Kapolei fishing tournament honors 'ninja'
POSTED: Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Ocean lover Gen Fujikawa — who was called a “;ninja”; by his friends — will be memorialized in the first Ninja Shootout Fishing Tournament Sunday in Kapolei. The public is welcome.
Fujikawa, 18, who wanted to be an aquaculturalist, died in December 2005 while diving at Sandy Beach. His best friend, Prestin Maze, and about 10 more of Fujikawa's buddies organized the tournament to honor him and raise money for scholarships.
Maze said, “;Gen was the best waterman of all of us. When his fishing pole went off, he used to run across the rocks so fast he looked like a ninja.”;
About 165 entrants have registered to start shoreline fishing Friday and Saturday on Oahu. Prizes will be awarded Sunday at Kapolei High School, with the weigh-in from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Family events include food and game booths.
All proceeds will go to the Aloha Aina Gen Memorial Award, which provides scholarships to students at Leeward and Kapiolani community colleges. The award was started by Fujikawa's parents, Kapiolani Community College professors Robin and Linda Fujikawa. For more information call organizer Sandi Arakaki at 224-7708.