FISHIN’ NORTH SHORE Two students from Mililani reminisce on fishing cultures and their favorite memories of fishing in Hawaii BY ABIGAIL HARPER
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ccording to Hawaiian tradition, when fishing one should never say the word “fish,” shared Seth Thompson, a senior from Mililani studying finance and economics. The belief is if you do, it will scare all the fish away. Instead, when going out with fishing gear in hand, Thompson said older locals will say “holoholo” or “take it easy,” and everyone will know what they mean. Retired Kapi’olani Community College English Professor Dennis Kawaharada explains in the introduction to Moke Manu’s book, “Hawaiian Fishing Traditions,” that a lot of kapu, or taboo, has surrounded Hawaiian fishing. Some families couldn’t eat or catch certain fish if their aumakua, or ancestral god, had a fish form. According to Kawaharada, some kapus exist to prevent overfishing or fishing during the spawning season.
The right catch Thompson said he has been fishing almost every week since middle school, beginning with spearfishing. While spearfishing may seem more exciting, Thompson said, it’s a lot more work. The hassle of getting in the water, then getting out and getting cleaned up wasn’t Thompson’s vibe, he shared. He said this led him to try hook and line fishing. “I think spear fishing is one of those things where you’re really into it for a couple months, and then you go out enough times and you get tired of it, and then a year later you get into it again. Whereas normal hook and line fishing you can do it all the time and it never gets old,” said Thompson. Everett Tracy, a junior from Mililani studying business management and marketing and Thompson’s childhood friend, shared a different opinion. “I live for spearfishing,” said Tracy. “I just like being in the water, even if we don’t catch anything or see anything. It’s just fun to be there with my homies. When you do catch something, it just feels good, ya know?” Tracy said he goes fishing everyday he can weather permitting.
Connecting and catching For Tracy, fishing is more than just the catch. It’s the connections he forms with those he’s with while fishing. “I think one of the best things 3 0 KE AL A K A‘I 2022
