The idea for Viakix was first planted, on my honeymoon with my high-school sweetheart.
I married Elissa after college and we celebrated our honeymoon in the beautiful island of Kauai, Hawaii. On our first day, we hiked the breathtaking Nā Pali Coast.
The 22-mile hike showcases the island's rugged northwest coastline, with amazing views of the green mountain cliffs and the crystal blue Pacific.
Halfway through our hike, the sky opened, and a torrential downpour ensued.
Our "hiking shoes" (really tennis sneakers that we repurposed for the hike) got soaking wet and destroyed. While we made it back, our sneakers unfortunately did not.
At that moment, I thought someone needed to create better athletic footwear to handle these unpredictable hikes. But with a mountain of debt and bills to pay, that "someone" could not be me.