Hawaii County Fire Department’s fire rescue specialist, Cole Arrington, discussed the purpose and specifics of the department’s annual fishing tournament.
“It is a tradition in our fire department to host an annual fishing tournament,” Arrington told Big Island Times. “The main objective is to have an outlet for members of our fire department who perform selfless acts of heroism on a constant basis for the Big Island community. It creates a different avenue of fellowship and camaraderie for these heroes.”
This year’s tournament was held on July 10, featuring accessibility to any section of the local waters by boat. A total of 42 teams participated, with one fishing out of Hilo, others in Kawaihae and the remaining participants at Kona.
The event was last organized and directed by Eric “Buta” Hayashi, who passed away in August 2020 while trying to perform an emergency procedure. The funds collected from the tournament will be allocated to The Greg Cameron Fire Fund (TGCFF), a nonprofit organization that was created in memory of firefighter/paramedic Greg Cameron.
Cameron served on the Big Island's fire department for 17 years before losing his battle with cancer, according to TGCFF's website. While fighting the illness heroically for more than three years, one of his final wishes was to create an organization to help others in Fire Ohana the way he was helped while he was battling cancer. TGCFF was established by Cameron’s family to assist Hawaii Fire Department employees and their families who face life-altering injury, illness or death.
This year, the event, sponsored by multiple donors who contributed prizes and other forms of financial assistance, was organized by Hawaii Fire Department personnel.
The results for the tournament, which has now been renamed the Annual Firefighters Fishing Tournament in honor of Hayashi, include 170 pounds of marlin from Team Stinky Tuna; 173 pounds of ahi from Team Key to the City; 88.3 pounds of ono caught by Team Mikikoi; 31 pounds of mahi-mahi caught by Team Salty Crew; a 4.4-pound aku by Team Deadliest Snatch and 188.5 pounds of flagfish by the Grand Champions, Team Key to the City.
According to Arrington, all teams received an assortment of prizes for their efforts, and the teams who won specific categories were awarded a small cash prize, along with fishing reels, kayaks and coolers. The participants will have another opportunity to score high rankings at next year’s tournaments. The 2022 event’s date has not yet been determined.