Family History

Alyssa Salinas and Chandler Sharp, siblings, are two of the original co-founders of Hamoa Company and serve the non-profit on the Board of Directors. Their Hawaiian heritage dates back to the mid-1850s when his ancestor, Timothy Lyons docked in Lahaina, Maui, on a barkentine sailing ship. Captivated by the beauty of Maui, Lyons left the ship and journeyed around the island to Hana, where he later married Aneiulia Huailikapu Halualani in 1863.

Timothy Lyons’ son, Thomas Lyons, married their great-great-grandmother, Rosalie Enos, in 1894 in Wailuku, and they settled in Hana. Rosalie Enos made history in 1925 as the first woman elected to the Hawaii Territorial Legislature, representing the island of Kauai. 

Their grandfather, Merlyn (Frenchy) Lyons, continued the family’s ocean passion as an active member of the Waikiki Outrigger canoe club. He was taught how to steer a canoe by the world-famous Duke Kahanamoku (1890 – 1968) and was a member of the winning crew for the 1956 Moloka’i to O’ahu Race in a koa canoe.  In 1978, to commemorate Capt. James Cooke’s 200th anniversary of his arrival to the islands, Merlyn and a team of paddlers shipped the Hawaiian canoe, Wa’alele, to Calais, France.  As the paddlers were part of the International Hawaiian Canoe Association they paddled it across the English Channel to Redcar, England. The canoe was then donated and placed it in the James Cooke Museum.  He also coached the 1979 Hawaii team that raced dragon boats in Hong Kong.  After moving to Hana, Maui in the early 80’s, he was instrumental in the Hana canoe club as a paddler and a coach for the keiki (kids). 

Alyssa and Chandler spent many memorable summers in Hana with their grandparents. They spent countless hours with the family enjoying the ocean through tide pooling, body surfing, and paddling. One of their favorite activities was playing in the waves at Hamoa Beach! They have carried on the family’s legacy of ocean stewardship by co-founding Hamoa Company with their father, Mark Sharp, and friend, Chris Goodrich, who also have strong connections to Hawaii. 

Mark Sharp received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawaii and spent three years as a dolphin researcher at the Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Lab. In college he met Chandler’s mother, Kathy Lyons. Kathy, like her father Merlyn, graduated from Punahou High School. Kathy grew up in Kaneohe, O’ahu, and regularly body surfed in the mornings before attending class.  

Together, we created Hamoa Company as a way to give back to the Hawaiian people and help preserve the ocean and its delicate ecosystem. Their shared passion for ocean conservation and sustainability drives the company’s mission and vision.