Maui Skydiving LLC Mathieu and Ylenia Mayen St. Louis, Owners

Mathieu St. Louis and his wife Ylenia have experienced a lot of weightless moments running four popular skydiving businesses in Maui, Hawaii. 

But that didn’t compare to the back-to-back experience of feeling the floor fall out from under them financially.  First when the COVID-19 Pandemic hit, and as they began to feel a sense of recovery, they then were struck by the devastating fiscal impact of the Maui Wildfires on Aug. 8, 2023.

The couple explained that Hawaii was the most impacted state due to the travel safety program and lack of tourism. While navigating the financial uncertainty and such a drop-off in business, it both challenged and steeled the couple. It was the wildfires disaster that really jolted them. They explained the Maui wildfires were completely different as they caused immediate devastation within hours and immediately impacted the businesses affiliated with his parent company, St. Louis Capulli LLC, which includes the following businesses: Maui Skydiving, Paralabor, Hawaiian Airlift Co., and Matt’s Sport Parachuting Services.

Maui Skydiving LLC is the largest of all the affiliated companies. The business has a drop zone based at the Hana airport. Paralabor is his independent contracting business. Matt’s Sport Parachuting Services is the company that oversees the bookkeeping and compliance activities for the businesses.  Lastly, the Hawaiian Airlift Company owns the airplanes he utilizes for skydiving and parachuting.

Unlike dozens of other businesses that called Lahaina home, Mathieu’s businesses did not suffer physical damage. An immediate loss of business followed, and they were close to filing bankruptcy due to the snowball effect that often begins immediately after a disaster.

Following the devastating fires, the couple were forced to lay off all staff. The businesses were forced to cancel customer contracts.  In an unexpected blow, his planes soon began to suffer corrosion from lack of use. The collateral value of his planes depreciated because of this decay, and the couple could no longer pay for maintenance fees.

Father’s Influence Defined his Future

Mathieu St. Louis emigrated from Vancouver, Canada to Hawaii in 2018, in pursuit of a dream involving his father. Mathieu came from a skydiving family. A Korean War combat veteran, his father served the Canadian army on the front lines, coming home with scars from that conflict resulting in post-traumatic stress disorder. Skydiving became a cathartic outlet for his father – saving his life from the psychological grip of this then – little understood illness. Mathieu’s passion for skydiving came from experiences with his father and lead to the start of his business.

Before arriving in Hawaii, Mathieu worked in many different vacation destinations. While training during in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, he met his wife, Ylenia, a scuba instructor. Soon after, they collaborated and established their first business, Matt’s Sport Parachuting Services, a self-contracting parachuting service and moved to Hawaii.

In 2018, the couple first went to Kauai, then to Oahu; however, they determined that Maui was a more lucrative market for their specialized skills and training providing experiences of a lifetime – for clients and tourists visiting this destination island.

Their final stop was Hana, where the drop zone is located. Until the pandemic hit, and later the wildfires, they were very successful, growing the operation. Their business allows customers to experience skydiving safely by having a qualified jumper parachute in tandem with the client.  Those exhilarating mid-air moments are captured through video and photographs – often a treasured experience – according to customer feedback, the couple said.

SBA Disaster Loan Provides a Critical Lifeline

Through an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), Mathieu and Ylenia were soon able to rehire the same local staff. SBA funds help their business to establish new procedures to remain successful, provided immediate cash flow, and the ability to repair their planes.

Mathieu emphasized how important it is that SBA provides access to capital.

“The lack of access to capital immediately is one of the biggest issues that to small businesses today, and there is the need for immediate cash flow to keep a business afloat after a disaster,” Mathieu explained.  “The SBA gives this cash flow without taking ownership of our business!”

The business has become more resilient, and the couple said they appreciate SBA’s loan program for saving them through both COVID and the catastrophic wildfires disaster. They said it was the most effective lifeline to recover from the back-to-back disasters and to circumvent bankruptcy.

Matthieu is extremely grateful to the Business Recovery Center in Kihei. He says the customer service representatives were amazing and able to assist in submitting his complex application. He mentioned that during the application process, the customer service representatives did their due diligence and were able to correct any issues the same day. After a week, he received his approval on his loans. 

“It is really beneficial for our businesses to have the business recovery center on Maui,” he said. “Businesses need that one-on-one assistance, and it saves the businesses essential time by being so local.”

The couple says they now plan to buy a new location in upcountry Maui at the Kula drop zone. Currently, Ylenia is a marine biologist and assists the business when she is available to partner with her husband.

Matthieu and Ylenia are grateful they are in the position to give back to their adopted community. They donate 10 percent of their salaries to Maui Nut Marine Resource Council, Hana Cultural Center and Museum, and Hale Hulu Memo. Maui Nut Marine Resource Council is a nonprofit organization that is working for healthy coral reefs, clean ocean water and abundant native fish for the islands of Maui County. Hale Hulu Memo is adult care center assisting elderly.

In closing, the couple said it would not have been possible to continue their business without the help of the SBA disaster loan program.