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Water Ways Ray Pendleton |
HIBT back home
in Kailua-KonaTHERE are some recreational boaters in Hawaii who have something less than praise for the Department of Land and Natural Resources and its management of our state's marinas. But not so for Peter Fithian, founder and chairman of the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament.
Of course, it's quite understandable because, after last year's HIBT relocation to Honokohau Harbor, it will now be back where it belongs at the pier in the heart of Kailua-Kona.
"I am happy to report (the pier) is just about finished and Kailua-Kona is boasting a very up-to-date weighing platform, capable of handling the 2,000-pound blue marlin, if it happens," Fithian said recently.
Fithian went on to give his thanks to DLNR's chairman Peter Young, who, as a child in Kona, had watched HIBT weigh-ins with his father, an early HIBT board member.
For those who haven't visited Kailua-Kona in recent years, its main pier, like the rest of Hawaii's boating infrastructure, had been crumbling into ruins until its restoration funding was allocated a couple of years ago.
During the construction last summer, the 45-year-old HIBT was forced to move its operations to the small boat harbor, a short drive north of town.
For an event that relies heavily on camaraderie and tradition, that short drive was a distraction to say the least.
But now it's about a three-minute walk from the breakfast room in the King Kamehameha Hotel (HIBT's headquarters) to the dockside weigh-in and loading station, Fithian pointed out.
As in previous HIBTs, there will be the traditional "Crying Towel" tent adjacent to the weigh-in area where contestants can swap fish stories over a cold one every afternoon.
These stories have real importance when they're often the only things an HIBT angler has to show for his or her effort. Unless a fish is estimated to be a good deal over 300 pounds, it's usually tagged and released for points, rather than killed and weighed.
For the spectators, though, it's the chance of seeing a monster fish being weighed that keeps them sitting in the grandstands every afternoon.
It's been 18 years since angler Gil Kraemer of California's Laguna Niguel team brought in his record-breaking 1,062.5-pound Pacific blue marlin aboard Freddie Rice's 31-foot Ihu Nui, but everyone knows it can happen again.
Just last year, the same team hooked up and then lost an estimated "grander" (over 1,000-pound fish) that had the boat screaming around at 25 knots trying to keep up with it, Fithian said.
Apparently with the thought of another grander being weighed in soon, the HIBT is honoring one of Kona's pioneer charter boat captains, George Parker Sr. A new trophy with his name will be awarded this year to any skipper and angler who brings in what some call a "marlin grando."
Fithian also said that this year's HIBT -- Aug. 8-16 -- already has several entries from Australia, Japan and the mainland, as well as teams of local anglers. There's even an all-wahine team entered from Bora Bora, French Polynesia.
Nevertheless, Fithian said, there are still a few spots open for teams interested in a five-day contest where the fish are waiting just outside the harbor.
For more information, visit the HIBT Web site at konabillfish.com, or call tournament director Sue Vermillion at (808) 329-6155.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Ray Pendleton is a free-lance writer based in Honolulu.
His column runs Saturdays in the Star-Bulletin.
He can be reached by e-mail at raypendleton@mac.com.