HANALEI — The annual North Shore Fishing Tournament is supposed to be held in July or August, but the committee listened to the fishermen and moved it up a month this year. The weigh-in of the event, which is sponsored
HANALEI — The annual North Shore Fishing Tournament is supposed to be held in July or August, but the committee listened to the fishermen and moved it up a month this year.
The weigh-in of the event, which is sponsored by the Wai‘oli Hui‘ia Church, was held Saturday at the Hanalei Pier.
Gary Pacheco, the event emcee whose son Chad was the chair of the tournament, said this year’s event wasn’t just a competition for fish. Since the fishermen were already out on the water, organizers added a special opala, or trash, category. The entries were weighed in along with the fish and the opala was relegated to a container provided by Garden Isle Disposal.
“Moving the tournament was a good idea,” said Gary Pacheco, who is affectionately referred to as “the mayor of Kilauea.”
“We have had a lot of fish come through, but we’re not announcing the winners until the awards banquet Sunday night.”
A total of 56 boats took to the waters from Hanalei before the sun rose, and by the 6 p.m. cutoff, there were indeed a lot of fish. The spectator board showed more than 30 ahi, five aku, four mahimahi, two marlin and a dozen ono in the minutes following the 6 p.m. deadline.
“More fish were caught this year than the last few years,” said marine biologist Terry Lilley. “Lots of fresh ahi for the community.”
Weigh-in took place at the docking setup at the historic Hanalei Pier. Roger DeCamp and his construction company lent their expertise and talent to shore up the historic facility for the boom and scales, Gary Pacheco said.
But DeCamp did not stop there. His Hooker II boat and crew came in as the sun began its descent behind the Hanalei mountains. They were pulling forth a wad of marine netting that tipped the scales at 72 pounds.
He also put forth two ahi, the heavier coming in at 222 pounds, and a 42-pound ono, much to the thrill of the overflow crowd of spectators who jammed up against the yellow tape setting off the scales.
“The Hanalei Pier had some wonderful history today,” Lilley said Saturday. “The pier represents a connection with the sea and fishing and lots of people celebrated this connection today.”
The connection was not limited to the fishing, though. Throughout the day, a nonstop flow of people created edge-to-edge campgrounds on the Hanalei River side of the Pier, with cars parked three and four deep as the Garden Island Canoe Racing Association hosted the Kaiola outrigger canoe paddling regatta and a paddleboard event filled in Hanalei Bay.
The 4th annual North Shore Fishing Tournament is made possible through the efforts of Hano Hano Services, Kobayashi Trucking and Equipment, North Shore Welding, DeCamp Construction, Hawaiian Paradise Flowers, Working Greens Hawai‘i, Fountain Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i Tent, the Lihu‘e Fishing Supply, Innovative Medical Equipment, Garden Isle Disposal, St. Regis Princeville, the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative, C.J.’s, Hale Kaua‘i and the Hanalei Hawaiian Civic Club.
Organizers promised a breakdown of the tournament winners after Sunday’s banquet. Results will be featured in a future issue of TGI.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
