Keiki Tilapia Tournament Nets $20K for Maui United Way

Maui Electric President Sharon Suzuki presents participant Austin Nishida, Age Category 13-18, the “Tilapa-Whoppa” award for catching the largest tilapia – 959 grams – during this year’s 8th Annual Keiki Tilapia Fishing Tournament hosted by Maui Electric and Kā‘anapali Golf Courses.

Maui Electric Company and Kā‘anapali Golf Courses’ 8th Annual Keiki Tilapia Fishing Tournament, hosted on Saturday, May 13, raised over $20,000 benefiting the Maui United Way.

The annual event lured more than 2,000 attendees, including the 600 keiki, ages two to 18, who cast their fishing poles in hopes of catching the largest tilapia or “special catch of the day” during the tag-and-release event.

“Thank you to our community partners, Maui Electric and Kā‘anapali Golf Courses, who coordinate and host this amazing event for our keiki,” said Kari Luna Nunokawa, Maui United Way president and chief professional officer. “We appreciate all of the love that goes into preparing and hosting this tournament that supports Maui United Way and our efforts to help those who need it the most in our community.”

This year, awards went out to the following keiki:

More than 2,000 attendees, including keiki and their ‘ohana, cast their poles at the 8th Annual Keiki Tilapia Fishing Tournament hosted by Maui Electric and Kā‘anapali Golf Courses on Saturday, May 13.

Largest Tilapia of the Day “Tilapa-Whoppa”: Austin Nishida (959 grams or 2.1 lbs) (from the Ages 13-18 Category)

Largest Tilapia by Age Category
Ages 2-5:
· 1st Place: Brissa Web (99 grams 8:40 a.m.)
· 2nd Place: Kekoa Makahanaloa-Texiera (99 grams 8:58 a.m)
· 3rd Place: Gauge Pacheco (43 grams)
Ages 6-12:
· 1st Place: Jordyn Rosete (33 grams)
· 2nd Place: Kamole Gilliand (29 grams)
· 3rd Place: Dealan Aquino (27 grams)
Ages 13-18:
· 1st Place: Cody-John Sakamoto (50 grams)
· 2nd Place: Sheldon Dudoit-Caban (38 grams)
· 3rd Place: Ikua Kamaka (35 grams)
Special Catch of the Day: (First non-tilapia from each weigh station)
· 1: Nolan Hashimura-Agmata
· 2: Caleb Quenga
· 3: Driften Aquino
· 4: Ramsey Hillen

More than 100 Maui Electric employees and their families dedicated over 300 volunteer hours to help organize this year’s event that benefits Maui United Way, a non-profit organization that raises and invests corporate and individual donations in 33 health and human services partner agencies and 34 programs to benefit our Maui County community.

“Our Maui Electric ‘ohana looks forward to coordinating this beloved outing that benefits such an important organization in our community,” said Sharon Suzuki, president of Maui Electric. “Mahalo also to our partner Ka’anapali Golf Courses for providing the beautiful setting and facilities for this event.”

Kā‘anapali Golf Courses’ PGA Head Professional Sutee Nitakorn added, “This is an amazing annual event and we are happy to continue supporting year after year – many of the families remember participating in this event when they were kids and it always brings back such fond memories for them.”

Event sponsors that also provided monetary and in-kind support and donations included: Alexander and Baldwin, KCK Entertainment, Maui Sporting Goods, Naauao Traffic Control Preferred Aerial Technology, Inc., Westin Kāʻanapali Ocean Resort Villas, Emura’s Trophies, G4S Secure Solutions, Inc., A1 Refrigeration, Air Conditioning & Sheetmetal, Inc., ʻAina Excavation & Grading, Inc., Akamai Pumping Service, Asplundh Tree Expert Co., Auwahi Wind Energy LLC, Hawaiʻi Energy Smart, Henkels & McCoy, Inc., Kirby Offshore Marine Operating LLC, KMG Hawaiʻi, Maui Garage Doors, Maui Soda & Ice Works, No Problem Electric, Inc., Positive Apparel, Matrix Service, Alik’s Automotive Repair and Service LLC, Cameron Chemical Corp., Electrical Connection Maui LLC, Japo I. Yokoyama Building Contractors, Inc., Kāʻanapali Beach Hotel, Kahului Trucking & Storage, Mama’s Fish House Restaurant & Inn, Maui Coast Hotel, Maui Oil Company, Miyake Concrete, Accessories, Inc., New Maui Fishing Supply, ʻOhana Fuels, Petrospect, Inc., RM Controls, Inc., Squeaky Clean Cleaning Service LLC, Takamiya Market, and Wesco Distribution, Inc.