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Sports Watch
WHEN it comes to the billfish tournament in Kailua-Kona, it can be all attributed to a man called Peter. Peter, billfish
reuniting in
Kailua-KonaPeter Fithian was the founder of the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament in 1959 when Hawaii became a state.
Realizing that Kailua-Kona had the best fishing hole in the world just off its shoreline, Fithian and a few friends turned the sleepy, picturesque Big Island town into the Marlin Mecca of the world.
The HIBT enjoyed a smashing 40-year run, but was canceled last year for reasons never fully explained.
One reason -- that there wasn't enough volunteer help to run the event -- was laughed right out of Kailua-Kona town by those who knew better.
When pressed, others simply said it was because of "internal problems" and let it go at that.
Try, instead, visualizing a meeting in which some people told Fithian that he wasn't needed anymore. Thanks for the memories, but we can take it over from here, Peter.
Probably the most relieved individual when that happened was Fithian's wife, Bobbie.
"Now we can do things like other normal persons," she told her husband, "like going on vacations."
Well, put the vacations back on hold, Bobbie.
PETER Fithian's back on the scene once again as the HIBT returns to Kailua-Kona late this summer.
It'll be the 41st HIBT, but not the 41st annual for obvious reasons because of the Great Blank of 1999.
Fithian is philosophical about the one-year lapse.
"I think it deserves to go on. A lot of people were disappointed and the town seemed to have missed it," he said.
HIBT redux will resume with a scaled-down staff and 27-year volunteer Daryl Turner as tournament director.
The key to its revival is that Fithian again will be involved with his baby. "I'll try to help make it happen without taking any big titles," he said.
It will be a welcome sight to see the Kailua Bay pier bustling with activity again.
Not that he needs it, but Fithian will get a tuneup with a lead-in event as the International Game Fish Association will hold its annual Invitational Tournament of Champions March 4-12 in Kailua-Kona.
Call it ITOC for short.
Forty-one teams from 10 countries have accepted the invitation, which goes out to the winners of the 55 qualifying tournaments that the Florida-based game fish association conducts worldwide.
THE winning team will be recognized by the IGFA as the "World Champion of Fishing."
The IGFA selected Fithian, one of its trustees, as a "facililator" for ITOC, which will be sponsored by Rolex.
"The IGFA looked around and had a choice of picking Puerto Rico or Cancun (Mexico). But they decided to choose Kailua-Kona," Fithian said.
It was a no-brainer, according to IGFA President Mike Leech.
"We selected Kona to hold our championship tournament because of the beautiful locale, year-round calm waters, great charter boats and crews, and the ability to catch large marlin year round," he stated.
Like the HIBT, set for July 29 through Aug. 4, and the Pro-Am the week before, the ITOC also has a tag-and-release format for all marlin.
Tournament headquarters will be at the Hotel King Kamehameha, the same host site of the HIBT. And coordinating the tournament locally will be Sue Vermillion, (808) 329-7371.
But, most of all, it's nice to see Peter Fithian back where he belongs -- on the Kona scene.
Bill Kwon has been writing about
sports for the Star-Bulletin since 1959.