Issue 5

Hana Pa‘a Shootout Jason Luke’s 33lb Uku

THE SUPER sucker project the house of limu fishing for science the last lawai‘a issue five 2010

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Lawai‘a Magazine

issue five 2010

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Issue number fIVE 2010

contents

SECTIONS 7 Inside 8 e ho-ike mai 10 Kimi’s Corner 16 shoreline tech 18 fish stories 22 What’s This 24 TOURNAMENTS 52 tips from MEC 54 NEW GEAR 56 KELA A ME KEIA 60 speak FEATURES 28 scouts learn 30 Honors for United Fishing Agency 32 THE SUPER sucker project 44 fishing for science 48 the last lawai‘a

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Lawai‘a Magazine

photo by sterling kaya

38 the house of limu

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I.G.F.A. Records in Hawaii… and counting.

For over 75 years, the Fin-Nor® name has set lofty expecta-

tions among saltwater anglers and the new Fin-Nor

Santiago™ is a true testament to the legacy of the greatest

big game reels ever made. It’s built with the finest materials and with the latest technologies including a massive

stainless steel drag plate sandwiched between two ultra-

Lawai‘a Magazine Sterling Kaya > Publisher hanapaafishing@hawaii.rr.com Design Darin H. Isobe > Art Director darini@hawaiiantel.net Director of Marketing + Sales Marc Inouye > Sales & Marketing lawaiamag@gmail.com VOICE Graphic + Environmental Design Clifford Cheng > Visual Consultant voicedesign@hawaii.rr.com Contributing Writers Dell Agricula, Michael Billena, John Clark, Brian Funai, Brian Hauk, Robert Hu, Carl Paoo Jellings Sr., Brian Kimata, Mark Kimura, Jason Luke, Pacific Islands Fisheries Group, Samson Kaala Reiny, Clay Tam, Ed Watamura, Kimi Werner

smooth carbon fiber disks, and a unique 2-speed lever that

uses a push-button to quickly make the switch from high to low gear to help you manager your world-record catch.

6 models to choose from, including the incredible SA80W with the ability to hold 1600 yards of 130 lb. braid.

Pa‘a Hana out hno ot Sso Ja Luke’s 33lb Uku

ON THE COVER: Jason Luke’s 33 lb Uku

THE SUPER JECT SUCKER PRO E OF LIMU THE HOUS SCIENCE FISHING FOR LAWAI‘A THE LAST

Massive stainless steel drag plate is sandwiched between dual carbon fiber plates for the ultimate in smoothness and durability.

Lawai‘a Magazine 1733 Dillingham Blvd. Honolulu, Hawaii 96819 T: 808.843.8182 > F: 808.848.5539 Every attempt is made to publish Lawai‘a 4 times a year. Printed by Lotus Printing Hong Kong.

You can also personalize your Santiago reel with your name, your boat’s name, your company’s name or almost any text you choose.

Check out our web site. Featuring details of the Lawai‘a Fish of The Year Contest ©2010 Fin-Nor, a W.C. Bradley Co.

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Letters and Comments Send to: Lawai‘a Magazine 1733 Dllingham Blvd.

Honolulu, Hawaii 96819 Or email: hanapaafishing@hawaii.rr.com

Wide-range fine tuning of the drag lets you control the battle your way, plus the simple push button speed shifter is easy to use.

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ISSUE FIVE 2010

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Inside Editorial Board

Have you ever stepped off the shoreline

and sank knee deep in mud, plucked some annoying seaweed from your tabi or slipped through the water with your mask and spear, wondering why fish were noticeably absent and the ocean bottom was covered in a dusty silt? In this issue, learn about some of the efforts by fishermen and various community groups to restore our island ecosystems. Many hope these efforts may lead to less experiences like those described above but what this means to our readership is that perhaps, in turn, they can bring about a semblance of what used to be, of balance and improved fishing conditions. Past issues of Lawai’a have focused on significant changes to our shoreline due to man-made alterations of large scale proportions. Much of this damage to our nearshore marine environment is irreversible, based on our society’s choice of living today’s modern lifestyle, and many of the efforts profiled in this issue are the best we can do at this time with the resources available. There is hope, however, that more of our community leaders will see the importance of not only these types of projects but all those possible and make a commitment to rectify things on a larger scale. One example of such larger scale efforts is the Lahaina Watershed Flood Control Project on Maui, a culvert and retention basin system that will hold stormwater and reduce sediment runoff into the nearshore reef area. Hawaii can certainly use more projects like this.

Correction: In issue 4 the images in Chris Cramer’s feature, Konohiki Days of Maunalua Bay were incorrectly credited. The images were courtesy of the Joe Young Family. We apologize for the error.

While society as a whole needs to be aware of these large scale issues and how they impact our Island life, there is much that we can do on our own that is closer to home. Fishermen need to unite, be informed, speak up, collaborate and be part of the process as there are many things happening or imminent on the horizon that need our attention: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Marine Recreational Information Program’s Saltwater Angler Registry has been in effect as of January 1, 2010. All fishermen without a State of Hawaii commercial marine license or Federal Non-Commercial Bottomfish Permit must register if you fish within the Federal ocean waters or 3 to 200 miles out from the Main Hawaiian Islands. Registering is simple and free but may involve a fee next year. If you did not already register, go to https://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov/.

The federal government is preparing to include in its management not only what is caught in offshore waters such as pelagic fish like ahi and marlin but also nearshore species such as ulua, kumu, oio and the broad spectrum of species that make up our shoreline based recreational and commercial fishery. The reason why they are subject to Federal regulation is because our nearshore fish also occur in Federal waters (ie. the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands) and are therefore subject to Annual Catch Limit (ACL) management “throughout their range” beginning in 2011, under the 2006 reauthorization of the Magnuson Stevens Act. A host of various options that have been used before here and in other areas, such as catch allocation and limited access, will also be considered for management plans for the Main Hawaiian Islands. Hawaii’s bottomfish fishery is already familiar with some of these management approaches, utilizing a total allowable catch system that makes it impossible to eat a fresh Hawaiian island onaga or opakapaka for several months out of the year.

All of Hawaii’s fishermen, including trollers, shorecasters, spearfishers and others, will have to learn about what these different options mean, if any are appropriate for our various nearshore fisheries and what combinations would be best for our unique island culture. Hawaii’s fishermen will also have to participate in this decision making like never before. Failure to stand up and be heard will only result in disappointment and possibly losing our fishing activity and island lifestyle as we know it today. Look for more about these upcoming issues in future fishing publications and TV shows or contact the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council at (808) 522-8220 or Info.WPCouncil@noaa.gov for information on how to voice your opinion or be involved.

Let’s strive to be Hawaii’s fishermen, Lawai’a, and be responsible for our ocean resources, not only by understanding and practicing resource conservation, but also by sharing our knowledge and showing others that being involved in its management is important.

issue five 2010

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Ridge & Race, Oio

Robert Reyes, Omilu Hook Um Tournament

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Lawai‘a Magazine

“Braddahs” Fujimoto, Kahala

Brenden Jayke Inoue, Aha aha Christian Look, Oio

Buck, Ulua

Stacy Hanson, Oio

Jessica, Weke Ula

Norman Kaneshiro, Ulua

Meagan Agricula, Squid

Chad Ponce, Papio

Go Digital

send us your pics

Keanu Ah Sau, Ulua

Cara Uyetake, Travis Koga (Ulua), Chad Koga (Ulua) and Laura Koga (Papio)

Email digital photos as jpg files. Please take pics at your highest setting possible.

Email jpg photos to hanapaafishing@hawaii.rr.com Incude all info please. All pics sent become the property of Lawai‘a Magazine.

“Braddahs” Fujimoto, Aha aha

Dan Meheula, Papio Brian Funai, Wahanui

Chris Paglinawan, Ono

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kimi’s corner

it’s all aboUt having fun Tokkuri Tei 10

Lawai‘a Magazine

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By kimi werner

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p h o t o s b y s t e r l i n g k aya

As I stepped into this cozy little restaurant located on Kapahulu Avenue, I was blown away. Tokkuri Tei just wasn’t what I expected. I had heard from many about the delightful fine dining fusion of Japanese and French cuisine that is magically created here, but I had no idea that this place would have so much charm and character.

Tokkuri Tei is a true isakaya. An isakaya is a pub or tavern that serves small tapas to accompany sake. Isakayas are casual and known for having a unique and friendly vibe. Intimate yet noisy, eccentric yet cozy, when it comes to isakayas, Tokkuri Tei is Hawaii’s poster child. It’s a place to go to eat great food, drink great drinks and make friends with those around you.

Behind this delightful little gem are two best friends who each came from Japan with an American dream. Hideaki “Santa“ Miyoshi, the former sashimi cutter of Kengo’s buffet and Kazuhiro Mitake, formerly from Yanagi Sushi decided to follow their dream in 1987. They bought a local-style plate-lunch truck that they drove out to Campbell Industrial Park, fondly named The Munch Wagon. The Munch Wagon taught them about local tastes and the two friends started talking about how Hawaii lacked a place to eat, drink and be merry- Hawaii needed an isakaya!

They opened up Tokkuri Tei in 1988 on Sheridan street. “We wanted it to be like a bistro, where you can have fun while creating. We like to have fun; that’s how it all started,” says Santa of his main vision when opening the restaurant. It was a hit from the start as loyal customers flocked Spicy ahi poke

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Lawai‘a Magazine

Salmon skin salad

to enjoy fine dining adventurous food, great drinks and a casual friendly environment. “My favorite part was catering to any level and all ages of people. We love people and love to serve people,” says Kazu. “Santa has so many ideas about food. They always continue to grow and I like to support him,” he adds.

In 2000, they moved to their present location on Kapahulu Avenue. Santa’s ideas continued to flourish and customers were encouraged to make requests with their own ideas. “Some customers named the menu itself,” says Santa “They inspired new dishes, so we named the dishes after many of them.” The menu is as quirky and heartfelt as the restaurant itself. Long lists of scrumptious menu items are followed by playful descriptions that make you laugh, and sometimes don’t help at all, such as “tofu steak is tofu steak.” It all goes back to Santa’s original mission statement -that it’s all about having fun.

Tokkuri Tei’s Hideaki “Santa“ Miyoshi and Kazuhiro Mitake

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Shiso maki

Beef tongue

Our dinner party squeezed in and took our seats amongst the full house of happy customers, all caught up in their cheerful chatter, and we immediately started ordering up. Soon our table was filled with a variety of colorful little dishes, all with exquisite presentation and tons of charm.

Spicy ahi poke, hamachi with ponzu sauce and truffle oil, and salmon skin salad were perfect starters to refresh our taste buds and get us ready for what was yet to come.

Skewers of grilled beef tongue, chicken, and shiso maki pork followed along with marinated monkfish liver. These hearty little treats not only added a wonderful salty and savory flavor to the palette but they also helped the cold beer and shochu go down nicely.

We then sampled some great sakes and were soon presented with Tokkuri Tei’s famous Habu Shu. Like an extreme version of the worm in a bottle of tequila, the Habu Shu is a jar of alcohol with a coiled up poisonous snake called habu or pit viper. Kazu explained to us that this is Okinawa’s style of liquid Viagra, and that we should drink it with caution.

We all had one shot and agreed that this is not for the faint. The liquor tastes something like Bacardi 151 and leaves your mouth burning and your head spinning. One shot was more than enough for me.

Virile-maybe, drunk- yes.

Our last dish was the perfect finish to our lovely meal and tipsy experience. There could be no better choice than the Oxtail Oden soup to fill and soothe our stomachs and also stop the room from spinning. It tasted like something my grandma

Grilled chicken

would have made. Its rich and savory broth has a way of making you slow down instantly. You can truly taste the love that went into this dish and appreciate the hours that it spent slowly simmering and reducing on the stove to achieve such flavor. The oxtail is fatty and tender and the big chunks of daikon are saturated with broth and melt in

Kilauea Roll 14

Lawai‘a Magazine

Habu shu

your mouth instantly. This soup clears your head with every sip and makes your heart sing at the same time. It’s more than a meal, it’s an experience.

