Hawai‘i Police Department’s South Kohala Community Policing Section would like to congratulate the winners and thank the participants who partook in the HI-PAL South Kohala Keiki Fishing Derby last Saturday in Kawaihae at the Pua Ka ‘Ilima ‘O Kawaihae Cultural Surf Park, commonly known as “LST”(Land, Sea, Transport).
More than 50 keiki, ages 5 to 17, from North and South Kohala converged on the shoreline to test their fishing skills while enjoying ideal fishing conditions with a flat ocean and cool breezes. Community policing officers from the South Kohala, Kona, and Hamakua districts, along with State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources and Aquatics Division personnel assisted in weighing the fish caught by keiki. They also provided participants with numerous fishing educational materials.
“The weather could not have been any better and more importantly, the kids had fun while interacting with police officers in a positive and meaningful way,” South Kohala district commander Roy Valera said. “The officers enjoyed it as much as the kids did.”
At the end of the fishing derby, lucky-number prizes were given out along with first, second and third place winners for three different age-group categories. Two additional grand prizes were awarded for heaviest fish and most fish caught.
The South Kohala Community Policing Section would like to thank all the sponsors, partners and local businesses that made this community event possible with their generous donations.