Keiki Fishing Tournament

Photo illustration | U.S. Air Force photos by Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen

15th Wing Public Affairs

This year marked the 12th annual Keiki Fishing Tournament, hosted by Friends of Hickam from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, held May 30 at the Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens.

The event provided many opportunities for participants to make life-long memories. Fathers taught their sons and daughters how to fish, moms unhooked the fish from the end of the line, and for a moment, having a good time together was the only mission that mattered.

“[For my children,] this was their first time ever fishing,” said Master Sgt. Dennis Leskovec, 15th Maintenance Group crew chief section chief. “I saw the registration via email and thought it would be a good opportunity, with the kids out of school, to go and enjoy the beautiful Hawaii scenery.”

The botanical garden provided a picturesque backdrop for a perfect day on the pond, but with more than 175 participants and lines in the water, the competition was stiff.

“At first it was kind of frustrating because two other people around me kept catching fish and I hadn’t caught any yet,” said Zachary Rebarchak, 9, son of Maj. Michael Rebarchak, 13th Air Force director of operations for the theater patient movement requirement center. “Then finally, I caught a seven-inch fish. I caught four fish total, but the last one I caught was my favorite because it only had one eye. ”

The day focused on the children of military members and spending quality time as a family, while eating pizza and hot dogs and casting a line into the serene pond.