thecrab87
06-21-2006, 12:45 PM
I had the pleasure of attending, for the fourth year, the Daniel Perreira Memorial Spearfishing Tournament (previously known as the Father's Day Invitational Spearfishing Tournament, it was renamed in 2003 after Brian Yoshikawa's nephew lost his battle with cancer).
This tournament is the gold standard in so many ways, but Brian managed to up the standard again. To begin with, all proceeds benefit the Hawaii Children's Cancer Foundation. At last years tournament, there was a cash raffle (with outstanding prizes) to benefit another child with cancer. I don't care how jaded you are, when this little girl showed up at this year's tournament, in remission, as the tournament princess.... well, let's just say that I was moved. There was another cash raffle this year, to benefit another family whose child has been diagnosed with cancer, and we wish them the best of luck.
Let's see. The food was excellent as always. The raffle was streamlined (every child wins a prize). And Brian made some important changes to the tournament format. For some time now, this tournament has bee a pole spear only tournament. In other words, no spearguns. If that didn't say enough about conserving our resources, this year the total weight category was eliminated. As a result, the focus is even more on selecting a few, quality fish.
The trash division is still in force, and it's nice to see that after I took first a couple of years back, everyone has continued to step it up. I can't remember the number of *thousands* of pounds, but a ridiculous amount of trash was pulled off the reef and the beach. Additionally, Brian made it mandatory that every diver return with a piece of trash.
To those that sponsored this tournament, thank you, and when I have a choice, you'll get my business. To Brian, thanks for putting this all together, all while becoming increasingly busy with his own family.
Sorry, I don't have pictures, but I did see a roving HSD reporter around.... I'm hoping to see the story in the mag.
Here are links to some past tournaments.
2004 (http://www.geocities.com/fathersdayspearfishing/)
2003 (http://www.geocities.com/haolecrab/2003tournament.html)
Willie 'the crab" Mahin
Maui, Hawaii
This tournament is the gold standard in so many ways, but Brian managed to up the standard again. To begin with, all proceeds benefit the Hawaii Children's Cancer Foundation. At last years tournament, there was a cash raffle (with outstanding prizes) to benefit another child with cancer. I don't care how jaded you are, when this little girl showed up at this year's tournament, in remission, as the tournament princess.... well, let's just say that I was moved. There was another cash raffle this year, to benefit another family whose child has been diagnosed with cancer, and we wish them the best of luck.
Let's see. The food was excellent as always. The raffle was streamlined (every child wins a prize). And Brian made some important changes to the tournament format. For some time now, this tournament has bee a pole spear only tournament. In other words, no spearguns. If that didn't say enough about conserving our resources, this year the total weight category was eliminated. As a result, the focus is even more on selecting a few, quality fish.
The trash division is still in force, and it's nice to see that after I took first a couple of years back, everyone has continued to step it up. I can't remember the number of *thousands* of pounds, but a ridiculous amount of trash was pulled off the reef and the beach. Additionally, Brian made it mandatory that every diver return with a piece of trash.
To those that sponsored this tournament, thank you, and when I have a choice, you'll get my business. To Brian, thanks for putting this all together, all while becoming increasingly busy with his own family.
Sorry, I don't have pictures, but I did see a roving HSD reporter around.... I'm hoping to see the story in the mag.
Here are links to some past tournaments.
2004 (http://www.geocities.com/fathersdayspearfishing/)
2003 (http://www.geocities.com/haolecrab/2003tournament.html)
Willie 'the crab" Mahin
Maui, Hawaii