Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 35, Number 7, 1 July 2018 — Lawai'a launches fishing gear enterprise [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Lawai'a launches fishing gear enterprise

By Lisa Asato Entrepreneur Isaac Brumaghim first started fishing in his 20s. A "self-taught lawai'a," he was lured to the sport by the fun of it but knew he wasn't interested in getting a boat. Instead a friend encouraged him to try fishing from a eanoe as "our Hawaiian ancestors did." Intrigued, Brumaghim did some research and what he learned about Hawaiian eanoe fishermen "lit a fire under me," he says. For Brumaghim, eanoe fishing morphed into kayak fishing whieh, he says, offered "a lot more freedom" as far as hull capacity, workspace and vessel durability because it's made of plastic. Brumaghim launched Aqua Hunters Collection LLC, a fishing gear and lifestyle brand in 2016. "I sell the gear that will make you look like (a fisherman), but I also sell the gear that makes you one, " he says. Aqua Hunters Collection sells hooks and wire, including packets of niekel titanium fishing wire "made with nitinol" and "easy to crimp or tie" - as well as clothing, hats, mugs and photography on his website, aquahunters.com. His fishing tackle are also sold in five shops on three islands: Līhu'e Fishing Supply on Kaua'i; New Maui Fishing Supply on Maui; and J. Hara Store, POP Fishing & Marine (formerly Pacific Oeean Producers) and 'Ewa

Beach Buy & Sell on O'ahu. Brumaghim says his products benefit from social media endorsements when fishermen post pictures of their catch using his gear. Additionally, interest in his hooks has grown beyond kayak fishermen to include boaters "catching big tunas," he says. "So slowly but surely I'm expanding into the hands of anyone who wants to fish open oeean out here." His own experience with his fishing tackle also tells a tale of their quality, resulting in days

when he can't miss. "I'm talking seven for seven, eight for eight, nine for nine. . . . Every time I'm getting a strike, that fish is hooked. I have abilities at this point in my life, but my products are part of that too." His biggest catch from a kayak eame in 2012 - a 103-pound yellowfin tuna. But Brumaghim considers his greatest accomplishment watching his three sons, Blaise, 11; AJ, 9; and Paneho, 5, "become fishermen right in front of my eyes." That includes teaching them not only how to fish, but also cleaning and cooking the fish and thus self-reliance in feeding themselves. "That was the greatest gift I could pass on to them," Brumaghim, 43, says. "It gives me that happiness and joy that I'm fulfilling a great goal of mine - to be a teacher to my sons." Another legacy of his has been working to unify the kayak fishing community in Hawai'i through a forum in 2004 to share stories, tips and to "grow the sport together," to starting a highly competitive statewide kayak fishing tournament in 2008 that stretched for eight months and brought attention to the skills of loeal enthusiasts. He didn't continue the tournament because of family and business responsibilities, but Brumaghim says: "Truly the main goal was just to show the world how great Hawai'i fishermen were, and we did that. And that will always make us proud forever." ■

lsaac Brumaghim, owner of Aqua Hunters Collection, LLC, a fishing gear and lifestyle brand. - Photo: Courtesy