Every Saturday morning, Marc Ino­uye rises before the sun does, so he can get to Oahu’s eastern coast — anywhere between Maka­puu and Kua­loa — by dawn, when fish are more apt to bite. Within the hour he and a friend are setting up their lines on shore.

“Some fishermen say you lengthen your life span by going fishing,” said Ino­uye, president of the Pacific Islands Fisheries Group. “After a busy week it’s nice to go out there and relax while waiting for the fish to bite. What’s not to like about watching the sun come up, listening to the waves break and breathing fresh air? I’m happy when we catch something, but even when we don’t, getting that therapy makes the trip worthwhile.”

PIFG (www.fishtoday.org) is a nonprofit organization that was established in 2005 to keep fishermen informed about the management and conservation of marine resources throughout the Pacific. In addition to Hawaii, it administers programs in Guam, Saipan and the Northern Mari­ana Islands that support responsible resource use, benefit ocean-related businesses, enhance fishing experiences and raise community awareness about research and education efforts.

Now in its seventh year, the Hawaii Fishing and Seafood Festival is PIFG’s biggest fundraiser. “It was one of the first things we identified as a key project,” Ino­uye said. “The idea emerged as a result of our desire to recognize Hawaii’s strong ties with the ocean, the issues facing our fishing industry, the need for the general public to be educated about the industry, and the lack of activities and events celebrating fishing in Hawaii.”

PIFG board members hoped 3,500 people would come to the inaugural festival in 2006; the final count was more than 12,000. The next year, attendance soared to 18,000. Since then it’s been holding steady at about 20,000.

This year’s theme is “Taste, Watch and Enjoy.” As in years past, there will be displays, demonstrations, children’s games and booths selling ono (delicious) food, including ahi cakes from Dean’s Drive Inn, poke bowls from Foodland, fish tacos and spicy smoked shu­tome hand rolls from the Pagoda Hotel, and seafood chowder and shrimp scampi from Hawaiian Style Chili.

Attendees can tour a longline boat, practice casting a line, learn how to dive safely and watch experts make gyo­taku prints, cut and cook fish, and weave and throw nets. An exhibit will showcase dozens of reef fish, crustacean and mollusk species; members of the Aquahunters fishing club will rig a fishing kayak; and Na Hoku Hano­hano Award winner Sean Naauao will headline a daylong slate of live entertainment.

This year three new events — a fishing tournament, a children’s art contest and an evening gala — will expand the festival to a week (see the sidebar at right for details).

“Fishing has always been an integral part of Hawaii’s lifestyle,” Ino­uye said. “The Hawaii Fishing and Seafood Festival spotlights all aspects of traditional, commercial and recreational fishing as well as retailers of marine products and restaurants that specialize in seafood. It’s a great opportunity to meet and ‘talk story’ with the people who catch, farm, sell, prepare, serve and study the seafood we eat.”

Visitors will enjoy mingling with kama­aina and getting a taste of the islands’ culture and ocean bounty. “Repeat visitors are always looking for new ways to experience the ‘real’ Hawaii,” Ino­uye said. “The festival is definitely a slice of the real Hawaii! So much will be going on throughout the day that even those who don’t fish or eat seafood will have a wonderful time.”

FIRST AT THE FEST

New events at the Hawaii Fishing and Seafood Festival include:

>> Fishing for Hawaii’s Hungry, Friday and Sept. 30
Anglers will head to sea, hoping to land “the big one” for people in need. The Pacific Islands Fisheries Group is hosting “Fishing for Hawaii’s Hungry” in partnership with the Institute for Human Services, which assists homeless and at-risk individuals. Participants in the two-day trolling tournament will donate their catch at POP Fishing and Marine at
Pier 38 on Sept. 30 between 10 a.m. and noon. PIFG will then deliver the fish to IHS for meals.

>> Sea to Me Tasting Event, Oct. 5
Enjoy wine, live music and samplings of delicious seafood dishes prepared by teams of professional chefs and students enrolled in the culinary programs at the University of Hawaii’s community colleges. Set for 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Pier 38, the Sea to Me Tasting Event will benefit those programs.
Tickets are $75 per person. Call 265-4962 or go to the website for more information and to buy tickets. A $3 transaction fee per ticket will be added to online purchases. Credit card payments must be made online. There’s no fee for tickets purchased by phone (only cash or checks accepted).

>> Keiki Art Contest, Oct. 6-7
Elementary, middle and high school students on Oahu have submitted artwork that answers the question, “Why is Hawaii’s fishing and seafood community important to me?” The first- and second-place winners in three categories (grades 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12) will receive cash awards of $300 and $150, respectively, from the Mike Saka­moto Memorial Scholarship Fund. The winners’ schools will be awarded matching amounts.
Dozens of submissions, including the six winning pieces, will be displayed at Windward Mall on Oct. 6 and at the Hawaii Fishing and Seafood Festival the following day.
PIFG started the Mike Saka­moto Memorial Scholarship Fund in 2009 to honor the host of the popular TV show “Fishing Tales,” who died that year at age 59.