The overall experience is exactly what makes Tokkuri Tei so special. It’s fine dining comfort food at its best with fun loving chefs in a family like environment. The happy chatter, the quirky menu and eccentric décor says it all.

Tokkuri Tei The walls are covered with 611 Kapahulu Ave, Suite 102 handwritten thank you notes Honolulu, HI 96815 and drawings from admiring (808) 739-2800 patrons and everywhere Mon-Fri 10:30am-2pm you look you’ll see people Mon-Fri 5:30pm-12am appreciating food, drinks and most importantly, one another. It’s a place to go and unwind- a place where you don’t have to do the cooking, but it still feels like home.

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SHORELINE TECH B y B r i a n Ki m a t a

Question: My friend gave me a bait needle with no gap to attach your line. How do you use this? How do you attach the loop?

Answer: Your friend has got the right stuff! Closed eye needles are the only ones I carry at my store and I could never go back to an open eye one myself. Ever notice how your open eye needle catches some of the fish’s eye tissue as it passes through? That gap hooks some flesh along the way and that’s not good for your bait. Closed eye needles pass through easily with much less tissue damage. It’s faster too, causing much less trauma to your fish.

You use the closed eye needle much in the same way as an open eyed one. The only difference is that instead of hooking the loop onto the gap, you double up the loop by folding it and placing it folded through the eye. You only need be mindful that the loop will be pulled back through the eye on the side that does not have the tied knot. To make it even simpler, I store my needle with the line already looped through in a small plastic tube. I just take it out, pass it through the fish, hold the tied knot while the loop continues through the eye and it’s done. Nothing’s faster!

Today’s Tip: Don’t get frustrated if your Newell reel seems to have parts missing. Unlike any other reel, not all Newells have the same parts! Yes, you read that correctly, they may not all be the same. This is because varying tolerances within reel components sometimes necessitate the addition of spacers, washers and shims to get the reel working correctly. So if you have two 454s and they don’t look the same internally, don’t panic. Everything is probably OK. 16

Lawai‘a Magazine

Question: I have a Newell reel that I just overhauled with new brakes and bearings. I know how to repair a reel but now my reel seems to have some drag resistance even backed off all the way. Is that a problem?

Answer: That’s a good question and the answer is… it depends. The problem you have encountered is actually pretty common and may not truly be a problem at all. You may see this happen after a drag or a component change, like replacing a new side plate. This can happen with any manufacturer’s reel but is most common on a Newell. What is happening is that the drag stack is now taller than it used to be and is now making enough contact to have resistance when the drag star is fully backed off. In the case of a side plate change, Newells have quite a difference in tolerances between parts, and again, the stack is lacking enough space to “fully back off”. The reason you see this after a drag change is that most local casters do not replace their Newell drag washers with stock ones. They usually have some aftermarket version, trying to get more resistance and the new washers may not be the same height.

Another reason this might be happening is that the drag washers may not be fully seated within the gear cup.

This will of course make the drag stack higher, causing the aforementioned problem. You will notice that as you place the metal and fiber washers in the gear cup, two of the metal washers have tabs or what I like to call “ears” on them. During assembly, should the washers move out of the cup, even slightly, the eared washers may not fall back into the cup correctly causing the stack to sit higher. This will also cause the reel to have a very limited total drag regardless of how tight the star is turned. This is usually the first sign that the reel is not assembled correctly. If the drag pressure does not become substantial when the star is tightened, you will have to disassemble the reel and start again. To avoid this problem, do not hold the side plate with its handle side down until the drag star is attached and has resistance on it. Your stack may fall out and not fall back in properly.

So getting back to your problem, it’s really not a problem unless the resistance is too high. In fact some resistance will be desirable. If you are like most casters, myself included, you string your rod with the reel in gear, drag backed off. If it’s too hard to pull while you’re setting up then that would be something you will want to address. The solution is to decrease the amount or type of washers under or above the star wheel. You may want to take out one of the spacing washers above the spacing sleeve if you have one, [some do not] or maybe even remove the Belleville washer. Please be aware that removing too many washers will cause excessive play in the drag stack when the drag is completely backed off causing your eared drag washers to fail you. issue five 2010

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fis h stories B y D e l l Ag r icu l a

The 3:30pm whistle blew and we started to load the work boat up as fast as we could.

With light winds and clean water, we got out of Honolulu Harbor in record time. On the boat was my boss/dive partner, Jason “fat pig” Baligad, Kyle Chee, Uncle Cornel Orillo and myself. With Uncle Cornel, the human blue chart, on the boat, we knew that we would shoot something good. We jump in at our first spot to do some warm up dives in about 25ft. of water. We saw some uhus but they must have gone to a good college because they knew to dig out. I went one way and Jason went the other in search of fish.

I saw a big blue whip on the other side of a little trench. He did not notice me diving down so I positioned myself in the trench and peeked over. The uhu saw me so I put my head back down and he came over to investigate. As soon as he got in range, I unleashed the fury from my Riffe euro. “ALL-RITE!” fish is on so I headed for the surface for some much needed AIR. Just as I got to the top, something caught the corner of my eye. I turned and saw a good size grey reef shark circling around me. I yelled for the boat and gave them the shark sign. Now for the sucky part. I had to dive down to get my gun and fish. I could hear the boat coming so I dove down trying to stay

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Lawai‘a Magazine

calm. The shark was still circling but I got my gun and my fish and made it to the top. Just as the boat pulled up, the uhu fell off my shaft. I guess the fish had a little life left ‘cause he made it back to the bottom. I went back down to retrieve it. Lucky, the shark must have heard the boat and left. I got the fish and myself on the boat and turned around and saw that there were surfers just ten yards away.

If they only knew.

We picked up Jason and Kyle so we could check out a place with a big mu pile that Uncle Cornel found the week before. It was about 5:45pm and the sun was going down fast. Only Jason and I had jumped in the water but it looked good. There were uhus, kalis, wekes and mamos all over. We tried for the kalis but they just swam away and so did the uhus. We swam out to sea searching for the mus but all we saw were baby ones. So with only one fish on the boat, we decided to keep swimming.

Jason found a large pipe that was running out to sea and we followed it for a while. It was pretty dead so I was singing my favorite dive song to myself, “just keep swiming, just keep swiming, just keep swiming”. It was just like Finding Nemo. Just then, I saw a pair of nice size kalis swim by so we followed them. I was on

one side of the pipe and Jason on the other.

The kalis stopped in an area with other fish. It looked pretty deep so I started to do my breathe up. I made my drop and it felt good as I hadn’t made a deep dive in awhile. When I reached the bottom, I settled in and started the tricks. I fluffed some sand and got the kalis to turn my way. But as they turned, I heard Jason’s gun go off and the kali’s got scared and swam off. I was just about to kick off the bottom when I noticed a strange looking fish. It kind of looked like a waha nui but it had a different face and tail. So I laid back down, fluffed the sand again and the fish came straight in. It stopped a foot short of my tip. As he turned to the side, I still was trying to figure out what kind of fish it was. The body looked silver but the tail had a reddish color to it. My rule of thumb is “if it’s red, it’s dead”. “BAMB” and I let him have it. When I stoned him, the color changed from silver to bright red.

This time I took everything to the surface with me. On my way up I knew I was pushing it and my legs and lungs were on fire. I was kicking hard and came flying out of the water like a hump back whale. As I caught my breath I could hear Jason calling me. I swam over and he asked if I could make it back down to get his gun. When I gave

him my gun, he saw the fish I had shot and said “what the hell is that? Looks like a bottom fish.” I got my heart rate back down and, with my lungs full of air, I went down for his gun. The sun was almost gone when I saw Jason’s gun floating ten feet from the bottom. I made it to the bottom to untangle his line and when I pulled his shaft out from an overhang, I realized he had stoned the biggest kali I had seen in a long time.

We put the fish on our belt kuis and lined the guns. Jason called the boat over and jumped in first. Uncle Cornel and Kyle were tripping out on how big his kali was when I heard Jason tell them “wait til you see what Dell shot”. Then they really started tripping out. Everyone thought it was a kale kale. So the next day I called Reid at Hanapa’a. He said that I should “bring it in”. One of the bosses from the ship yard came over with his iphone to show me a picture from the Star Bulletin that showed the Bottom 7. The fish on the web site that looked just like mine said kale kale next to it.

After work we went to Hanapa’a to weigh our fish. Jason’s kali was just over 4.5lbs. I showed Reid my fish and that’s when he said it was a lehi. The picture on the web site had the kale kale and the lehi mixed up. “NOT SO BAD FOR AN AFTER WORK DIVE”. issue five 2010

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fis h stories T h e Roo k ie ’ s Re d e m ption B y Mic h a e l B i l l e n a

Photo: Sterling Kaya

The 2nd Annual Hanapa’a Shootout Tournament started extra early for the Hanapa’a Fishing Co. Crew and Friends. We rose from our make-shift beds on the pier at 3:45 am and began setting up. We were preparing to inspect and check-in with the 50 plus boats entered in this year’s tournament. As the sun began to rise, the waters fronting the Ke’ehi Boat Harbor started to fill with boats and the excitement began to build.

Once all the boats were checked in, we wished our friends “Good Luck”, boarded our boat, a 21 foot Force named the “Hanapa’a Fishing Co.”, and headed out to the starting line at the head buoy. As we throttled away from the pier, I couldn’t help but notice the less than favorable fishing conditions awaiting us. The skies were cloudy, trades were blowing and the ocean was choppy. But at the same time, none of that really mattered because we couldn‘t wait to wet our lines and catch some fish. “One minute to start fishing” sounded over the radio and soon the countdown began. “…3, 2, 1! Start Fishing! Start Fishing!”. The waters around us erupted in white wash as everyone shot off the starting line.

Our crew consisted of Captain Reid Yamashita, Kekahi Arakaki, Brad Marumoto and myself. We are all friends and fellow Hanapa’a Hawaii employees. This was the same crew that fished in the 1st Annual Hanapa’a Shootout, 20

Lawai‘a Magazine

with the exception of Brad, who was joining us for the first time. But what made this crew special was that Kekahi, Brad and I are Ulua fishermen. We are rookies to the trolling game and lacked the knowledge and skills of an experienced boat crew. To give you an idea, this was my second trolling tournament, and just the third time that I had been out deep sea fishing!

While sitting at the starting line, we decided that our game plan was to start the day by heading straight out to the BO Buoy.

That was the same area that we hooked a 400 plus lb. Marlin in last year’s Hanapa’a Shootout, only to lose the fish at gaff after a 45 minute battle. With redemption on our minds, it seemed appropriate to return to the same spot and troll around a bit before heading up the Wai’anae Coast.

After a long and bumpy ride, Captain Reid slowed the boat down and said, “Lets catch us some fish!” I took over the wheel and steered down sea as the others proceeded setting up the lines and dropping the lures back. Our line-up this year consisted of four large 12 and 14 inch lures and one 9 inch lure. Although catching an Ahi, Mahimahi or Ono for the dinner table would have been awesome, we wanted a second chance at hooking, fighting and landing a big Marlin.

With Captain Reid behind the wheel again, we all settled in under the shade of the bimini top as we had a long day of trolling ahead of us. We immediately started talking about what lure we thought would get bit, and how exciting it was to hear a “real ratchet” scream. Again, we were Shore Fishermen but the sound of an Ulua strike seemed “manini” compared to the sound a Penn International reel makes with a huge Marlin at the end of the line. We were excited to say the least!

We had only been trolling for about 10 minutes, when we took our first strike of the day! In mid-conversation, we were interrupted by the sound of the corner rigger snapping. As we swung around to look, we saw the port-side corner rod fully bent over with line screaming from the single speed Penn International 130 Reel. Staring out towards the horizon, I was hoping to see a Marlin explode from the water with its signature aerial acrobatics, but there was nothing. Captain Reid pushed the throttle

Photo: Michael Billena

forward and we all sprung in to action and began clearing the rest of the lines out of the way. With all the lines out of the water we were ready to do battle.

