Hometown

Kalaoa, Kailua-Kona

Number of years spearfishing

I’ve been diving since I was 10 years old. In 2012, I got more serious into spearfishing and later that year, I entered my first Kona Coast Spearfishing tournament.

First Memory of spearfishing

My first memory of Spearfishing was when my dad took me out to go look for He’e (octopus). I’ve been on prior trips with my dad watching how he would do it. He figured it was one of those day’s I finally learned how to look them and get my first tako. Jumped in the water cruised a bit next to my dad and he spotted a pair. He grabbed me by the arm and pointed down towards the He’e…. and for some reason I just couldn’t see them. it was about 20 feet in depth and I kept starring at the ocean floor trying to spot them. my dad with minimal patience yelled “you better hurry up and get down there before they disappear.” I lifted my head out the water and said “ I cant see anything!” I’m never gonna forget the look my dad gave me thru his goggles…. he just lifted his three prong out of the water and whacked me over the head with it and yelled “get your Ass down there and find them. I almost blew my ear drum trying to descend, at that age I didn’t  know how to equalize. But in the end (thank God for a Miracle) both He’e turned dark in color and I chose the smallest one of course, and speared it and flew it back up to the surface like a baby dolphin.

Favorite fish to hunt

Hands down has to be the MU (Big eye emperor) with their keen eyes and slow movements. Just super intelligent fish on the reef.

Favorite fish dish to prepare

Gotta give it to an easy Go-To dish! Simple but delicious – Filet fish of choice, season with garlic salt/pepper, roll the seasoned filet in mayonnaise, make sure it’s all coated evenly, roll in panko and deep fry in oil….Guarantee better then the fish sticks you buy in the bag!

Favorite hunting style

I enjoy reef diving not only because I can see the bottom, but you never know what you may swim across. There’s so much life and the crackling of the reef just puts me at ease and keeps me super relaxed.

Favorite dive trip or memory

Honestly I haven’t had the chance to dive many places away from the islands, but I would probably have to go with MOLOKAI. The first time I had a chance to dive the west side; it was probably one of the best dive trips I had with couple of my dive buddies. We explored some beautiful structure and seen so many different (Bigger fish) then we would on the Big island. Uhu’s well over 10 pounds, biggest Pananu I’ve seen hands down till this day, and uku’s everywhere! Before getting out of the water I ran into a big school of MU and it was game on.

Dream dive trip

To be able to dive anywhere in the world other than Hawaii.

Ideal setup

–For the reef 90-100cm KAP Euro Single 5/8” (Gorilla or rob allen) small inner-diameter Band. Single 200LB mono wrap connected to a full spooled Aussie Woodie reel. 9/32” single flopper (tuned), double shark fin tab Riffe shaft.

-For Bluewater, 140cm KAP with a 5/16” triple shark fin Mori threaded shaft. Topped with a Mori-slip tip. 400LB Mono breakaway setup. Three 5/8” black amber cored small diameter Band. tagged off to riffe 75ft bungee ended with a 3-Atmosphere Evolve float.

One thing no one knows about me

“Secrets out” I sing along to Mariah Carey some mornings while heading to WORK! BOOYAH!!