Famed Kona Billfish Tournament Opens Sunday

Everyone is invited to the Kailua Pier for the opening ceremony and celebration of the 55th Hawaii Island Billfish Tournament this Sunday, July 27, according to an HIBT release.

The prestigious big game fishing tournament, built on its adherence to strict International Game Fish Association rules for world records, starts fishing Monday, July 28, and continues through Friday Aug. 2.

Thirty-five teams are headed to Kona with multiple entries from Australia, China, Japan, Kenya, New Zealand, South Africa, Papua New Guinea Vanuatu and the United States.

The opening ceremony starts at 1 p.m., with a karaoke contest, food booths, craft vendors and free entertainment.

At 4 p.m., the official recognition of teams will be spotlighted as each country’s national anthem is played and their respective flag is raised.

Boats start lining up across historic Kailua Bay starting at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, returning to the pier at 4:30 p.m., where spectators will see the teams’ points add up as they weigh in at the end of the day.

HIBT event headquarters, retail and tournament control will once again be anchored at Courtyard Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel, located adjacent to Kailua Pier.

The Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament is underwritten by the County of Hawaii Department of Research and Development and numerous corporate and community donors.

For more tournament information, visit www.hibtfishing.com.