I was first on the rod, and proceeded to crank the reel to keep the line tight. I couldn’t help but notice that the reel handle felt slippery because I had just gotten through applying sunscreen to my face! But once I put on a pair of gloves, it was all business.

Everyone was now in the zone, and with matching orange gloves on we looked like pall bearers ready to take this fish to the grave!

But at the same time, it was also obvious that we were all in shock at how quickly we got a bite. We just couldn’t believe it, and for Reid, Kekahi and me, it was like déjà vu. Like the previous year, we were hooked up again to another big fish, and to top it off, this fish had bitten the exact same lure, in the same position that last year’s Marlin bit.

Working together, the three of us “rookies” made a good team and we have Captain Reid to credit as he coached us the entire time. We were totally confident in his expertise and relied on his It was only after the fish was on the boat that we started commands to make sure we had the best chance at landing this celebrating. Looking down at my watch, I yelled “Its only 8:30!”. Only fish. We each took turns driving the boat, cranking the reel and 2 hours into the 10 and-a-half hour tournament, we had a big Marlin pulling on the line with our hands, rotating as we needed. As the tied up on the engine box. It was an unbelievable and indescribable fight progressed, we were definitely starting to feel the burn in our feeling that we felt as we finally sat down and took everything in. muscles, as well as on the back of our necks!

With our fish secured, the pressure was off and I remember thinking The fight was turning out to be a classic tug-of-war battle with that the morning couldn’t have unfolded any better. We also knew us gaining line, only to have the fish take it all back several times. that it was very early in the tournament, and that nothing was And after fighting the fish for guaranteed, so we set about 20 minutes, the Marlin our lines up and got Working together, the three of us ready to continue fishing. finally showed itself with a series of jumps and head “rookies” made a good team and We ended up trolling shakes behind the boat. From we have Captain Reid to credit as for another 6 hours what we saw, we knew it was before heading back to he coached us the entire time. a decent sized fish. the scales early, and we We continued in our didn’t get another bite rotation of driving, cranking and hand-lining and were stoked the entire day. to see that we were slowly making progress. Captain Reid in the With our friends awaiting our arrival, we pulled up to the weigh meantime got the bang stick and gaffs ready and instructed us station at 3:00 pm with our Marlin. It was larger than we first on how we were going to leader and gaff the fish. It was nerve anticipated and weighed in at 476.7 pounds. After all the fish were wracking since we didn’t know where we’d be in our rotation when weighed in, our Marlin ended up being the tournament’s largest the fish decided to come in. But it finally came to leader after a 50 fish, making Team Hanapa’a the winner of the 2nd Annual Hanapa’a minute fight and there I was behind the wheel trying to steer the Shootout Tournament. It was an awesome experience and we were boat away from the fish while they grabbed a hold of the leader. I very lucky that things worked out the way they did. was also behind the wheel last year when we lost the Marlin at gaff I’d like to take this opportunity to personally thank our Captain and so I was extra nervous. But that feeling quickly faded when I heard good friend, Reid Yamashita for believing in his rookie crew and for the sweet sound of the bang stick exploding. Everything seemed sharing all of his knowledge with us. On top of being really lucky, we owe to happen so fast! When I turned around to look, there I saw the it to him for putting us on the fish and keeping us all in line. We’d also like Marlin floating motionless on its side. Brad had the Marlin by its to thank Sterling Kaya for letting us fish on his boat for the second year bill and Kekahi sank the gaff deep in its head. I put the boat in idle in a row. And on behalf of our entire Hanapa’a Hawaii Ohana, we’d like and ran down to help secure the fish. There wasn’t any need to to thank all of our tournament sponsors for their generous donations worry though, because the fish was stone dead! We secured the bill as they were vital in making this year’s tournament a success. Finally, with rope, got the meat hooks out and readied ourselves to pull the we’d like extend our appreciation to everyone who volunteered their beast into the boat. With our adrenaline still pumping, we managed personal time to help plan and run the tournament. Hope to see you all to get the fish into the boat in just a couple of minutes. again at next year’s Hanapa’a Shootout! issue five 2010

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w h at ’ s t h is

Discover the

u n u s ua l catc h es

FRESH FLAVORS

of Outback!

Divers Travis Kashiw

a & Jason Hijirida wit

h Julie Uyemura (propr

ietor)

Outback Steakhouse starts fresh every day to create the flavors that our mates crave. Our new creations and grilled classics are made fresh daily using only the highest quality ingredients sourced from around the world.

WAIPIO Gentry Waipio Shopping Center 94-810 Uke‘e St. • 671–7200 Restaurant Hours: Mon – Fri: 4 – 10pm Sat: 3 – 10pm • Sun: 11am – 10pm

Vernon Takata, “Sling Jaw” caught Kaneohe Bay. OUTB-26962_HawaiiSkinDiver.indd 1 22 Lawai‘a Magazine

job#:

OUTB-26962

4/22/10 4:12:19 PM

This is another awesome year as Errol has done something that not many fisherman get the chance to do. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon at our favorite daytime fishing spot when Errol takes a strike on his heavy nitro pole after sliding an opelu. The time was about 12:30pm and our friend Justin was packing up for the day when Errol had that screamer. With Justin backing him up, Errol took on a fish that he actually thought had spit the hook because he was reeling line in with no resistance. As he started reeling, he felt that he still had the fish on and set the hook. That’s then the fish took off. With his pole bending and his reel screaming, line started peeling out really fast. He tried slowing it down by thumbing the spool but even with both thumbs, could not slow the fish. His friend Justin reminded him not to put his finger on the line. Errol thought that if the fish didn’t stop soon, he would be spooled and kept fighting the fish he said felt like a truck. After a good 25 minutes the fish started to tire and slowly got closer. Errol passed the pole to Justin to finish off the fish and it came up to the surface 5 minutes after that.

Justin started screaming, Ahi! Ahi! Luckily for us, our friend Jim just happened to bring his newly made gaff along because it took 2 gaffs to bring it up and we were awed at the size of the fish. The group of people watching were cheering and everyone was congratulating Errol for his incredible fish. We eventually took the fish to get weighed at Tamashiro market where proprietor, Cyrus Tamashiro waited for our arrival. With the help of Tony and Ben, they took Errol with his fish to the scale to see that it weighed an amazing 67.5 pounds! Congratulations to Errol on his amazing catch!

Mahalo, Robert Hu

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tournam ents

Photos: Sterling Kaya

2010 GT Masters Cup

Ulua: 1st place – Evan Abraham (56.40 lbs) 2nd place – Michael Quartepo (51.50) 3rd place – Del Saldajeno (45.70) 4th place - Aaron Vickers (28.30) 5th place - Guy Yoshihiro (27.60) 6th place - Ryan Suda (26.40) 7th place - Kalani Arion (19.40) 8th place - Shane Koga (13.90) 9th place - Jason Savella (12.30) 10th place - Randall Muramoto (11.40) 24

Lawai‘a Magazine

Omilu: 1st place – Kalani Kalawaia (15.54) 2nd place – Honorio Madriaga Jr. (9.90) 3rd place – Fermin Baquio (8.45) Oio: 1st place – Bowe Lani (7.8) 2nd place – Jeremy Nakamura (7.4) 3rd place – Sawa Xavier (7.3) Queen: Arianna Aquino

Hot Rods Invitational 2010 The 2nd Annual Hot Rods Tournament was held May 14 – 16, 2010. There were 161 entrants which included 39 keiki. Weigh in was held at Barber’s Pt. Beach Park. It was a great family event that encouraged keiki to enter because they are fishermen of the future. We would like to say Mahalo to all of our generous sponsors

6 – 10 years old: 1st place – Kayla Tanaka 2nd place – Jordon Ho 3rd place – Ethan Mamuad 11 – 17 years old: 1st place - Makaio Ganitano Tied for 2nd – Tasha Calma Tied for 2nd – Shelby Taketa Other Game category; 1st place – Jeff Manatad (8.4 lb Nenue) (only fish weighed in for this category) Photos: Sterling Kaya

Oio: 1st place - Gerran Ueyama (8.0 lb) 2nd place - Willy Lee (6.9) 3rd place – Keoni Gaudia (6.4) 4th place – Mitchell Taketa (6.4) (identical weight but lost by 1/2 inch length ) Papio: 1st place – Bert Yasumura (9.7 lb Omilu) 2nd place – Honorio Madriaga Jr. (8.5 lb Omilu ) 3rd place – Reynolds Calma (7.6 lb Kagami) Ulua: 1st place – Des Matsuno (29.5 lb White Ulua) 2nd place – Jay Ogata (26.9 lb White Ulua) 3rd place – Gerran Ueyama ( 26.7 lb White Ulua) issue five 2010

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Hana Pa‘a Shootout 2010 Largest Fish/Marlin $15,300.00 1. Hana Pa’a Fishing Co (476.7 lbs.)

Capt. Reid Yamashita 2. Charlotte L (131.8) Capt.Kalani Watson Largest Ahi 1. Verna C (160.3) Capt. Renny Muraoka Largest Mahi 1. Dana (40.3) Capt. Brendt Chang 2. Verna C (37.6) Capt. Renny Muraoka Largest Ono 1. Kirra G (28.1) Capt. Paul Gonsalves 2. Pompooh (24.0) Capt. Ryan Moriguchi

Photos: Sterling Kaya

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Saturday May 1st, one week before the Hanapa’a Shoot-out Tournament, I got a call from my friend Ted Fukushima. He asked me if I wanted to join him and his fishing partner, Tommy Giltner to fish the Hanapa’a Shoot-out Tournament. I said yes and couldn’t wait for the next weekend to come.

On the morning of the tournament, we launched Ted’s boat, the Lady Bea and headed out anticipating a good day of fishing. On the way to our spot, we could hear people on the radio reporting some big catches. It seemed like we would have our work cut out for us today.

After a couple hours of fishing, one of the outriggers came down.

We waited for the ratchet to start screaming, but there was nothing, and I put the line back up on the outrigger. As soon as I did, the rigger came down again. We figured that there must be something on the line, so Tommy reeled it in. He said it felt a little heavy and we could see something skipping on the surface.

The fish got closer to the boat and we were surprised to see that it was an uku around ten pounds. Not the fish we needed today, but it will make some good sashimi.

We were putting the fish in the box when the other outrigger came down and line started peeling out of the reel. I immediately got to the pole and Tommy cleared the lines.

The line felt really heavy this time and the fish seemed to be deep. We initially thought we were onto an ahi,

but boy were we in for a surprise. It was another uku, but, this one was the biggest we had ever seen. I brought it up to leader and Ted gaffed it and pulled it into the boat.

We looked at each other, then at the fish. Ted said, “This is a big one.”

“Yeah”, I replied. We again looked at each other, at the fish, and said the same thing. This went on for a few minutes as we were just amazed at the size of this thing. I told Ted that I had just caught an uku a couple weeks back around 20 lbs. This one looked almost twice as big with its huge belly and girth. We could only imagine what this one would weigh in at.

We continued fishing, but ended the day with only the two uku in the box. We had no qualifying fish, so we debated on if we should go to the weigh-in site at Sand Island. I’m glad we decided to go. When everyone asked what we caught, we showed them the two ukus. They all had the same reaction when seeing the bigger of the two. “Wow.” People remarked as the tail came out first. Then, “WOW!” as the rest of the body came out of the box. The fish ended up weighing 33 pounds. We didn’t win the tournament. But with an uku like this, we felt like we did. It was the biggest most of us had ever seen.

I’d like to thank Ted Fukushima for taking me fishing, Hanapa’a Fishing Supply for a great tournament, and Sterling Kaya for the great photos of the fish.

