Maui Canyon Adventures presents a guide service staff trained by an American Canyoneering Association instructor. Since safety in our Maui activity is our top requirement, we select our guide staff with the same care that we choose our gear.

Our guide staff:
Kahi Yap has been a hiking guide for Hike Maui (http://www.hikemaui.com/guides.html) for several years and loves to jump off Maui waterfalls. two years ago he completed training as an ACA Canyon Leader, received certification as a wilderness first responder and is also certified in water safety. He grew up on Maui, knows a lot of ethno-botany and Hawaiian natural and cultural history, loves to dance, is a talented cartoonist, and is very dependable, personable and helpful. He's always there when you need him. He’s a genuine native Maui, Hawaii, guide.

Nick Ocepek is our General Manager. He's a recent arrival to Maui and has lots of experience climbing in North America and Chile. He's very personable and helpful, has a great sense of humor, and will help you thoroughly enjoy your tour with us.

Jason Ruby  is an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys sharing his love for adventure with others. With seven years of experience as Director of a challenge course in Maryland, he’s taught challenge course instructors for high ropes courses and rappelling for four years. He’s worked in aquatics sports and is a certified life guard. He’s taught sharp-shooting and survival skills, and has guided backpacking and spelunking trips as well as ski touring. He’s served as a soccer coach for three years. His specialty is team-building and self-esteem enhancement. He’s personable, curious, bright and a wonderful person.

Kristin Kelly came to us from Alaska, where she was a veterinarian tech, a dental assistant, a tour guide and a mom. When son, Cory, was four, she sold everything to move to Maui, where she connected with Hike Maui and then Maui Canyon Adventures. "I have so much fun on these jobs," she enthuses. "I teach in an outdoor office. I love it when I inspire someone about nature. And I have the best co-workers in the world at both Hike Maui and Maui Canyon Adventures. This is a phenomenal group of people to work with. I feel lucky every day." Her clients feel the same way about her. "On a daily basis someone says I should be on Survivor (the TV show) because of the way I jump around on the rocks in the stream, jump off the cliffs and feel totally confident in the jungle." Kristin has completed the technical ACA training as a Canyon Leader and has been an outstanding guide for several years.

Stephanie Swift had numerous interesting and strange wildlife biology jobs on the mainland and in Hawaii, working mostly with fish and birds. While managing a Nature Conservancy preserve in Idaho, she learned to identify 130 species of birds by their songs. Once in Hawaii, she became enthralled by the ocean, surfing and diving for dinner, and decided that there was no going back. As a result of her love to be athletic and unlimited in where she can go exploring, she decided to come work with us. After her training in the technical aspects of canyoneering, she became an assistant guide with us. She's also been guiding hiking tours in the canyons of Maui with Hike Maui for several years.