26 year old Norio Akai has been around custom motorcycles for as far back as he can remember. “There were always about 10 bikes at home to play with. and when I was fifteen years old my father gave me a moped to restore. I still can remember I was so excited,” he said.

The son of Gem Corporation owner Kiyoshi Akai, Norio worked hard to prove he was a worthy motorcycle builder, and not just the son of one of Kyoto Japan’s top motorcycle companies, so after graduating from mechanic high school, he worked from the bottom up as a warehouseman, instructor, assistant chief mechanic and eventually to Phoenix U.S.A.’s top motorcycle builders.

Moving to Hawaii in May of 2006, where his father opened a new factory Norio say’s he is excited and honored about the opportunity to compete in Hawaiian Chopper’s upcoming Winterfest & Bike Show against BMC Choppers’ Big Mike.

“I’m kinda worried. Big Mike has a big reputation, and he makes awesome motorcycles, but Steve [at Hawaiian Chopper] said not to worry, just build something I like, so that is what I will do,” he said.