Aloha, Jason Luke

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Scouts Learn About Fishing - 2010 Makahiki Story by Pacific Islands Fisheries Group Photos by Ed Watamura and Brian Funai

The Boy Scouts of America celebrated 100 years in Hawaii with their annual Makahiki at Ala Moana Park on April 24, 2010. The Pacific Islands Fisheries Group and generous volunteers helped the Scouts hold their first ever Fishing Merit Badge station. Upon successfully completing several informational stations, budding young outdoorsmen were able to work their way towards earning the highly coveted patch for their uniform and, in turn, their Eagle Scout ranking.

Throughout the bright, sunny day, scouts visited various stations set up by the Waialua Boat Club, Atlapac Fishing Club, Gen Fujikawa Ninja Shootout, Kakaako Kasting Club, International Game Fish Association and PIFG volunteers. Each organization brought knowledgeable volunteers to teach scouts how to tie specific types of knots, learn about first aid and safety precautions one should take while fishing, and learn about various types of fishing techniques, lures, gear and baits.

The importance of knowing State of Hawaii fishing rules and regulations and being responsible fishermen was also emphasized.

Mahalo Nui to the Boy Scouts of America for doing such a wonderful job with the 2010 Makahiki and congratulations on 100 years of Scouting in Hawaii. Thank you also for letting PIFG help teach our youth about the tradition and heritage of fishing in Hawaii. We had a great time and look forward to helping again next year!

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Honors for United Fishing Agency Fresh island fish, whether it be poke, sashimi or grilled, has never been more popular with Island residents or visitors than today. While we all know where to get our favorites, many do not know that United Fishing Agency, more commonly known as Honolulu Fish Auction, has played a key role in getting them to our plates for 58 years. It’s founder, Matsujiro Otani, and his hard work have made the family name synonymous with Hawaii’s fishing industry.

In recognition of this, the Hawaii State Legislature honored the United Fishing Agency and the Otani family with resolutions in both the House and Senate on March 29, 2010. Resolution HR271, Commending the United Fishing Agency for its dedicated service to Hawaii’s Fishing Industry, was introduced by Representative Ken Ito and unanimously adopted.

To receive the honor that day were Akira Otani, Chairman of United Fishing Agency, second son of Matsujiro and 442th Regiment, 100th Battalion Combat Team veteran; Mr. Danny Otani, President of United Fishing Agency and first son of Mr. Akira Otani; Mr. Floyd Otani, a Vice-President and second son of son of Mr. Akira Otani; Mr. Dexter Okada, a Vice-President and Director for United Fishing Agency and son of a UFA co-founder; Mr. Brooks Takenaka, the

photo by Clay Tam

Treasurer and Assistant Manager for United

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Fishing Agency.

Also in the gallery to honor United Fishing Agency that day were many from Hawaii’s fishing and seafood community including:

Commercial fishing industry: Scott Barrows, General Manager, Hawaii Longline Association Jim Cook, Pacific Ocean Producers Carl Jellings, Near Shore Fisherman Hawaii’s seafood industry: Bruce Johnson, President, Fresh Island Fish Guy Tamashiro, Tamashiro Market Bob Fram, Garden & Valley Island Seafood Gary Ishimoto, Diamond Head Seafood Damon Johnson, Honolulu Fish Company From National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA )– Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center: Samuel Pooley, Director, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, along with his staff from Fishery Biology and Stock Assessment and Fisheries Monitoring Branches (Pierre Kleiber, Fishery Biologist; Robert Humphreys, Supervisory Fishery Biologist; Ryan Nichols, Fishery Biologist Karen Underkoffler, Research Associate; David Hamm, Branch Chief; Kurt Kawamoto, Fisheries Monitoring and Analysis Program Manager; Russell Ito, Fisheries Biologist; William Walsh, JIMAR Researcher; Walter Machado, JIMAR Fisheries

Aide; and Michael Abundo, JIMAR Fisheries Aide.)

Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council Kitty Simonds Fishing clubs Roland Galacgac, President and Sandi Arakaki, Secretary Atlapac Fishing Club Frank Farm - Alii Holokai Diving Club Ed Watamura, Wailua Boat Club.

Various fishing agencies, non-profits and organizations: Clay Tam, State of Hawaii, Division of Aquatic Resources— Papio/Ulua Tagging Project Neil Kanemoto, Billy Chang and Susan Fernandez—Pacific Island Fisheries Group Stefanie Sakamoto—Mike Sakamoto Memorial Scholarship Roy Morioka, International Game Fish Association Tony Costa, Hawaii Nearshore Fishermen Scotty Furushima, Kewalo Keiki Fishing Conservancy Dr. John Kaneko, Hawaii Seafood Council Fishing television shows and magazines: Dean Sensui, Hawaii Goes Fishing Ben Wong, Let’s Go Fishing Marc Inouye, Hawaii Skin Diver and Lawaia Magazine

Mr. Akira Otani and family with United Fishing Agency staff.

Mr. Akira Otani and Representative Ken Ito.

House Speaker Calvin Say, Floyd Otani, Akria Otani Photos by Dean Sensui and Stephanie Sakamoto

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THE SUPER SUCKER

PROJECT “An update on the battle against alien algae in Hawaii”

By Brian Hauk

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Brian Hauk. Photo Sterling Kaya

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Alien algae harmful to reef ecosystems – how can fishermen help?

If you like to fish, snorkel or dive you might have noticed some changes to your favorite spots throughout the years.There are a variety of potential reasons for these habitat changes and/or decreases in fish. Land development, sedimentation, pollution, overharvesting and the escape of alien species are a few of the culprits. Traditional management systems, the use of Konohiki’s, and the Kapu system began to fade in the 1800’s. This type of resource management was a way of life and involved closed seasons, minimum sizes and other science based restrictions which maintained sustainable fisheries for generations. Western management techniques now model many of the traditional methods of the past and can hopefully help to preserve resources for future generations.

Hawai’i has served as a shipping stop-off point between the mainland U.S. and Asia for decades, where boats drop-off and pick-up supplies to be taken around the world. Unfortunately, with this influx of vessels also comes an invasion of unwanted visitors. While some invasive species were brought to Hawai’i inadvertently by ships, others were brought deliberately with the intention that they would be utilized as a valuable resource for the islands.

Gracilaria salicornia (Gorilla Ogo), Kappaphycus and Eucheuma spp. have now established themselves as the dominant alien limu species in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu. These species were introduced on the fringing reefs surrounding the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) on Coconut Island in Kaneohe Bay as well as inshore areas of Waikiki. Researchers believed the algae would not have the capability to spread because they do not have the ability to travel over deep water, they do not have the capacity to re-establish holdfasts (“roots”), and the herbivore fish population within the bay would keep the biomass in check (Conklin & Smith, 2005). Well as usual, nature has found a way to get around its normal barriers. From its original introduction sites, Kappaphycus/Eucheuma spp. have spread through most of Kaneohe Bay and begun to establish low density populations 34

Lawai‘a Magazine

Caption TK. Photo Sterling Kaya

further up the East side of Oahu towards Kaaawa and Punalu’u. Gracilaria salicornia can be found from Kahana Bay on the east side around the southern coast to Ewa on the West side

Effects on Ecosystem and Fishermen Gracilaria salicornia and Kappaphycus/Eucheuma spp. are thick robust algae that are capable of causing detrimental effects on the ecosystem by outgrowing and outcompeting native limu and corals. Unfortunately these species were brought here without their natural predators. This gives alien algae an added advantage because our herbivore populations are reduced and not adapted to feed on these alien species. Kappaphycus & Eucheuma species are difficult to distinguish because they have a variety of morphologies based on where they grow. In some locations algae will form large tumbleweeds; in others it will create a matting effect across the substrate. However, all the alien algae species and morphologies have the same negative consequences on the reefs: • They outgrow and smother corals eventually causing their death • They outcompete the native limu • They fill in cracks and crevices that fish and invertebrates use for shelter reducing habitat The greater the amount of invasive algae, the less amount of coral and native limu, equals the fewer amounts of fish for our tables.

What DAR and Partners are Doing Many of you may have seen or heard about the “Super Sucker”, a giant underwater vacuum that is used to mechanically remove the invasive algae. Since its de-

velopment in 2005, the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) has partnered with the University of Hawaii and The Nature Conservancy to use the Super Sucker to remove thousands of pounds of algae from various reefs in Kaneohe Bay. Previous removal efforts have determined that mechanical removal alone is not sufficient to prevent re-growth of Kappaphycus and Eucheuma spp., secondary bio-control efforts are necessary. DAR is now conducting experiments to grow and release the native collector urchin, Tripneustes gratilla, (hawae) to determine the efficacy of using the collector urchin as a means of its additional bio-control measure. Collector urchins are currently found within the bay, but their numbers are not at the levels necessary to keep the invasive algae under control. Research has begun, to determine whether increasing the urchin population will control the blankets of alien algae that are smothering our reefs and eliminating fish habitats.

Utilizing Mechanical Removal in Conjunction with Native Sea Urchin Biocontrol

Caption TK. Photo Sterling Kaya

Brian Hauk. Photo Sterling Kaya

In July 2008 a small patch reef, roughly 3000 m2 in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu was cleared of alien algae using Supersucker Sr. along with help from its smaller version, Supersucker Jr. Consequently, the algae re-grew to baseline levels in six months without any further intervention. In July 2009, the reef was re-cleared.

DAR is studying the combined effects of mechanical removal and increased native herbivory using the native collector urchin, Tripneustes gratilla, on the biomass re-growth of invasive algae. Experiments are being conducted to determine the urchins’ effectiveness in grazing the alien algae and inhibiting its rapid re-growth after mechanical removal on a scale larger than previous studies. Urchins were collected from Zslab artificial reefs along the West Coast of Oahu and then transported to the State of Hawaii’s Anuenue Fisheries Research Center (AFRC) to be quarantined.

Upon completion of quarantine, the animals were transported and carefully placed onto newly cleared sections of the reef. The urchins’ progress and/or the possible re-growth of alien algae will be monitored to determine required stocking densities and the efficiency of using collector urchins as a native biocontrol agent.

The artificial Z-slab reefs will be monitored to measure any impacts from urchin removal as well as urchin population recruit and migration in the area.

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Kaneohe Bay before Photo courtesy DAR

Tripneustes gratilla (Collector Urchin) feeding directly on Kappaphycus/Eucheuma spp. Photo courtesy DAR

Biocontrol Development and Sea Urchin Rearing Further investigation is underway to determine long-term utility of native grazers, such as sea urchins, to assist in the control or elimination of invasive algae. The culture and outplanting of native sea urchins may allow managers to control the growth of invasive algae without endless mechanical removal. Previous research at the University of Hawaii has shown this method to be a highly effective tool on a small scale. Larger scale experiments would allow the tool be monitored and altered to test further success. In order to pursue larger scale experiments, a source of urchins must be developed. Collecting a large number of urchins from the reef may cause harm to the donor area. So, the solution is to raise urchins for the purpose of outplanting. Urchin rearing trials will take place at AFRC utilizing the infrastructure already in place. The rearing of large quantities of sea urchins will be implemented in conjunction with the Supersucker project in order to address invasive algae issues in a comprehensive approach. Once urchins are available in sufficient numbers, outplanting trials will begin to test for effective outplanting densities as well as strategies for density manipulation. All activities will be closely monitored for algal abundance, coral health, and reef improvement.

Kaneohe Bay Border Control: A Transition from Alien to Native

Gracilaria salicornia and Kappaphycus/ Eucheuma spp. are thick robust algae that are capable of causing detrimental effects on the ecosystem by outgrowing and outcompeting native limu and corals.

In October, 2009 the AIS team began removing alien algae from a fringing reef in the northern section of Kaneohe Bay. This area marks the northern extent of dense Eucheuma denticulatum distribution. A 25 x 50 meter trial plot was cleared to determine removal rates and habitat types. We were unable to return to the area for two months due to equipment and weather complications. Upon our return, we found that the cleared area had been repopulated by a native species Turbinaria ornata. We are currently research the competitiveness of this and other native species with displacement experiments.

