7th Annual Keiki Tilapia Fishing Tournament Nets $19K for Maui United Way

Isaac Imamura won the “Tilapa-Whoppa” award for catching the largest tilapia – 998 grams – during this year’s 7th Annual Keiki Tilapia Fishing Tournament 2015 hosted by Maui Electric and Kā‘anapali Golf Course.

The 7th Annual Keiki Tilapia Fishing Tournament held on Sunday, Sept. 27, raised more than $19,000  for Maui United Way.

The annual hosted by Maui Electric Company and Kā‘anapali Golf Course attracted more than 2,000 attendees, including the 600 keiki, ages two to 18.

The keiki cast their fishing poles in hopes of catching the largest tilapia or “special catch of the day” at the Kā‘anapali Golf Course Pond during the “tag and release” event.

“We are so thankful for having community partners like Maui Electric and Kā‘anapali Golf Course who coordinate and host this awesome event that our community looks forward to year after year,” said Laksmi Abraham, Maui United Way president and chief professional officer.  “Seeing the coordination that goes behind the tilapia tourney is truly a labor of love and it enables Maui United Way to continue helping those who need it the most in our community.”

More than 2,000 attendees – including keiki and their ‘ohana – cast their poles at the 7th Annual Keiki Tilapia Fishing Tournament 2015 hosted by Maui Electric and Kā‘anapali Golf Course on Sunday, September 27.

This year, awards included the following:

“Tilapa-Whoppa” Largest Tilapia of the Day

• Isaac Imamura (998 grams) (from the Ages 6-12 Category)

Largest Tilapia by Age Category

Ages 2-5:

• 1st Place: Dallas Bayez (230 grams)
• 2nd Place: Tommy Gilroy-Yamamura (218 grams)
• 3rd Place: Jamie Cabanas (212 grams)

Ages 6-12:

• 1st Place: Chloe Hokoana (237 grams)
• 2nd Place: Kaden Anderson (217 grams)
• 3rd Place: Damien Whitcher (206 grams)

Ages 13-18:

• 1st Place: Reyann Mau Bagay (212 grams)
• 2nd Place: Kaycee Arase (201 grams)
• 3rd Place: Micah Kele (184 grams)

Special Catch of the Day: (First non-tilapia from each weigh station)

• Weigh Station 1: Summer Wong (Kupipi)
• Weigh Station 2: Gavin Gosselin (Papio)
• Weigh Station 3: JJ Pascua (Aholehole)
• Weigh Station 4: Adrian Solomon (Papio)

More than 100 Maui Electric employees and their families dedicated over 300 volunteer hours to help organize this year’s event.

Proceeds of the tournament benefit Maui United Way, a non-profit organization that raises and invests corporate and individual donations in 40 health and human services partner agencies and 41 programs to benefit our Maui County community.