The company was founded by Nicolas Mermoud and Jean-Luc Diard, former Salomon employees, in 2009, when they sought to design a shoe that allowed them to run downhill faster.
This pair created a model with an oversized outsole that had more cushion than other running shoes at the time. The shoes are named after the Maori language phrase loosely meaning “fly over the earth.”
HOKA was purchased on April 1, 2013 by Deckers Brands, the parent company for UGG, Teva, and other footwear brands.
Hoka One One has come out with so many different models that choosing the right shoe for running or other sports can be difficult.
In December 2021, Hoka One One decided to drop the “One One” part of its name and go by plain Hoka.
While the company is best known for its running shoes, it also makes shoes specifically for walking.
Hoka maintains a corporate office in Goleta, California.
