Deep in the pristine blue waters a couple miles off the coast of Hawaii, Kimi Werner takes aim with her spear gun.
Deep in the pristine blue waters a couple miles off the coast of Hawaii, Kimi Werner takes aim with her spear gun.
A veteran fisherwoman, Werner is prowling the depths for pelagic fish like mahimahi and wahoo, locally known as ono, to feed her family, friends and neighbors. She’s alone, having paddled a couple miles out in her kayak before going straight to the source by free diving to depths of 150 feet to snag her prey.
“It’s a lot gnarlier than it sounds when I am describing it,” Werner, an Oahu native who also dives in waters off Maui and the Big Island, admitted during a recent interview with West Hawaii Today. “It’s really hard work, and with the trade winds in Hawaii, it can be brutal and taxing on your body. It’s extremely dangerous to be on such a small vessel, alone, and to do what we are doing is no easy feat.”
Werner, who’s been kayak fishing and deep diving since 2008, is one of a handful of men and women from around the state who will be featured in the new Discovery Channel series “Pacific Warriors” premiering next Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. The six-part series, produced by Original Media, follows seven teams of these risk-takers from all over Hawaii, including the Big Island’s own Andy Cho, as they work to haul in 100-pound-plus fish, some of which can net $1,500 or more.
Though they survive and thrive by living off the ocean, kayak fishing is not for the faint of heart because the smallest error can result in death. Far off the coast, kayak fisherman can be taken on what is known as a “Hawaiian sleigh ride” for miles after hooking a fish. They must also fend off sharks and other predators looking for an easy meal, as well as the elements.
“Though being brave is part of the job, having an appropriate amount of fear and trepidation is healthy, and is what keeps me alive,” Werner said. “It reminds me that I’m really so small and humbled in this big ocean. I think the people who forget that are the ones who end up in danger.”
Werner is no stranger to the ocean, having grown up on Maui tagging along with her father when he went free diving and spearfishing to feed the family. As her parents became more financially well-0ff, Werner said she spent less time in the ocean. It wasn’t until she graduated college and was living on Oahu that Werner realized a part of her life was missing.
“I just realized that I missed that connection,” she said. “I was working as a chef in a restaurant, doing competitive canoe paddling — racing from Molokai to Oahu — and yet there was just something missing from my life, and the more I thought about it, I realized that I missed my dad diving down in the ocean and getting dinner for me. I realized then that I wanted to be able to do that myself and be able to provide for my family and friends.”
At age 24, Werner picked up a spear and decided she would learn to dive to sustain her family, friends and neighbors.
“I walked away from competitive canoe paddling and loaded up my dive gear on a kayak and used my paddling to go to the places to get my food,” she said. … “Spear fishing is like going to the grocery store, and your list might be different every time you go.”
More than a half dozen years later, Werner is now being featured on “Pacific Warriors.” Though she hasn’t seen the series herself, Werner said that viewers are in for something special.
“With the underwater footage, people are going to get a glimpse into a different universe than we live on land,” she said.
The show is also authentic.
“The group of people chosen for this show and the activities that they’re doing is as authentic as it gets. And, that is why I agreed to be a part of it because these guys that are on the show have been out on the water doing this for the past 10 years,” she said. … “It’s really surreal to see these people get recognized for what they are doing.”
“Pacific Warriors” is produced for Discovery Channel by Original Media. For Original Media, executive producers are Glenda Hersh, Steven Weinstock, Lisa Bloch, Peter Goetz, Kelly Hefner and Bryan Severance. For Discovery Channel, executive producers are Joseph Schneier and Christo Doyle.