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Kaneohe Bay after Photo courtesy DAR

AIS Surveys and Distribution Mapping for 5 Alien Algae Species DAR has been conducting visual surveys for five major invasive marine macroalgae species (Gracilaria salicornia, Kappaphycus/Eucheuma spp. complex, Acanthophora spicifera, Avrainvillea amadelpha, Hypnea musciformis) around the state since 2005. Since that time, over 40,000 data points have been collected from Oahu, Molokai, Hawaii, and Kahoolawe.

Surveys typically extend from shore to the barrier reefs of potential habitats and are conducted on snorkel, making straight line swims from beach to reef. Portable global positioning system devices are used to record spatial data along with relative algal abundances. Data points are imported into ArcGIS software allowing the generation of accurate maps that project algal abundance and distribution. These maps are essential for determining further algal management strategies and are being used to develop and implement a comprehensive approach to remove and control the spread of non-native algae by utilizing mechanical removal, native grazers and the reintroduction of native species.

Molokai Community-Based Invasive Species Control

What you can do on your boat: • Inspect anchor, mooring lines, propellers, bilge and trailers for small fragments of seaweed; remove and dispose of any seaweed before leaving area • Keep your hull clean

What you can do while snorkeling or diving: • Carefully inspect wetsuit (especially Velcro), footwear, gloves, BCD, fins and gear bag for small fragments of seaweed; remove and dispose of before leaving area • Wash and dry tabis and other equipment between watersheds Much like urchins, healthy herbivorous fish populations can also keep algae in check, but many of these species (such as parrotfish and surgeonfish) are overfished, so it is important to limit the harvest of these species. Remember to let the ocean be your ice box!!

The AIST initiated a Molokai community-based invasive species control project with funding from The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and HISC. AIST will conduct a year-long project consisting of mechanical algae removal, community clean-up events, educational workshops, and outreach activities. Gracilaria salicornia is the primary species targeted for removal efforts. A bio-secure protocol for the processing and recycling of the alien algae is being developed; insuring that there will be no reintroductions and that algae biomass is utilized in a beneficial manner. Algae re-growth monitoring will measure the success of the algae removals. This project will serve as a model for community-based invasive species control across Hawaii and will take place at four locations: Kaunakakai Harbor, Keawanui Fishpond, Ualapue Fishpond & Kaloko eli Fishpond. This project has demonstrated a positive collaboration between government and community groups and individuals in accomplishing invasive species control.

What Fishermen Can Do To Help Invasive algae can establish itself in new areas via sexual reproduction or through fragmentation. Therefore, every small piece of algae that makes its way to a different location has the potential to establish a new population on the reef. There are a number of measures that we can take to help prevent the spread of invasive algae:

What you can do while fishing • Carefully inspect fishing lines, hooks, nets, traps and catch bags for small fragment of seaweed; remove and dispose of before leaving area • Limit harvest of key herbivore species: –Urchins such as hawae, wana, ina, and haukeuke ula ula –Herbivorous fish such as uhu, enenue, kala, umaumalei, and manini

Molokai Gorilla Ogo Removal Project

Funding Sources: Hawaii Invasive Species Council Department of Land and Natural Resources National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Fish and Wildlife Foundation The Nature Conservancy The University of Hawaii

For More Information Contact: Brian Hauk hauk@hawaii.edu Division of Aquatic Resources Department of Land and Natural Resources 1039 Sand Island Pky. Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 256-4897 (808) 832-5012 fax

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The House of Limu: C l in g in g on to t h e past

by Samson Kaala Reiny

Henry Chang-Wo, co-founder of the Ewa Seaweed Project.

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R e p r i n t e d f r o m T h e H a w a ii I n d e p e n d e n t www . t h e h a w a iii n d e p e n d e n t . c o m

I

made the trek last week to Oneula Beach in Ewa. The long drive out, with broken air conditioning, nonetheless, reminded me why this area is called the Plains. I thought of Nebraska -– pancake flat and mud-cracking dry. I fanned myself with a rolled-up newspaper. Mirages of flowing streams faded in and out of view on busy Fort Weaver Road.

I was on my way that day to meet Henry Chang-Wo, co-founder of the Ewa Seaweed Project. For 12 years, he worked to preserve what Hawaiians once called “The House of the Limu.”

Uncle Henry, as the youngsters call him, alleged this strip of coastline was, at one time, home to every species of seaweed found throughout the islands. Now the reefs are relatively empty for reasons I was about to find out.

After stumbling through traffic, I arrived at the beach and parked in the sanded dirt lot. Because the plants heavily line the shore, the locals also call the area Hau Bush. And the Bush feels every bit as hot at as the rest of Ewa. Even the eponymous shrubs looked balding and needy as some of the leaves were splattered with yellow. The salty ocean air rankled my throat and I coughed.

I turned to the sea and the waters were tame and clear enough to make out the bottom—all I saw was sand and rock.

Uncle Henry, who I followed into the far end of the parking lot, got out of his car and motioned to me. “Let me show you something,” he said. I followed him off the lot to what was a dirt area dotted with coconut trees and some shrubs several yards above the shoreline. We then made our way to what appeared to be an old shaft. A large oval boulder partially capped the opening, but I could easily make out the bottom: a muddied pool of stagnant water.

“Up until three or four years ago, the water here used to flow straight to the ocean,” he said. “You knew because there used to be a lot of toads here. They need the fresh water.”

“And how does this connect to the seaweed exactly?” I thought, my forehead wrinkling.

“You have to understand that the ocean needs to drink,” he said seeming to anticipate the confusion. “When the water from the mountains meets the ocean, that’s when the ocean gives birth. That’s where there’s the hanau.

That’s how the limu grow.”

Up until that point, the thought of flowing water in Ewa was as real to me as the mirages on Fort Weaver. I had assumed that the golf courses and endless subdivisions drew their water from faraway places. But below the summer heat of Ewa, the underground pulses with water.

For thousands of years, rains from the Waianae and Koolau mountains have drained into the vast underground channels of the Plain. Those waters then used to flow heavily out to Pearl Harbor’s and Ewa’s shores. According to Uncle Henry, limu needs this constant flow of brackish water to thrive. “It needs the sweet water from the top,” he said. “It cannot grow without it.”

But over the last several decades, heavy development in the region has severely crippled the watershed’s massive flow out to the sea. The large demand for water in the growing community has resulted in its migraissue five 2010

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“When the water from the mountains meets the ocean, that’s when the ocean gives birth.

That’s where there’s the hanau. That’s how the limu grow.” tory shift away from its ancient ocean destination and, instead, toward pipes that connect into homes and golf course sprinklers. Uncle Henry believes the ocean is now suffering because of it.

“It wasn’t how you see it now,” he said. “It was beautiful.”

As a child, the 69-year-old practically grew up on Oneula Beach. He remembers the Hau Bush being so sturdy and tall that he would climb to the top and gaze far out into the horizon. There was a pump just several yards from shore that brought fresh water from directly underground, so in place of dirt there was thick grass and plenty of keawe trees, which he watered all the time. And the ocean was just as rich.

As we walked back toward the parking lot, Uncle Henry spotted an old friend, and they reminisced. “There would be 30 guys at a time grabbing the limu,” said Al, a lifelong Ewa resident as he sat on the opened trunk space of his van. His aged eyes squinted toward the clear waters just below. “The place was loaded.”

“Yep. The whole place was just covered” Uncle Henry said. “And you knew it was because of the fresh water. The Hawaiians always knew that.” According to him, you could feel and see the mountain water entering the sea. “You could feel it gushing out from under you when you were in the water ... you could see it coming up from the sand on the shore. You could even see it in the water because of the thermocline,” he said. I imagined it, very roughly, to seeing a light vegetable oil in water; there’s a slight tinge and nuanced change in texture.

Uncle Henry said he grew up in a time when the old ways were transitioning out. “Back then, when I was with some of my kupuna, I couldn’t pick certain seaweed or catch types of fish at certain times of the year,” he said.

“I couldn’t even swim near some places. That’s how strict they were,” he said. “You wouldn’t believe some of the things ... how well they knew their environment. They knew how to take care.”

We made our way down to the beach and Uncle Henry evaluated the water. There wasn’t as much seaweed as he wanted to show me, he said. “I can tell you all the native limu that grow here. But I know a better place ... at the No Pick Zone.”

Signed into law by Governor Lingle in 2006, The No issue five 2010

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The invasive Gorilla Ogo, a bright almost-yellow seaweed with tentacle-like arms.

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“People need to understand that once you take away a natural resource, you can never get it all back.”

Pick Zone backed by Act 293 prohibits the picking of limu from this area a few miles east of Oneula Beach until January 2010.

Because the area is still believed to receive fresh water from the mountains, Uncle Henry said it’s a good place to see how much can be brought back from over-picking and encroachment of invasive species.

The No Pick Zone is Uncle Henry’s classroom and preserve We parked on the side of the neighboring street and made our way past the slim opening between two properties. We headed onto the shallow reef. Uncle Henry began to rattle out the names of the assorted of seaweed clinging to the shallow rocks: Waewaeiole, Manauea, Eleele, Huluhuluwaena. He not only identified them, he noted the times when some are ready to be harvested and shared some of their more interesting characteristics. “This limu clings more tightly to the rocks when they’re ready to spread their young,” he said, pointing to one. “This one makes one ono seaweed juice ... and, I don’t see it here, but the Alani is used for medicine.”

It wasn’t long before we saw some of the invasive ones. He pointed to a few straggling mud weeds, algae that smother the coral and other seaweed. He easily spotted the Gorilla Ogo, a bright almost-yellow seaweed with tentacle-like arms.

“This one’s making its way here from Pearl Harbor,” he said.

“Can you imagine that we collected 700 pounds of these at one time?” he said as he yanked it out by the root and threw it high up on the sands.

We both continued poking around the shore. I watched him comb through a seaweed bed when I asked how the No Pick Zone is doing two-and-a-half years later. A few moments passed before a baby eel scurried from one algae patch to the next. “Did you just see that?” he said. “That’s a good sign because the eels are scavengers. It means the reef is healthy.”

There are other ways to tell, too. “I know I have a healthy reef when I see the Eleele because it needs constant fresh water to grow,” he said. “The Kala is the heartiest seaweed, so when that’s going, you know you’re in trouble.”

He took a long scan at the shoreline. “But, looking around today, I think it’s doing alright.”

Just how many people are left that can read nature that way, I’m not sure. How many people left are like Michael Kumukauoha Lee, another founding member of the Ewa Seaweed Project, who knows the rich lore surrounding the seaweed? He mentions the shark goddess Kaahupahau, who is known to wear a lei of limu, and of the once famed Oio fish of Ewa that tasted like the Lipoa seaweed on which it feasted. “Limu is very important to the Hawaiians,” he said. Lee believes that the old tales are not just stories but lessons to teach people about the balance of nature.

“If there is no limu, many of the fish who eat the limu will disap-

pear, too,” he said. “Without the seaweed, the whole ocean shore suffers because the diversity of life disappears.”

Protecting this fragile shoreline has required legal action. In 2006, project members, with representation from the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, petitioned the court to reverse the DLNR’s decision to allow developer Haseko’s construction of an outfall that would release nearby waste water through Papipi road and out to the waters near Oneula.

In January 2008, the court agreed that DLNR did not adequately assess the cumulative effects on the environment.

The project is currently stalled. Recently, the DLNR shot down Haseko’s proposal to construct an outfall leading from Kaloi gulch on the western end of Oneula. The state agency determined the gulch had adequate storage capacity to handle the waste water from the surrounding communities.

In spite of these successes, Uncle Henry feels that one can only hold back progress for so long. “The developers always win,” he said. “Eventually they’re going to build that storm drain. It’s all about who has the money.”

