If not for Florence Tokuda’s faith in grandson Ryan Arakaki, we might not be witness to a fourth In4mation store, which will open its doors Friday at Ala Moana Center.

The opening will be dedicated in her memory. Tokuda died Sept. 22 at age 88 knowing Arakaki’s gratitude over the role she played in the company’s success.

Twelve years ago, Arakaki and his partners Jun Jo, Keith Kanagusuku and Todd Shimabuku, started their tiny streetwear company with big dreams in Mililani. With roots in retail, they knew they had to reach a larger audience and set their sights on a more prominent space in Ward Warehouse. They managed to scrape together about $20,000 from savings, family and friends for their initial startup but didn’t have the cash for the next step up, and bankers weren’t rushing to loan money to a bunch of 20-something skate and surf dudes.

"At that time, the concept was new and they didn’t want to take the risk," Arakaki said. "We’d be sitting in front of them thinking, ‘This is a million-dollar idea, why won’t you guys give us the money?’"

But one banker did take interest and introduced them to the Hawaii Community Loan Fund, which takes on high-risk loans. The caveat: They needed collateral to secure the loan.

Arakaki first asked his parents if they would put up their Mililani house for collateral, but they demured, saying it was almost paid off. Next, he approached his grandma.

"I had this whole spiel prepared but all she asked was, ‘Who’s doing it?’ I said, ‘Me.’"

"She said, ‘You guys can do this, right?’ And then she just said, ‘OK.’"

"She, like, knew. She knew the business. She knew how we grew up skating and surfing, and that it was part of a new, different lifestyle. She said, ‘I trust you guys. Just don’t lose the house.’"

In4mation opened its Ward Warehouse location with about eight of its own graphic T-shirt designs and a mix of toys, street apparel and accessories. The good news was that Arakaki was able to pay back the loan in two years and win back the title for his grandmother’s home.

"We had a nice family dinner. It was super casual and she just said, ‘Thank you for not losing my home.’"

As for that million-dollar idea, In4mation hit that milestone in 2006.

"It was one of those things where, at the end of the year, we looked at the books and said, ‘Wow, we really made that,’ but it’s not like it ended up in our pockets. It’s nuts because people hear that and think you’re rich but the money always goes back into the business and you never see it."

These days, he watches "Shark Tank" and is better able to put himself in the shoes of investment bankers and angel investors who hold the purse strings over entrepreneurs. He said he would have taken a chance on himself and if ever in a position to do so, he would be willing to help an entrepreneur with a good plan.

"We had people who believed in us and you gotta pay it forward, definitely."

The 9:30 a.m. In4mation grand opening will feature an "art piece presentation" by Aaron "Angry Woebots" Martin, also known as "Woes Martin," who will be showcasing a 5-foot statue of his signature panda, his first 3-D piece of that size.

Shoppers will be able to purchase limited releases of Woes x In4mation graphic T-shirts and snapback hats at the new location.

The store will include a wide range of streetwear brands, including apparel, accessories and shoes from Stussy, Undefeated, Benny Gold, Huf, Moon Collective, Lightsleepers and more.

In4mation’s other locations are in Pearlridge Center, Chinatown and Las Vegas. The number for the Ala Moana store is 941-0411.