Kayaking in Paradise
By Tricia Nelson
Melissa and Michael McCoy know how to keep life interesting.
Before the two California natives met on a blind date, they had enjoyed varied careers, extended sabbaticals in Hawaii, and travel to far-flung destinations such as Fiji. They married in 1991, and together they bought, managed and sold a kayak business; developed an Internet-based travel agency; established a thriving herb company; and started an outfitter business, leading kayak expeditions throughout the South Pacific.
"We are both type-A personalities — always on the go," says Michael McCoy. "Stress is just part of the business."
McCoy, 51, had spent nearly six years working as a stockbroker in Hawaii. It was an uncharacteristic career choice for the one-time building contractor who constantly indulged his love of scuba diving, exotic travel and outrigger canoe racing. However, there was no denying he was good at it. "It was the easiest job I ever had," he says, "but the rewards weren't very much and it didn't have a lot going for it."
He left the office job to spend more time on the ocean. While honeymooning in New Zealand in 1991, he discovered his love for kayaking and set his sights on opening a kayak shop. That goal was soon realized with the launch of South Pacific Kayaks, a business that offered kayak rentals, retail sales and day tours with snorkeling.
Melissa McCoy, 47, spent two years working with her husband in the kayak shop, then ventured out to open her own travel agency, McCoy Travel. As her business thrived and the kayak shop started facing intense competition, the couple decided to combine efforts. They sold the kayak shop in 1996 — the same year Melissa opened the Internet-based business, Fiji Reservations and Travel — and they launched Kayak Kadavu, a company offering specialized guided kayak tours to Fiji.
The Maui-based couple were able to incorporate their passion for the Fiji islands and the water. Nowadays, they guide about eight trips a year through Kayak Kadavu, which is named for Fiji's fourth-largest island.
But their story doesn't end there.
Five years ago, Michael began gardening as a hobby. He started with one lemongrass plant and now boasts about 800 offshoots of that original plant. In fact, his hobby has grown into Haleakala Herb Company, a full-fledged herb business. Michael says the business has grown exponentially, and it now supplies fresh herbs to upscale restaurants such as Wolfgang Puck's Spago, as well as wholesale customers across the island.
Even with all this, they remain open to new challenges. Melissa acknowledges that "it's hard to say if I'll have the agency in five years."
That's because for the McCoys, variety is truly the spice of life. She is branching out into travel writing, and he dabbles in photography — on top of their kayaking, scuba diving and travel.
Regardless of the twists and turns their careers are destined to take, there will always be constants in their lives: the water, nature in general and their beloved Fiji.
For more information, visit: www.fijikayak.com, www.freshislandherbs.com or www.mccoytravel.com.
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