Uncle Henry and I made our way back to Oneula beach and we sat on the concrete posts that form the perimeter of the parking lot with a group of his friends: regulars who come to fish, drink beers, and talk story. One guy remembered seeing so many eels at Oneula “back in the day.” Long-timer Al reminded us how much fish there used to be—so much that you could see them shimmering on the waves. Uncle Henry remembered this stretch of coast was once called the “House of the Limu.”

Since the project’s inception in 1997 through a sponsorship by the Queen Liliuokalani Children’s Center, Uncle Henry has focused on education. He has presented more show-and-tells than he can remember with foster children, high school students, and Hawaiian clubs. He has organized cleanup days and has facilitated countless limu replanting projects. But, most importantly, Uncle Henry wants people to know how special Ewa Beach once was—and what it has become. “This place was beautiful,” he said for about the third time that day. “And now look at it. It’s nothing like how it was.”

To Uncle Henry, it will never be the same. “People need to understand that once you take away a natural resource, you can never get it all back,” he said.

The wind whipped for a moment and flung up some sand. Al checked his land-planted fishing line to see if anything caught.

Others shuffled through the cooler for beers. Uncle Henry, who’s sitting on the top of a table, began gently shuffling his feet as he stared out onto the bare shallow waters. And he started to curl his toes. “My grandma and I used to pick seaweed with our feet,” he said. “That was small-kid time.”

issue five 2010

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Fishing for Science

Oscar Sette

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Lawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a Magazine

In late 2009 Pacific Islands Fisheries Group received a grant from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to extend and expand its Deep 7 Bottomfish Tagging Project. Deep 7 species include onaga, ehu, opakapaka, kalekale, lehi, gindai and hapuupuu.

In a collaborative effort bottom fishermen are tagging and releasing Deep 7 species to gather growth and movement data on the bottomfish. Initial phase of the project focused tagging efforts around the Northwest Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) and some areas of the Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI). Initial tagging had focused on Kauai, Oahu and Molokai. Current tagging efforts are now being expanded in the main Hawaiian Islands to include Hawaii and Maui. The goal is to tag 2,000 Deep 7 bottomfish this season, from September 1, 2009 to Sept. 30, 2010.

PIFG, in working with local bottom fishermen, has developed tag and release protocols to assure and improve survival rates of Deep 7 species. One critical issue to address with catching and releasing deep sea bottomfish is barotrauma.

This condition is where the air bladder of the deep bottomfish inflates as it is brought to the surface due to a change in pressure. To treat this problem the fish’s air bladder is vented (air released) with the use of a special venting tool. Once the air is released, the fish is measured, tagged and then released over-board. Another tool developed by PIFG to assist release efforts is called a “Drop Shot”. This is a weight that is temporarily attached and used to send the fish down to the bottom. The advantage to using this device is that it will take the fish down rapidly to the bottom, thereby avoiding predation. At the same time, the “Drop Shot” helps to revive and repressurize the fish as it descends. Once the fish gets to the bottom it is released and the retrieve line attached to the weight is reeled in to recover the weight.

NOAA scientists are continuing work on life history studies for Deep 7 bottom fish in the Main Hawaiian Islands. Bob Humphreys, NOAA lead scientist, and his team are trying to collect samples of the smallest (less than 8” fork length) juvenile Deep 7 bottomfish and of the largest adult sizes. The otolith and gonad (if present) will be extracted and used to determine age of maturity and growth rate information. This will help scientist update existing age and growth curves which will be critical in managing this fishery.

Currently, NOAA scientists are also working closely with PIFG contractors and local bottom fishermen to better understand the nature of the fishery. Critical factors that impact bottom

Deep 7 species include onaga, ehu, opakapaka, kalekale, lehi, gindai and hapuupuu. issue five 2010

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PIFG would like to thank all fishermen for their tremendous support and cooperation in tagging, recovering and providing critical bottomfish information.

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Lawai‘a Magazine

fishing catch per unit effort (CPUE), such as current and wind, are now being gathered on a per trip bases. Trained PIFG observers on board local bottom fishing vessels are working with fishermen to record and monitor these constantly changing conditions. NOAA scientist will try to integrate this data into CPUE models to better understand this unique fishery.

In addition to the PIFG bottomfish tagging project, Dr. Kevin Weng of Pelagic Fisheries Research Program (PFRP) has been also doing bottomfish research. They have been implanting acoustical tags in onaga, ehu and opakapaka to track movement patterns. These capsule sized acoustical tags are inserted through a small incision made into the stomach cavity of each fish. An external PIFG dart tag is then inserted below the dorsal fin of each tagged fish prior to releasing. Each acoustical tag gives off a unique signal or ping and listening receivers or stations placed along the sea floor bottom record these pings from each fish as they swim by. The listening stations are retrieved periodically to download gathered information from the data and a tracking profile of individual fish can be

developed. The information will help scientist better understand the habits and movement patterns of bottomfish and, hopefully, will shed more light on the habitats and frequency of travel of some of these bottom fish. If you should catch and recover a bottomfish with an acoustical tag, please call PIFG at (808) 265-4962. There will be a $50.00 cash reward for this tag from PFRP. During the current Deep 7 bottomfish season since October 20, 2009, there have been a total of 20 bottomfish recoveries.

All of the bottomfish recovered were opakapaka and most were caught and tagged on the Penguin Banks. There was 1 tagged opakapaka recovered off of Maui and 1 other opakapaka recovered off of Oahu that traveled from the Penguin Banks.

This brings the overall project grand total to 41 recovered bottomfish; 4 of which have crossed channels. We look forward to the upcoming bottomfish season, continued cooperation with fishermen and ultimately more recoveries. Please give us a call if you should recapture a tagged bottomfish at (808) 265-4962.

PIFG would like to thank all fishermen for their tremendous support and cooperation in tagging, recovering and providing critical bottomfish information.

Special Mahalo to the following participating bottom fishermen: Kauai – Greg Holzman, Jonathan Hurd, Oahu - Gary Dill, Leonard Yamada, Stan Fujino, Glenn Ashimine, Dennis Kamikawa, Kurt Kawamoto, Ed Ebisui, Tim Timoney, Guy Ohara, (the late) Bill Strickland, Brendt Chang, Pat Chun, John Niiyama, Brian Tyau, Jon Moribe, Derek Ganiko Molokai - Kenneth Corder, Maui – Basil Oshiro, Layne Nakagawa, John Meston, Howard Mikasa, Richard Matsumoto, Hawaii – Dennis Colon, Leroy Pi, Eddie Kuahiwinui Jr., Kevin Awa, Nash Kobayahi. We apologize if we have missed your name.

Layne Nakagawa issue five 2010

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THE LAST LAWAI‘A b y C a r l P a o o J e l l i n g s SR .

Hawaii’s first Lawai’a were the first Polynesian arrivals who brought with them a corner stone of knowledge developed over a thousand years. Through an endless process of trial and elimination and through minimal resourceful means, the Lawai’a built and contributed to a thriving advanced society of people and culture.

In today’s society of mixed races and tremendous growth, we would like to believe one version of the translation for Lawai’a to be the true Hawaiian meaning as “enough fish”. In a conservative context, one might interpret that as “take only what is needed”. In truth, only a hundred years ago the context for Lawai’a meant “enough fish for the people’s survival “. The Hawaiian people were so dependent on ocean resources that it directly influenced culture and law (kapu systems) and mixed with complex religious beliefs and superstition. Hawaiian Lawai‘a took seriously in their daily lives a routine of ritual, offerings and prayer.

What would be considered to us today as minute (ie. simply not asking permission) could bring punishing circumstances.

Lawai’a followed a set of cultural practices and morals that were passed down through generations but, through changing demographics and influences, these now have become more and more distorted. Overwhelmed and forced to compete by Western philosophies, the Lawai’a now struggles for a place in today’s society. With conflicting uses through development and competition for ocean resources brought about by a mindset of foreign culture, the Lawai’a have found it most challenging and difficult adjusting to these new moralities.

Hawaii Island’s Kona Coast, with deep ocean topography famous for its deep-sea fishing, has become a Mecca for nearshore ocean tourism.

Throughout the entire coastline, only the small Hawaiian fishing village of Miloli’i remains. Well known for its opelu and deep sea ahi ko’as, Miloli’i

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PHOTO: STERLING KAYA

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issue five 2010

Hawaiians were proficient in using nature to their betterment and the Lawai’a’s relationship with Kaku Nui is one of the best examples. holds true to its culture and people. Being surrounded by foreign influence brings foreign philosophies and a misunderstanding of the Hawaiian culture. One example would be the simple loss through the taking of Kaku Nui (The Giant Barracuda) for reasons foreign to Hawaiian culture and concepts. The concept of trophy fishing, to take the biggest fish for physical proof and documentation of a record or personal best, is wide spread today and the Kaku Nui is often sought after for this. Even Government fisheries management requires massive commercial kills to warrant documentation.

One believes that with modern technologies, photo releases could satisfy and achieve resource documentation. But till today this cannot be applied in such a way as an acceptable form of documenting and recording releases.

The Kaku Nui was an integral part of Hawaiian society and the Lawai’a placed great value on Kaku Nui. Any disappearance of this creature would bring hardship to the Lawai’a and the people who were so dependent on him. Hawaiians were proficient in using nature to their betterment and the Lawai’a’s relationship with Kaku Nui is one of the best examples. The mere tap on the side of his canoe by the Lawai’a quickly brought Kaku Nui. What followed was an abundance of opelu. Each Kaku Nui held and protected these opelu schools as his own koa, even as Lawai’a fed and fished these opelu ko’as. With such cooperation by an animal of seemingly low intelligence, one would almost think Kaku Nui understood that there was a benefit to him. From the Lawai’a’s standpoint, Kaku Nui served two purposes: the first as a natural deterrent which kept away such predators as Kawakawa (tuna), Kamanu (rainbow runner), and Ulua (giant trevally). These predators caused opelu schools to become unsettled and erratic, thus making them nearly impossible to catch by the Lawai’a. The second purpose was to keep the opelu school feeding densely and cooperatively, allowing them to be caught easily. In return, the Lawai’a gave back to Kaku Nui a small portion of his catch.

This kept the Lawai’a and Kaku Nui in harmony and both benefited from each other’s acts.

The Puhi Nui (Giant Moray Eel), a species that some feel warrants protection because of its rarity, also played an important role in Hawaiian society. This beast was also a natural protector of resources as Lawai’a knew where they existed and dared not venture too close to its home. Besides well known man-made kapus used to manage ocean resources, this creature was a natural deterrent to fishing within the vast areas where they were feared and known to inhabit.

Less known or understood, the Puhi Nui were also aumakua (Hawaiian deities) to certain families. Hawaiians that believed this and fol-

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lowed the proper protocol could fish unharmed in areas guarded

by Puhi Nui. Two recent events off the Kona Coast involved the concept of trophy fishing and the Puhi Nui. One Puhi Nui in the range of one hundred fifty pounds was taken in the 1990s and presently holds the current state record for moray eels in Hawaii. The other is pictured on the cover of a 2009 fishing publication and depicts a giant puhi hanging dead from a weigh station in Kona. The article partly reads that the spearfisherman sent his thanks to a taxidermy company. One’s belief strongly in difference to these acts would recall an old Hawaiian proverb that said glory was beheld by the amount of people one fed; life given to the bones of his people, especially the young and elderly. This proverb defines a purpose and reason (the purpose to feed a people and the reason to give life) far different from that of society today.

As foreign influences grew on the Kona Coast, trophy fishing grew with it. Following that came the demise of Kaku Nui and the harmony he represented between a selfsustaining people and the environment. Surprisingly, over time no laws were ever created to protect this harmony.

What would be so simple to implement one might say a dreadful neglect had taken place. What would cause them to go unprotected to this day? The voice of Kaku Nui are silent with only a few Lawai’a remaining with knowledge enough to speak in its place, but many are retired or unwilling to face criticism.

