Our Staff
The Team
Originally from the west coast of Canada, the travel itch led Doug and Sharon Spence to explore the South Pacific by sea kayak when they discovered the Vava'u Islands in 1988. Captivated by the natural beauty of this island paradise and the friendliness of its natives, they now spend eight months a year organizing and guiding adventure tours in the Kingdom of Tonga. World citizens, they divide the remainder of the year between exploring new destinations and their other home, New Zealand's South Island.
Natives of Vava'u, Tonga, 'Epeli and Valeti Lavaki have been shareholders in Friendly Islands Kayak Company since its inception in 1991. 'Epeli's (alias the Tongan Cowboy) charisma, sense of humour, and intimate knowledge of his homeland's culture and natural environment never fail to win the hearts of his guests. 'Epeli knows just about every reef in the island group, is well travelled, and verbally fluent in the English language.
The team, left to right: Doug & Sharon Spence and 'Epeli Lavaki
Your Guides
An indigenous guide and a western guide jointly lead all of our trips. The native guide lends invaluable local knowledge and cultural flavour to the experience, while the western guide offers outdoor safety and risk management skills, thereby ensuring our guests' safety, comfort and enjoyment. Positive guest feedback is confirmation that this balance of leadership is a key ingredient in the success of our trips.
