Grab your fishing pole: 27th annual ‘Ohana Shoreline Fishing Tournament is this August

Mark your calendars, Big Island anglers.

The 27th annual ‘Ohana Shoreline Fishing Tournament is this August, inviting you to cast a few lines for a chance to win some great prizes and awards while enjoying your favorite pastime and family fun. 

Hawai‘i County Department of Parks and Recreation announced that the 2025 fishing tournament is scheduled for Aug. 15-17. 

Registration packets — including tournament rules — are available to pick up now at the following location:

• A. Arakaki Store in Kohala.
• Hawaiian Island Creations in Waimea.
• J. Hara Store in Kurtistown.
• S. Tokunaga Store in Hilo.
• Any Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation facility islandwide.

Registration packets are also available at the Parks and Recreation Recreation Division website.

The tournament features six divisions:

• Men’s Division (18 to 54 years old).
• Women’s Division (18 to 54 years old).
• Teen Division (13 to 17 years old).
• Keiki Division (5 to 12 years old).
• Kūpuna (55-plus years old).
• ‘Ohana Division (family/team).

Participants can enter one individual division plus the ‘Ohana Division.

Entry fees are:

• Men’s and Women’s divisions: $35.
• Teen, Keiki and Kūpuna divisions: $30.
• ‘Ohana Division: $25 per team, which can consist of 1 adult and up to 3 keiki or teens.

There also is an Invasive Fish Division in which all entrants will be automatically entered, as well as an art contest.

One winning piece of artwork will be selected from each age division, with an overall winner to be chosen from all divisions.

That overall winner will be awarded a prize and their artwork will be used for the 2026 ‘Ohana Shoreline Fishing Tournament promotional flyer.

All artwork submissions should be submitted with tournament registration forms and payment.

Weigh-ins for this year’s fishing tournament will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. Aug. 17 at Honoka‘a Sports Complex, located at 45-541 Lehua St., in Honoka’a.

Completed registration forms should be mailed — and postmarked — by Aug. 1 to the Recreation Division office at 799 Pi‘ilani St. in Hilo.

Late entries will not be accepted.

Make checks for registration payable to Hawai‘i County Director of Finance.

Valuable gift cards and other awards will be presented to the top 10 heaviest fish in the Men’s, Women’s, Teen, Keiki, and Kūpuna divisions. Top ‘Ohana Division teams will win a prize pack.

One participant who catches the most targeted invasive fish will be declared the winner of the invasive species category.

Call Shelton Kalilikane at 808-217-6074 for more information about the 27th annual ‘Ohana Shoreline Fishing Tournament. Contact Randell Kokubun at 808-961-8681 for questions or information about tournament registration.

You also can visit the Hawai’i County Parks and Recreation Recreation Division website for more information.