Caretakers and stakeholders of West Hawaii’s ocean resources, being of mostly foreign influence, have failed to see the vital role these creatures played in Hawaiian society and its environment. These neglected issues remain an indirect consequence and continue to erode a people and culture.

With Hawaii’s flourishing ocean tourism and related businesses, it seems conservation has become the tool to remove a society whose beliefs and values are far different from those who have recently made Hawaii their home.

As evidence to this, the question remains: who has spoken for these two treasures? To many, the answer is “not one speaks”.

Passed in 1998 for fisheries management, Act 306 created The West Hawaii Fisheries Council which today has been most influential in fisheries issues. The WHFC most recently initiated and lobbied successfully for measures to protect the manta ray, a well known treasure for tourism in West Hawaii. Current data shows these creatures exist in the range of 300 per island. Measures provided additional protection for the creation of a massive aquarium like setting. Ironically this same council has failed to justify the protection of two of Kona’s most eldest and rarest treasures in the Kaku Nui and Puhi Nui. But perhaps it is that both have vicious dispositions that they continue without protection, unable to justify their place. One can easily see that this unfair judgment, brought on by their own disposition, is not unlike that of Hawaii’s Lawai’a. Struggling for reason and purpose, Hawaii’s Lawai’a is fast becoming an outsider in his own world, unable to justify to a greater extent of being his place in this changing society that has forgotten his role as sustenance provider and an important part of managing our ocean environment.

Domingo Gomes, Waianae, Oahu b y C a r l P a o o J e l l i n g s SR .

I had a chance to talk with Domingo Gomes about what he had to say on Kaku Nui. Domingo is the oldest active opelu lawai’a in Waianae, Oahu. I fished with his brother, Patrick, who is an expert trapper and I learned how to throw net from his brother, Louie who was an expert thrownet Lawai’a. Louie passed away some years ago but Pat is still going strong. I learned and fished with them during my early teens.

Domingo says his father was an expert Lawaia who specialized in opelu net fishing and also hook and line opelu fishing. He had trained Kaku Nui and fished off of Nanakuli during the 1930’s to the 1960’s, when he later opened up a Hawaiian food restaurant right here in Nanakuli. After he died, my aunt Nona took over and ran the restaurant for about 8 years and then gave it up. It was

called Barney Restaurant.

Domingo remembers his dad teaching him not to take the Kaku Nui, no matter what, even when night fishing. If it came and took a few hooks to steal opelu, his father would say “Let it go, leave it be, it will be full in a short while and you can hook all you want after it is full. It will keep all other predators away and you will make up any losses easily”.

Domingo told me two stories: the first one of a Kaku Nui six feet long at Makaha. As soon as it heard Domingo’s engine it would come.

Domingo said even though he would throw a few opelu to it, the kaku wouldn’t take them. He said there was so much food that it was never hungry. The opelu just swam about Kaku Nui, paying little attention to the big fish. It was so easy to fish with Kaku Nui present. The worst thing that could happen while fishing opelu was that the giant kahala would show up. There was no fishing when kahala were present so Kaku Nui was always a welcoming sight. With Kaku Nui

there, no kahala ever came near while Domingo fished. So from one generation to the next, Lawaia were taught to leave be the Kaku Nui. The second story was of a giant tiger shark at Kaena. Domingo fished Kaena with Henry Leslie, another long time opelu fisherman who was originally from Kealakekua. Whenever the shark arrived, it was surrounded with opelu. One day Domingo told Henry “We go try put the net down.” Fearing the shark would tear their nets, they hesitated but lowered the nets into the water as the opelu were being cooperative and feeding aggressively. The net went down and palu (chum) was opened above. A large amount of opelu took the bait and the net was hauled in with the shark just resting there. They were allowed to fish for awhile but when the shark decided to leave, all the opelu left with it, no matter how much they fed palu. This lasted for several months. It was always a good feeling when the shark came around because they knew they could fish and nothing would hinder their efforts.

issue five 2010

51

Tips from the Marine Education Center

Why Marine parts?

Mark Kimura, Honolulu Community College, Marine Education and Training Center 52

Lawai‘a Magazine

PHOTO: STERLING KAYA

And why not automotive or truck parts? First, I will tell you that they might fit and might work, because marine engines are based on transportation engines. Transportations engines are from the auto or truck industry. But for SAFETY reasons, these parts are “marinized.” This means that any part of the engine that handles fuel, spark, electrical and cooling/water has to be made to a higher standard for boat engines. OK, so what does this all mean?

As an example, let’s look at V-8 Chevy starters.

Automotive starters have NO Spark arrestor and may be made to a lower standard or remanufactured. A Marine starter HAS a spark arrestor and normally is a new starter. Yes, they are way more dollars! But because gas fumes on a boat tend to settle in the bilge, rather than being disbursed onto the road, the potential for explosion and fire is much greater. And who wants to have their boat blow up? Spark arrestors should also be found on distributors, coils, alternators and any other source of potential spark or ignition on boats.

On the fuel/gas side, carburetors, fuel pumps, fuel lines, tanks, fittings, filters etc...All need to be marine rated. If for any reason there is a fuel leak in your boat, again, the vapors will find the lowest spot in the boat.

This is normally the bilge around the inboard engine.

Remember, when the vapors build up to a right ratio of fuel to air mixture, we have a BIG BOMB!!! All we need now is a small spark.

BOOM, your day is all messed up! So you guys get the picture, right?

The Coast Guard, America Boat & Yacht Council and boat/engine manufactures all have a part in investigating mishaps on the water. Their investigations of these parts have been found to cause death or injuries to boaters. It is also for these reasons that “marinized” replacement parts have been made to a safer and higher standard. That is why the parts carry the MARINE designation.

Powered by NAPA!

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Marine Parts

Whether you’re pulling a boat, or driving one, you can count on NAPA parts to keep you on the move.

Visit any one of our 37 naPa auto Parts locations statewide.

issue five 2010

53

Miya Epoch Electric Reels

Gear reviews by e d watam u r a

This review is about a product line that is not newly released but also not commonly known amongst Hawaii’s fishermen. This is an electric reel made by Miya Epoch that I have found to be very capable for bottom fishing. The main attraction of this reel is the obvious size difference compared to Electramates and Chings. The key is that it is designed to fish using braided lines, which as you know are much smaller in diameter compared to mono or dacron. The braided line, because of less resistance, also aids in keeping your line hanging straight down rather than blowing back due to a strong current or drift. The reel pictured is the CX-4 and it will hold 500 plus yards of 100# test braided line.

The Miya Epoch model lineup ranges from CX-4 to CX-15 and a new AD-3 auto drag reel. These computer driven reels will level wind the line on the reel at step less variable speed and stop automatically. It will also auto stop on the drop at any determined depth. Talk about easy!!! It also is waterproof and is equipped with a lever drag and crank handle for manual retrieval. I have used this reel for two seasons and I really think it has allowed me to catch more fish, which is the bottom line (hahaha). Check out the website for more info.

SOG Knife How many of you have struggled to gill and gut your fish while out on the ocean? Not an easy job, but the right tool can help to ease the effort. I was searching for such a tool when I ran across this knife/saw made by SOG. The model is called the Seal-Revolver and was designed by Robbie Roberson and Spencer Frazer. As you can see in the photo, this is quite an innovative design and provides you with a tool that is as beautiful as it is functional and custom made to get the job

of gilling and gutting done with less effort. It also can saw through bills and tails which would allow you to fit a marlin in a fish bag. An added feature is a slot in the case that exposes the blade allowing you to cut the line without removing the knife. A very useful feature in an emergency. You can check out all the features and specifications on the SOG website.

There is even a You Tube video to watch. Priced at $26.95 from amazon.com.

Fujinon TechnoStabi Binoculars

Shimano Evair Sandals We have all heard the stories of ono’s sliding across the deck and slicing up the toes of unsuspecting fishermen. Well these Shimano sandals are a super comfortable solution. The 100% waterproof construction features a non-slip, non-marking sole and is ultra-light, weighing less than 6 oz. per sandal. The one piece EVA material provides heel shock absorption and the ergonomic arch reduces foot fatigue for those long days on the boat.

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Lawai‘a Magazine

Ahi season is upon us once again and locating birds is top priority for those of us in search of the “big yellow guy”.

To aid us in this quest for “bird piles” is this image stabilized binocular from Fujinon. The Fujinon Techno-Stabi 14x40 is definitely a top performer in this category. It has a tough black rubber armor coating with a polycarbonate case. It is waterproof and filled with nitrogen and argon gas . The IS system is a combination of two piezo gyro vibration sensors, one for vertical and one for the horizontal axis to detect cyclical and repetitive motion, plus a pair of gyro sensors to detect binocular direction. These inputs are then sent to a micro processor that controls a pair of direct drive motors that react instantly and will correct up to an astounding 5 degrees of motion. The anti reflective coated lenses provide distortion free images and outstanding light transmission. To top it all off, it comes with a custom fitted Pelican hard case. These are not inexpensive, but if you catch two more ahi’s with the help of these binoculars it was all worth it!!

Hawaii Skin Diver Ad 11/09 for Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council

Success depends on you!

Ecosystem-based Management of Fisheries in the US Pacific Islands

Are You a Fisherman, Diver or Ocean User?

If you are not a player in making ďŹ shery decisions, THE DECISIONS WILL BE MADE FOR YOU.

DID YOU KNOW that parrotfish have been identified as one of the top 10 candidate species for annual catch limits in Hawaii? Researchers surveying waters around Oahu encountered parrotfish in under half of the underwater surveys conducted. The three species of primary fishery importance, including the redlip parrotfish, were found much less frequently than the other four parrotfish that inhabit local waters.

GET INVOLVED! To learn how, contact the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council at (808) 522-8220, email info.wpcouncil@noaa.gov, or go to www.wpcouncil.org.

Funding support for this ad provided by the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program.

issue five 2010

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photos by Roy Morioka

B y J ohn C l a r k

When Norma Correa was seven years old, her grandmother bought a beachfront lot in Kuliouou.

“In the late 1920s, Joe Paiko decided to lease the lots on Paiko Drive,” she recalled. “Grandma told him she wanted her lot in fee, and he agreed. Later, she bought another lot next to the first one. At that time she lived in Puunui [in Honolulu], so she built a one room house on Paiko Drive and used it as a beach house. To reach the house, you drove on a coral road from Kaimuki.”

Mrs. Correa’s family spent a lot of time at their beach house, and she remembered the abundance of fish on the reef flats. “We used to call the point by the Paiko house ‘Sandy Beach’. It was all white sand, and grandpa would take us up there to swim. He’d talk stories with Mr. Paiko, and we’d catch crabs and pick pipipi from the rocks at the point. There were kumu holes all over the reef, and lots of manini. Mullet were all over in the shallow water. There were lot of other kids, too, and everyone was always in the ocean. The whole neighborhood would congregate, and everyone would have dinner at the homes on the beach.”

Limu was one of the favorite seafoods of the Paiko Drive residents, and Mrs. Correa recalled the different varieties that grew on the reefs. “There was limu kohu on the outside reef, and limu wawaeiole and limu manauea on the shallow reef flats inside. All the women, including the young girls like me, went out to pick it. Then everyone

cleaned and washed it. We would chop it, mix it with chili pepper water and alaea salt, and bottle it. Then everyone took a bottle home.”

Mrs. Correa made the Paiko Drive house her home when she and her husband, Lawrence Correa, were married. That’s when she noticed that things in the ocean had started to change from her younger days. “When I was 15, the family rented the house, but I came back in 1947 when Larry and I got married. We saw that the ’46 wave [the tsunami of April 1, 1946] had filled in some of the fishing holes, but there were still lots of fish. The big change, though, came from Kaiser’s dredging.”

In the late 1950s, Henry J. Kaiser dredged the former Kuapa Fishpond and converted it into Hawaii Kai Marina.

