Fishing for a good cause: Umekes Catch for Keiki Cancer Tournament draws 26 boats

HONOKOHAU HARBOR — It was a good day for fishing. Twelve marlin, 10 ahi, five mahi, 15 ono and four aku from 26 boats were weighed Saturday at Umekes Catch for Keiki Cancer Tournament — raising $13,000 for the charity.

Umekes Owner Nakoa Pabre started the tournament last year with the intention of changing keiki charities yearly. Last year’s Catch for Autism raised $14,000.

Organizer Steve Marks had a special kinship with this year’s charity. His granddaughter was diagnosed with cancer around age 5. He knows first-hand the financial burden families of cancer patients face.

“All the money stays here, for our keiki,” said Marks. “And our sponsors provided raffle prizes.”

The largest fish weighed, a 457.2-pound marlin, was hauled in by fathers and sons team Kyle and Duston Hiriyama and Tani and Nehasi Tabaynda on the Tiani. They took turns fighting for about an hour to bring it to the boat.

“Just want to support the cause,” said Kyle as he wrapped the monster fish’s tail for weighing.

As for next year’s charity, according to Pabre, that’s usually determined at the after-party.

“I do it for the kids,” said Pabre. “Same as I do everything else.”