Keiki Tilapia Fishing Tournament nets over $15,000 for Maui United Way

Maui Electric President Sharon Suzuki presents the “Tilapa Whoppa” Award to Kamana’o Basques.
KAHULUI – Maui Electric Company and Kaanapali Golf Courses’ ninth annual Keiki Tilapia Fishing Tournament on March 24 raised over $15,000 to benefit Maui United Way.
Come rain or shine, the annual event reeled in hundreds of keiki ages two to 18 who cast their fishing poles in hopes of catching the largest tilapia or “special catch of the day” at the Kaanapali Golf Courses Pond during this tag-and-release event.
“On behalf of Maui United Way, we want to express our most heartfelt thanks and mahalo to Maui Electric Company for putting on another fun and successful keiki tilapia tournament for our Maui community,” said Kari Luna Nunokawa, Maui United Way president and chief professional officer.
“Despite the weather, everyone had a wonderful time fishing and living UNITED for each other.”
This year, awards went out to the following keiki:
Largest Tilapia of the Day, “Tilapa-Whoppa”: Kamana’o Basques (328 grams) from the ages 2-5 category;
Largest Tilapia by Age Category, Ages 2-5: Ester Savella (280 grams), Isaac Quenga (141 grams), Sunny Opunui (80 grams) and Evie Taban Baisa (73 grams);
Ages 6-12: Caleb Quenga (305 grams), Namoku Basques (280 grams), Kahali’a Kana-Yarborough (226 grams), and Kayla Tavares (116 grams); ?
Ages 13-18: Mia Manu (89 grams), Taylor-Ann Doron (41 grams), Kalani DeLima (39 grams), and Kristine Hirata (26 grams);
Special Catch of the Day (first non-tilapia): Choleton Saribay (199 grams).
- More than 100 Maui Electric employees and their families dedicated over 300 volunteer hours to help organize this year’s event that benefits Maui United Way, a nonprofit organization that raises and invests corporate and individual donations in 33 health and human services partner agencies and 34 programs to benefit the Maui County community.