Kobash

MAILI (WAIANAE), OAHU, HAWAII — EST. 1980s - Early 2000's.

Randal Kobashikawa was a lure maker out of Maili, on the Waianae coast of Oʻahu — "Kobash" was short for his surname Kobashikawa. Little is documented about him today, but his reputation is clear among those who knew the work: his lures were exceptionally well made, and they've become genuine collector's items.

Randal worked as a radar technician with the 297th Air Traffic Control Squadron at Kalaeloa, making lures in his free time and selling them at some of the local stores here on Oahu.

He has since passed away in 2021, which makes his surviving lures all the more treasured.

Identification tips:

• "KOBASH" — his label that was sometimes inside the lures
• Known for exceptional build quality and hand-made resin eyes
• Skirt saddles usually have horizontal lathing lines with a rough gritty texture.

Below, you’ll find our ever-growing digital archive showcasing every lure that has come through our shop. This collection is constantly evolving as new lures arrive, making it a living record of rare, limited-production lures. We will continue updating this database regularly, building what we aim to be the largest digital archive of offshore trolling lures in the world.

If you have any further information or any lures you believe deserve to be showcased, please reach out to us at ren@luremonger.com