A Native-Owned Wellness Destination on Kodiak Island
Founded in 2022 by Brenda and Jerrol Friend, Friends by the Ocean, LLC is a Native-owned wellness destination located on 24 acres of oceanfront property in Chiniak, Alaska. Brenda, an enrolled member of the Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak, and Jerrol bring more than 40 years of combined experience in construction, community development, and public service. With their construction company, Friends Contractors, LLC, they brought a long-held family vision to life.
The resort blends wellness, hospitality, and nature in a truly unique way. Guests can enjoy spa facilities, six guest cabins, trails through old-growth Sitka spruce forests, and a two-story winery overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Located 35 miles outside Kodiak and accessible by road, Friends by the Ocean welcomes both local Alaskans and wellness travelers seeking a luxury experience grounded in Alaska’s natural beauty.
Brenda first connected with the Alaska Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in 2018 for support on another venture, and by 2019 she was back, this time with the seed of what would become Friends by the Ocean. With guidance from Ruth Wolfe, Alaska SBDC Rural Business Advisor, Brenda and Jerrol refined their business plan and financial projections to prepare for launch.
In 2025, they partnered with First National Bank Alaska to secure a $2.5 million SSBCI-supported loan. Through the Tribal SSBCI Loan Guarantee Program, managed by the Alaska SBDC at the University of Alaska Anchorage, 50 percent of the loan was guaranteed, reducing lender risk and ensuring the financing needed to complete the project.
The loan provided refinancing and working capital, covering construction debt while also supporting final build-out, furniture, fixtures, staffing, and marketing. By June 2025, Friends by the Ocean officially opened, generating nearly $98,000 in reservations in the first month. The opening created three new jobs, with additional growth planned as the resort expands operations.
“Brenda and Jerrol have been building homes and commercial property in Kodiak for 40 years. Friends by the Ocean is their gift to the permanent residents and visitors to Kodiak to say thank you. Their goal was to develop a unique, world-class destination within driving distance from the City of Kodiak. Their entire family and employees have taken on this project, demonstrating how much they believe in our community,” said First National Vice President and Kodiak Branch Manager Mark Lonheim. “I could not be more proud of what they have accomplished and wish them the best for years to come.”
Beyond economic impact, the project has delivered meaningful community benefits, transforming underutilized rural property into a year-round destination, strengthening Kodiak Island’s tourism infrastructure, and positioning Alaska as a leader in sustainable, Indigenous-owned hospitality.
For the Friends family, the resort represents more than business growth. As Brenda and Jerrol explain, “At the heart of it all, Friends by the Ocean isn’t just about the water—it’s about the people who share it.”
With the support of the Alaska SBDC, the Tribal SSBCI program, and First National, Friends by the Ocean is poised to thrive and inspire for years to come.
Experience the beauty of Kodiak’s Emerald Isle at Friends by the Ocean, where Alaska’s natural wonder meets Native-owned hospitality.
Learn more at friendsbytheocean.com and on Facebook and Instagram.
