Our Story

 Our Story

It all started eight years ago with a simple visit to a local home improvement store. We spotted a small, pre-formed pond liner and thought a modest water garden with a waterfall would be a fun addition to our backyard. After digging through the sun-packed Arizona dirt, we successfully installed our 125-gallon pond, complete with a stream and waterfall. We began our journey with a few feeder goldfish, but we soon found ourselves wanting something more vibrant. We decided to add two small koi to the mix, and it was "all downhill" from there—in the best way possible. We quickly realized that these fish were not just ornaments; they had distinct personalities and could even be trained to hand-feed. This connection sparked a curiosity to find a better selection of koi than what local pet stores could offer.

Identifying a Need

As we searched online for higher-quality fish, we discovered a significant hurdle: while you could find fair prices on koi, the shipping costs were often prohibitive unless you purchased a large number of fish at once. For the average hobbyist, this simply wasn't a practical option.We also noticed a void in the local market. There was no dedicated supplier of quality koi in the Phoenix area, and Arizona lacked a professional website where enthusiasts could view and purchase quality domestic or Imported Japanese koi. Most local options were limited to peer-to-peer advertising sites where the health and quality of the fish were often questionable, as most were being rehomed from decommissioned ponds.

From Hobbyists to Professionals

Driven by our passion and the desire to fill this gap, we established our own business to acquire koi at wholesale prices and offer them to local enthusiasts without the burden of high individual shipping costs or uncertain health histories. Our commitment to the hobby has led to significant growth in our operations:

• The Collection: We have upgraded from that original 125-gallon pre-formed pond to a 4,000-gallon personal collection pond.

• Facility Expansion: What began with a couple of 600-gallon holding pools has evolved into a professional storefront facility. We now maintain eight holding pools of various sizes, with our largest reaching 1,800 gallons.

• Selection: This expanded capacity allows us to house a diverse and healthy inventory, ensuring our customers have access to a wide variety of beautiful "living jewels" in a professional viewing environment.

Today, Hakuna Matata Koi is proud to serve the Arizona koi community and hobbyists nationwide. We invite you to join us in this rewarding hobby and find the perfect koi to start, or grow, your own backyard oasis.

Mike and Melissa Watkins