Keiki Tilapia Fishing Tournament Reels in Over $20,000

Maui Electric Company and Kāʿanapali Golf Courses’ 10th Annual Keiki Tilapia Fishing Tournament, hosted on Saturday, May 11, raised over $20,000 benefiting Maui United Way. Over 700 keiki participants competed to reel in the largest tilapia or “special catch of the day” at the Kāʿanapali Golf Courses lagoon along the Royal Course during this tag-and-release event.

“This year’s Keiki Tilapia Fishing Tournament is the biggest to date,” said Kari Nunokawa, Maui United Way president and chief professional officer. “Maui United Way is so grateful to Maui Electric Company and Kāʿanapali Golf Courses for putting on this amazing event every year. So many families, mine included, look forward to this fun-filled tournament while also doing good for our Maui Nui community.”

This year, awards went out to the following keiki:

Largest Tilapia of the Day “Tilapa-Whoppa”: JJ Panglao (1,110 grams) (6-12 age division)

Largest Tilapia by Age Category

Ages 2-5:

*   1st Place: Manalani Basques (685 grams)
*   2nd Place: Kinsely Ray (316 grams)
*   3rd Place: Ezra Imaoka (297 grams)
*   4th Place: Kaimalu Namahoe-Galiza (291 grams)

Ages 6-12:

*   1st Place: Mason Means (1,095 grams)
*   2nd Place: Isaiah Felicilda (452 grams)
*   3rd Place: Kunaʻae Pimentel (380 grams)
*   4th Place: Aliʻikoa Shinyama Cravalho (350 grams)

Ages 13-18:

*   1st Place: Kiana Macadangdang (260 grams)
*   2nd Place: Tatum Katsutani (243 grams)
*   3rd Place: Jaden Rosete (226 grams)
*   4th Place: Kayana Garcia-Wakamatsu (223 grams)

Special Catch of the Day (First non-tilapia): Philip Spalding (orange tang)

More than 100 Maui Electric employees and their families dedicated over 300 volunteer hours to help organize this year’s event including months of stocking the pond with tilapia to ensure a fun day for all.  All proceeds are donated to 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.

“Maui Electric is honored to host this beloved family event every year alongside our partners at the Kāʿanapali Golf Courses,” said Sharon Suzuki, president of Maui County and Hawaiʿi Island Utilities. “Mahalo to all of the families, sponsors, vendors, and our Maui Electric employees for their support and participation each year.”

Kā‘anapali Golf Courses’ PGA Director of Golf Sutee Nitakorn added, “This event is such an honor for Kāʿanapali to host – what an amazing fundraiser for Maui United Way, not to mention, a fun way for families within the community to come together each year along the Royal Course. Many of our own staff remember going to this original annual event at Kāʿanapali way back when we were kids.”

Major event sponsors that provided monetary and in-kind support and donations included: Chas Co Inc., Goodfellow Brothers, LLC, GP Roadway Solutions, I.B.E.W. Local Union 1260, INPAC, JD Painting and Decorating, Inc., Lahaina Sound Productions, Maui Sporting Goods, Naʿauao Traffic Control, Pacific Media Group, The Westin Kāʿanapali Ocean Resort Villas, UFO Parasail & Adventures Maui & Kona, Walker Industries, Ltd., Aina Excavation, Emura’s, G4S Secure Solutions, Hawaiian Electric Employees Federal Credit Union, Island Vintage Coffee, Kirby Offshore Marine, Matrix Service, Maui Coast Hotel, Maui Garage Doors, Inc., Maui Soda & Ice Works, Minit Stop, New Maui Fishing Supply, Positive Apparel, Inc., and the Mauian Hotel.

Hundreds of keiki and their ʿohana, cast their poles at the 10th Annual Keiki Tilapia Fishing Tournament hosted by Maui Electric and Kāʿanapali Golf Courses on Saturday, May 11.

Maui Electric Tilapa Whoppa Winner: Sharon Suzuki, Maui County and Hawaiʿi Island Utilities president, presents this year’s Tilapa Whoppa Award to JJ Panglao.

Mason Means, first place winner in the 6-12 age division, with his tilapia weighing in at 1,095 grams.