Keiki win at Kamali‘i Challenge

PORT ALLEN — Lehia Armstrong topped “catch and release” and Aaro McDaniels “caught one” Saturday during the first Kamali‘i Challenge at the Port Allen Small Boat Harbor.

Nearly 400 young anglers aged between 3 to 15 years old crowded the waterline at the small boat harbor in a catch-and-release keiki fishing tournament presented by the Port Allen Fishing Club that hosted more than 40 participants during its annual derby in June.

“We were impressed with the number of keiki and their families who turned out for our first attempt at a keiki tournament,” said Marge Goodno, a tournament official. “This is in spite of the fact there were a lot of events taking place around the island.”

Norman “Unko Kimo” Kali served as the event director.

Lahela Kua and Nawaieha Watson tied for the most points in the 3-6 years age group.

Kahekili Kali earned the most points in the 7-10 division, and Kainoa Blaze Silva piled up the most points in the 11-15 age group.

“This was a catch-and-release tournament,” Goodno said. “It was hard to keep track of just how many fish came across the weighmasters’ table. But everyone had prizes thanks to the generous community sponsors. There must have been at least 50 backpacks filled with about $100 worth of fishing gear. No one who registered left without a prize, regardless of whether they caught a fish.”

Kalai Lemons topped the Heaviest Invasive in the age 3-6 class with Kauikeokalani Kanahele grabbing the heaviest invasive in the 7-10 division. Kade Gusman had the heaviest invasive in the 11-15 age group.

“This was tremendously successful,” Goodno said. “It definitely became an annual event, and we’ll do it again, next year. We just need to figure out how to get it off without conflicting with other big community events.”

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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.