Mason Means, first place winner in the age 6-12 division, caught this tilapia weighing 1,095 grams.

KAANAPALI – Maui Electric Company and Kaanapali Golf Courses’ tenth annual Keiki Tilapia Fishing Tournament on Saturday, May 11, raised over $20,000 for Maui United Way.

Over 700 keiki participants competed to reel in the largest tilapia or “special catch of the day” at the Kaanapali Golf Courses lagoon along the Royal Course during this tag-and-release event.

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

This year, awards went out to the following keiki:?

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

Largest Tilapia, Ages 2-5: Manalani Basques (685 grams), Kinsely Ray (316 grams), Ezra Imaoka (297 grams) and Kaimalu Namahoe-Galiza (291 grams); ?

Largest Tilapia, Ages 6-12: Mason Means (1,095 grams), Isaiah Felicilda (452 grams), Kuna’ae Pimentel (380 grams) and Ali’ikoa Shinyama Cravalho (350 grams);

Largest Tilapia, Ages 13-18: Kiana Macadangdang (260 grams), Tatum Katsutani (243 grams), Jaden Rosete (226 grams) and Kayana Garcia-Wakamatsu (223 grams);

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

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

All proceeds are donated to Maui United Way, a 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.

“Maui Electric is honored to host this beloved family event every year alongside our partners at the Kaanapali Golf Courses,” said Sharon Suzuki, president of Maui County and Hawaii Island Utilities.

“Mahalo to all of the families, sponsors, vendors,and our Maui Electric employees for their support and participation each year.”

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