. We will give you an estimate when you order.
Can I use my HSA or FSA?
Yes. We accept HSA and FSA, and prescription sunglasses are an eligible expense for most plans.
Do I need an eye exam first?
Bring a current prescription, or book a full hour eye exam with Dr. Lauren and choose your sunglasses the same visit.
More Ways to See Hawaii Clearly
Picture Kailua Bay Without the Glare
The water goes back to five shades of blue. You stop squinting. And your pair is measured, checked, and fitted by people who do this every day. Come try them on.