November 19, 2006
Alii Holo Kai Kumu Hunt . . .
. . .By George
On November 19th, Sunday, 28 members and guests of the Alii Holo Kai (AHK) dive club, registered to participate in search for the largest “goat fish” on Oahu. Normally, this time of the month the water is misty, due to high surf and irregular tide change, making this event challenging. But, exceptional divers consistently know how to find large Kumu’s or Moana Kali’s; they know the terrain and type of fish that’s in the area, and are determined to be “KH Champion” for 2006. ”
The Contest
The same scenario year after year of weighing in the fish happens at the home of Frank Farm, (AHK) president. The dive starts from day break and ends at 2:00 pm followed by a party at 6:OO.
Before the weigh-in, the divers sample and vote on a Poke contest. This category is optional for participation. This year’s winner went to Roy Kamisato, displaying his Tako Poke. To me, the texture was tender, tasty, and different, the flavor was similar to that expensive Japanese shell fish that you buy and eat right out of the can, truthfully that’s
my opinion, “Roy, got my vote”.
The weigh-in is always suspenseful and exciting, especially if you knew that you had
a chance to place in a category and the deciding factor is a fraction of an ounce. For example, Wayde Hayashi edged out Wendell Ko for a prize in the Toau category by little over an ounce, but all you can do is “suck it up and laugh “both divers are considered “World Class”.
After the weigh in, the winners in each category gather to clean the speared fish, a traditional honor that has made the group close and this is when the “bull session” starts. “It’s hilarious”.
Goat Story
It must be goat season, and there are no significant changes that the Kumu’s are getting scarce, you just have to know where to find them, says Dayne Fujiwara, crowned “Kumu Champion” for 2006. Humbly,
Dayne said that this is his second time he has taken top honors in this prestigious
event and indirectly, looks forward to teach anyone that comes down to the shop to talk
story, especially “cute chicks”, Nosily, I asked him where he found those big Kumu’s. Cautiously, answering my
question, Dayne smiling, shook his head and jokingly said, can’t tell you dat”. “Dat’s why I am the “champ”, Ha! Ha! Ha! “.
Jason Hijirida from Mililani was the “champion” for the largest goat fish, scoring on the Moana Kali’s. Jason says he has no secrets when it comes to spearfishing and told us where and how he speared all those Kali’s. By now, the word is out so its no big deal, says Jason, only that it was reported that a large tiger shark was recently seen
cruising the area, and it was in the back of my mind whenever I strung up a fish, especially a big “jet Uhu” that I had speared to give to the “bruddahs”. Jason said that he decided to just swim out from Waimanalo beach rather than plow through surf and swimming in murky waters which was a last minute decision to take part or go to work. Jason said that diving alone is against his practice, but sometimes you just “gotta chance em”. Jason said that his intention
was to spear one large goat fish and swim back to shore, but came across an “Oasis” in the desert, that was unreal. “Every time I dropped down and waited to spear a fish, a Moana Kali would cross my path”. I think
the “goats” grouped in this area because it was their “safe house” from larger predators and it bothered me. Jason said that this action lasted about an hour. While on shore, he washed down his dive gear, dressed up
and drove to work at Toyota City. Driving on the highway, he called Frank on his cell and told him his plans, before coming to the weigh-in. While the other divers were still in the water searching for fish, Jason had sold a car
and finalized the sale upon arriving to Frank’s home. Jason shaking his head and smiling in disbelief said “The day was bad”
Awards Banquet
The party is at Lam’s Garden, a Chinese restaurant in Kahala. The fish is cooked and served along with a seven- course dinner. The highlight of the menu is always the prized steamed Kumu and Moana Kali, just to mention that if bought, retails for $12.95 a pound at Tamashiro Market. Personally, I preferred eating the sweet sour style
Ponuhmuhu, even though the cook had remarked, “that one gotta put plenty camouflage”. Before, during and after
dinner, Terrence, Terry and Frank kept pulling numbers from a bowl and everyone that attended went home with a prized gift. These ranged from T shirts, knives, various dive equipment including a great speargun. If you weren’t stuffed, you must be in training or on a diet, because this was the year’s closing event and beginning of the
holiday season. Every table had “choke” food, said Terry Yonashiro, awards chairman. I was full, I just wanted to go
home and “fall down”, and my day was eighteen hours of non-rest.
Following the awards for the winners, a presentation for the Banana Awards went to the diver’s that speared no qualifying fish. “It felt like going up to catch a garter belt at a wedding”, said Terrence Takahata (MC)
for the event, “you kind of hesitantly not try to get noticed”. But that’s what this tournament is all about, having fun making new friends and mingling with old friends with the same interest, “Freedive Spearfishing”.
Kumu Hunt Winners
Total Weight: (Goatfish)
Champion – Dayne Fujiwara, 3 lbs. 5.6 oz.
Second – David Sakoda, 1 lb. 13.2 oz.
Third – Wayde Hayashi, 1 1b. 4 0z.
Largest: (Goatfish)
Champion – Jason Hijirida, 3 lbs. 9.8 oz.
Second – Leonard Manley, 1 lb. 15.6 oz.
Third – Shay Motonaga, 1 lb.9.1 oz.
Largest: (Papio) Roland Miguel, 7 lbs. 10.2 oz.
Largest: (Ponuhmuhu) Bryan Oato, 4 lbs. 0.8 oz.
Largest: (Tako) Shay Motonaga, 3 1bs. 11.6 oz.
Largest: (Toau) Wayde Hayashi 1 lb. 4 02.
Best Poke: Roy Kamisato
Mahalo to sponsors:
Lance Ohara; Maui Sporting Goods; Hanapa’a Fishing Supply; AQA; Creation Station: and Kai Clothing
Weightmaster: Dennis Okada and Frank Farm
Awards: Terry and Amy Yonashiro
Score Keeper: Denise Moriguchi/Terrence Takahata