The 50th annual Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament began with a flurry of action on Monday, but no monster marlin were snagged. Twenty fish were tagged and released throughout the opening day of the event which drew 41 teams from nine countries. Team Makaka and the Malibu Marlin Club were tied for the lead with 600 points apiece. Daily weigh-ins are held at 4 pm along the Kailua-Kona Pier.
Hilo’s Borthwick Mortuary is asking the Windward Planning Commission to issue a use permit for a crematorium in downtown Hilo. According to the “Hawaii Tribune-Herald”, the company wants to add the operation to its site on the western corner of the Kinoole-Kukuau street intersection.
During its 60-year lease, the propose Hilo Target Store will pay $52.2 million dollars to the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Safeway will pay $25.4 million dollars for the same time period for its nearby site. According to records obtained by the “Hawaii Tribune-Herald”, construction will begin by the end of this year on the complex located behind the Hilo Wal-Mart Store and across the street from The Home Depot.
The U.S Postal Service will unveil a commemorative stamp for Hawaii’s 50th anniversary in August. The statehood stamp features a painting of a longboard surfer and wo paddlers on an outrigger canoe. The art was done by Herb Kane of Kailua-Kona, who designed a 25th anniversary stamp for Hawaii.