Hawai’i Fishing Fanatic

Posts Tagged ‘hawaii’

Sorry folks! I’m taking a short hiatus to watch the NFL Championships this weekend and along with football updates, have consumed most of the my time this week. I apologize for not posting and will be back at it soon.

Congratulations to the Indianapolis Colts for winning the AFC Championship and like I posted on my Hawaii Football Fanatics blog, a big ho’omaika’i (congratulations) to Bruddahs, Aaron Francisco (Kahuku) and Nesians Freddie Keiaho and Fili Moala on their tough road to the Superbowl.

I’m rooting for the Minnesota Vikings to win the NFC Championship. Go Vikings! However, I do like the Saints too since I spent time in my Air Force days deep in the Bayous. My buddies in Mississippi and Louisiana have a great love for the team. I also emphathize with the trials and tribulations the franchise has gone through from the days I was down in New Orleans.

Naufahu Tahi

Good luck to both teams and I’ll be back soon!

Got wind of this from fellow F.B.I. blogger, Damon Tucker, who posted news that a pair of locals who had been scamming tourists for quite some time were arrested by Hawai’i County PD. I happen to catch the tail end of today’s newscast and remembered back in December that Aloha Kayak Co. had problems with illegal vendors. Check it out at KITV.com, “State Cracks Down on Illegal Vendors.”

I love kayak fishing and it hurts to hear these kind of things being done on the Big Island. For those who want to enter the sport, even as tourists, it discourages them from participating. Plus, this kind of news further deters me from venturing out or taking ‘ohana out to other Big Isle fishing spots without worrying about being hassled by hooligans. I’ve heard complaints about illegal vendors strong-arming folks but it seems these two did it very openly like many others without fear. Where’s the cops when you need them?

Take a look at these bruddahs and tell me you wouldn’t pay $5 for parking!

Herman Santiago

Kapahukula Voorhees

Auwe! Big Time to DLNR and Hawai’i County PD for not acting sooner!

Okay, if you’re like me wondering what’s going on and confused heading into the New Year about the National Saltwater Angler Registry (NSAR), don’t fret, other fishermen in the U.S. are having the same problem. Hawai’i is currently one of several states (Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Virginia and the U.S. Virgin Islands) that is required to have their fishermen register to fish because we do not have a comprehensive recreational saltwater license or registration program. NOAA has a site specifically to register and answer questions about the NSAR called the NOAA Marine Recreational Information Program.

There are pros and cons to having a national saltwater angler registry but I’ll defer on this while I wait and see what the Feds have in store for the data. Intrusive information that reminds me a little bit of the film, “Red Dawn,” where the Cuban leader ordered his men to gather information about the Boy Scouts (Remember? Said to be a paramilitary organization). I know, it might be a stretch and may never be used for dubious purposes, but too much identity theft and government security breaches going on that it makes me wary.

I always thought Hawai’i would be immune to this kind of licensing because of our long fishing tradition but it looks like the State of Hawai’i never implemented a program to keep or gather hard data for NOAA’s use. Read what other states in the same boat as Hawai’i are reporting:

New Jersey

Rhode Island

Virginia

Maryland

Massachusetts

Here’s an article from North Carolina that states that anglers don’t have to register because they have a program that NOAA can use to mine data:

North Carolina

Check out Hawai’i Fishing News and DLNR for other information.

Anyway, it’s free to register in 2010 but may have a fee attached later. So make your assessment and leave a comment. Maybe our government leaders in Hawai’i will make the right decisions regarding our recreational fishing interests. Do I hear, vote Abercrombie For Governor? You decide!

President Obama Fly Fishing in Montana

The President and his ‘ohana arrived yesterday to spend their holidays in Hawai’i for rest and relaxation. I’m hoping he’ll find some time to visit the other islands, especially the Big Island.  If not, he can go flyfishing with me and Reef Rippas Hawai’i Flyfishing Service as he did in Montana.

I’m a great admirer of the President and his policies. So here’s an invitation to you, Mr. President, that if you have the time during your vacation, we’ll gladly take you out to flyfish for ‘o’io (bonefish) nearby in Kane’ohe bay or out in Hawai’i Kai. We are a “green” flyfishing service, so you might have to paddle a little bit on our tandem kayak depending on the spot and conditions (although not more than 20 minutes). It should be fun and maybe you’ll hook up to a screaming ‘o’io at the end of your line. That should make your day!!! It does for me!!

Aloha,

Don Aweau

There are many watermen who I have come to respect over the years, like the Napoleon, Keaulana, Kinimaka and other kama’aina ‘ohana but I have always been enamored by the legendary Hawaiian waterman, Eddie Aikau. I grew up reading about his exploits and his fateful passing in 1978. Being a lifeguard myself in my early years, I identified with him and practiced his philosophy whenever I could.

In my youth, I use to charge the North Shore waves with my peers like Brock Little, Noah Budroe and the late Todd Chesser. I took the approach that I could ride any wave out there if I put my mind to it. Just like, “Eddie Would Go!” This carried over into my formative years and along with longtime Hawaiian surfer, Larry Bertlemann’s, “anything is possible,” have been my core beliefs in life.

Today, the Eddie Aikau Invitational started with great anticipation at Waimea Bay. Big surf that hasn’t been seen in decades provided a dramatic backdrop. Although Eddie was known more for surfing, he was also a very accomplished fisherman and diver.

I dedicate this post to him, his ‘ohana, the Aikau’s, and his friends. Mahalo for continuing the memory of a great Hawaiian waterman, Eddie Aikau.