As part of the same development he dredged the entrance channel to the marina and the access channel to Hawaii Kai boat ramp in Maunalua Bay Beach Park. During this massive dredging project, ocean currents and the prevailing tradewinds carried huge plumes of silt over the reef flats fronting Hawaii Kai and Kuliouou. “Kaiser’s dredging filled in all the reefs,” Mrs Correa said. “Foreign limu came and piled up in huge piles on the beach. It was really smelly.”

During the early 1900s, the south shore of Oahu from Koko Head to Kalaeloa was one of the most productive areas on the island for food from the sea. One of the keys to the productivity was the large number of streams that > > CON TI N UED ON PG. 58

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OCEANIC DIGITAL CHANNEL 349

CATCH THE FISH AT THESE TIMES: • Sportfishing with Dan Hernandez Monday & Tuesday 7:00pm

• Saltwater Ventures Sunday 1:30pm

NEW ON CHANNEL 349: • Aquahunters

(Kayak Fishing Local Style)

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(Dive Fishing)

• Guy Harvey's Portraits of the Deep

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Bringing You the World of Water. The Ocean Network. Oceanic Digital Channel 349 See OceanNetwork.tv for show times. issue five 2010

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<<CONTINUE D F ROM PG.56

flowed into the ocean from all of the south shore valleys. Native seaweeds like limu lipoa, limu eleele, and limu manauea, better known today as ogo, thrive on reef flats where fresh and salt water mix. There they established the foundation of the marine food chain.

When inland and shoreline development in the 1900s altered stream flows and destroyed coral reefs, many of Oahu’s marine resources disappeared. Stories like Mrs. Correa’s are still told from one end of the south shore to the other.

Glenn Magbanua and his sister Angelina “Angie” Rodgers grew up in Kalihi Kai, where they spent a lot of time at their grandparents’ house on Mokauea Island in Keehi Lagoon. “Our grandfather, Filameno Patacsil, moved to Mokauea in the early 1930s.He was one of the original squatters on the island,” they said. “He was a gill net fisherman and mostly he fished for mullet. They were the easiest to get off the net, and they were good eating. He gill netted on the reef fronting Fort Kamehameha and along the edge of the Pearl Harbor entrance channel. Sometimes poachers stole his nets and his fish.

Sometimes hammerheads and black tip sharks came after the mullet and tore up the nets. We had long racks on Mokauea where we dried the nets and patched them.”

They recalled that their grandfather had a lot of superstitions.

“We weren’t allowed to jump over the nets or the fish would jump out”, they said. “If we did jump over them, then he made us jump back. He didn’t allow any of us to whistle at night because the wind might come up and make the ocean too rough to fish.”

Besides mullet, Filameno Patacsil caught other fish and harvested ogo that he sold to the markets in Chinatown. “He went for tako at Fort Kamehameha and dived for manini and other reef fish. He trapped for lobster in deeper water between Keehi Lagoon and Pearl Harbor and caught white crabs in the same area.”

The shallow reef between Keehi Lagoon and Pearl Harbor was extremely productive for ogo, and when Glenn was older, he was 58

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one of his grandfather’s divers. “That reef,” he said, “had long ogo that grew about six feet down, so we had to dive for it. We called it “golden” ogo. My grandfather would always tell us to pick above the root. If we picked with the root, he would scold us and throw it back in. The grounds were so productive and widespread that you could go everyday and pick five bags, and when you picked above the root, it grew back quick and full. We used to go with a flat bottom boat and poll across the reef. When we picked up limu, we always looked for tako, and speared some fish.”

“Everytime we went,” Glenn continued, “we would try to get four or five bags of long ogo. The bags were burlap bags, and they weighed about 60 pounds when they were full. My grandfather got about $60 a bag, about a dollar a pound, so he made good money. As soon as the bags were full, we’d take them straight to Oahu Market in Chinatown. We’d drive the boat right into Nuuanu Stream and tie up at the delivery pier. One person would stay with the boat, and the rest of us took the ogo to the market. Then we’d go shopping.”

The end of the family’s commercial fishing and ogo harvesting came in the 1970s when the Reef Runway was built on the reef off Honolulu International Airport. The massive reclamation project buried most of the reef that had supported them since the 1930s, and what remained to the west of the runway was placed off limits to civilians.

Hawaii’s marine ecosystems are a vital part of our island heritage. The stories from the Correa and Patacsil families show the dramatic impacts of urbanization on these ecosystems from the loss of fresh water flowing into the ocean, the death of native limu, the proliferation of aggressive alien limu, and the loss of certain fish species and other marine life. These marine ecosystems are complex and fragile and deserve the restoration efforts that community-based groups are providing today to keep them healthy and pollution-free.

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speak

A N O P E N LE T T ER TO H AWA I I ’S F I S H ER M E N

BY E d Wata m u r a

As a newly inducted member to the nations Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission’s (MAFAC) recreational advisory panel, I, along with the other newly inducted member, Dr. Craig Severance of Hilo, had the honor of attending the Saltwater Recreational Fishing Summit in Alexandria, Virginia on April 16th and 17th. The other representatives from the Western Pacific Region were WESPAC Executive DirectorKitty Simonds, Roy Morioka of Honolulu, Rick Gaffney of Kona, Richard Seman of Saipan, Jeff Shively of American Samoa, Dr. Hongguang Ma, and NOAA’s Alvin Katekaru.

The purpose of this summit was to create the initial steps of coordination between the Recreational Fishermen of our nation with the newly appointed stewards of NOAA who are Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere; Eric Schwaab, NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator; Russell Dunn, National Policy Advisor for Recreational Fisheries and Andy Winer, Director of External Affairs.

With the blessing of Dr. Lubchenco’s commitment to include the interests and issues of our nation’s Recreational Fishermen in the fisheries management process, we proceeded with presentations and roundtable working groups that addressed the top concerns, defined by a presummit survey. It was interesting although not surprising to note that the same issues we face here in Hawaii and the other Western Pacific Islands are shared by other Recreational Fishermen across the nation. And yet, we as Pacific Islanders have our own extremely unique attitudes toward fishing as expressed eloquently by Dr. Craig Severance during his presentation to the Summit attendees. He was able to capture and express our prime motivations to fish, which is to provide fish for our families, friends, celebrations, ceremonial events, etc. as gifts, with no expectations of reward. Aside from providing fish for parties and gatherings, I personally have a tradition of having sushi parties for all our friends when I catch enough aku or ahi. Secondarily, if there is enough fish caught, we sell fish to recover our costs, ie. gas,ice,bait, etc. WESPAC has recognized this practice of giving and cost recovery and

has deemed it significant enough to name it “Customary Exchange.” Another factor that makes us unique is President Bush’s legacy to create the recently declared Marine National Monuments. These include the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, the Marianas Trench, the Pacific Remote Island Area(PRIA), and the Rose Atoll. Many of us Islanders feel that these National Monuments are a federal intrusion on our rights as fishermen, indigenous and otherwise. The recent push by NOAA to expand and emphasize the catch share program also is of deep concern to our island fishermen. The lack of a highly industrialized fishery in our islands should exclude us from a catch share program to manage our fisheries. The longline fishery is already managed by a TAC (total allowable catch) on big eye tuna, established by International Fisheries Management and the Deep 7 bottom fish is also managed by a TAC and a recreational bag limit established by WESPAC. These management measures are already in place and even further diminish the need for a catch share program. Craig also stressed the overwhelming preference of a bottom up and not a top down management regime. This regime is already being practiced by our own WESPAC and he wanted to make sure that NOAA operates in the same manner.

Craig also gave a presentation in lieu of Mike Tokunaga’s absence, about the Barbless Circle Hook Project. I was so glad to hear mention of Kurt Kawamoto’s involvement and subsequent honors and awards due to his hard work on the project. Kurt brought a belief and ability to communicate the importance and infallibility of barbless circle hooks. Through his and Mike’s efforts and all of their volunteers, those beliefs are gaining local popularity and hopefully national popularity.

Many of the presenters and our working group roundtables revolved around 4 prime level “Visions of Success” themes. These were: > > CON TI N UED ON PG. 62

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Our Islands are unique and to promote this uniqueness we have suggested that we invite the stewards of NOAA to Hawaii to discover for themselves our “island style”. <<CONTINUE D FRO M PG. 60

1. Improved open communication, cooperation and trusting interactions as anglers, the recreational and commercial industry, managers and scientists work together at the local,regional, and national levels to find solutions for a healthy sustainable fishery.

2. Much improved, robust, timely, and accurate data and science on fisheries, habitat and water quality. Funding of regular, comprehensive stock assessments for all major marine fish stocks. Regular collection of sufficient data to intelligently manage both recreational and commercial fisheries. Better engaging recreational anglers in the collecting of data and the monitoring of fisheries.

3. Fishery management decisions based on a more complete understanding of the social and economic contributions of both the recreational and commercial fisheries communities. Information will be fully integrated into new management plans and be used to set fair allocations between sectors. Greater understanding of recreational fishing will lead to management measures that better fit how anglers fish and provide anglers and the industry with increased predictability and opportunity.

4. Ensure broad access to the greatest possible range of recreational fishing opportunities. Public resources are maintained for the use of the public. Fishing seasons and areas are close/restricted only as required to address specific fishery management objectives, and then are re-evaluated regularly. Management seeks to address the collective needs of the recreational fishing public, rather than solely the single-species harvest limits. Recreational fishing is recognized as a priority use in marine spacial planning efforts with emphasis placed on ensuring access and opportunity.

The roundtable discussions ensued and each table tackled one of these 4 issues. My table engaged in the challenges and solutions of #4. This set of issues really hit home with me because basically it concerns MPA’s (Marine Protected Areas) and specifically addresses the closures of areas and fishing restrictions without proper scientific involvement. It also addresses the need for regular re-evaluation of these closures to ascertain the success or failure of these actions.

The State of Hawaii’s BFRA policy on the Deep 7 is the perfect example of the lack of this “Vision of Success”. We were informed that the changes made to the closed areas were the result of an evaluation in 2006. They either moved or

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expanded areas based on their evaluation of its success or failure. Because almost all of the BRFA’s were either moved or expanded the obvious conclusion is that for the most part the BRFA’s do not work. However, WESPAC’s TAC management regime seems to be working just fine. The bottom fishermen have no problem with compliance and the reduction of 25% of the catch complies with the projected MSY (maximum sustainable yield). The closed season also coincides with the spawning season of the Deep 7.

The results of the roundtable discussions have yet to be published, but my table’s general concerns and possible solutions were in conjunction with most fishermen I come into contact with.

During the final comments period our esteemed Roy Morioka stressed that we see action and not rhetoric. He brought up the findings of the previous Summit in 2005 and that to date no action had been taken. To this end he suggested that in addition to a vision of 10 years, NOAA should be establishing a shorter term timeline based on the length of 4 or 8 years ( the length of office for the present administration), with specific deadlines.

My closing thoughts of this Summit are mixed. I was extremely encouraged by the general optimism shared by all the attendees and the discussions all seemed to lead to a better managed and a much more fair and equitable climate for Recreational Fishermen. But, to this end, there is needed much more science and data collection and all of this requires money, which Dr. Jane Lubchenco stated that there was no additional monies to dedicate. This leads to a reallocation of funds and so far the amount of money allocated to a catch share program that many attendees were vehemently opposed to, is discouraging at best.

Our Islands are unique and to promote this uniqueness we have suggested that we invite the stewards of NOAA to Hawaii to discover for themselves our “island style”. Roy Morioka has already extended an invitation to Russell Dunn, National Policy Advisor for Recreational Fisheries, to join in on the next WESPAC council meeting on June 28th-July 1, 2010 and also to sit in on the Non-Commercial Advisory Group meeting which I will be a part of.

I realize that this was a lot to digest and big mahalos to all of you who patiently read through this, but know this, I will represent us and try to promote our fishing culture as best I can, so that realizing that we are different from the mainland, NOAA will respect this and put policies forth that reflect this uniqueness.

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