The People Of Honokohau: Kenny Lanes

Written by Hawaiian Adventures Naturalist Amy Aggergaard

There might not be a single person in the marina who has a better-recorded history of Honokohau than Kenny Lanes.

Born in Hawaii in 1941, just one year before the bombing of pearl harbor, Kenny has witnessed firsthand the growth and change of the island and the harbor. After he graduated from high school in 1959—one year before Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States, he joined the marine corps and served 8 years in Vietnam. Before being honorably discharged, he gained esteemed military awards, brushes with death, and broken knees from surviving a fall from a shot-down helicopter. After he returned to Kona, he went to school to learn the craft of taxidermy. He spent his time crafting lures and helping crew for other boats in the harbor.

Then, in 1968, due to the difficulty he faced with finding jobs as a vet, he decided to get his own captain’s license and start running trips himself. He started running his trips with a 28-foot Bertram and worked his way up to a 45-foot Vixen, taking guests out on the Kona coast to enjoy the thrill of sport fishing and strong old-fashioned hospitality that included fileting fish for guests, grilling it back at the harbor after a day out on the coast, and playing music as the sunset. For the last few decades, Kenny has won over 45 fishing tournaments and currently holds the record for the biggest Bigeye tuna, weighing 231 pounds, caught in 2012. He’s seen Honokahau in its infancy and watched as the marina grew through the years. He remembers the expansion of the small inlet as people dug deep into the land and bombed the harbor entrance, letting water flood into the marina we now all know and love. He’s watched as boats and companies have come and gone over the years, Kenny himself a central force in the surrounding change.

He’s seen captains and crews come together and work as one team, which is one of his favorite parts about Honokahau. Everyone in the harbor is always quick to help others in need, it’s a loyal community atmosphere that’s rare and cherished by all. Now, at age 82, Kenny continues running fishing charters and loving every day. He prides himself in the trust he’s gained through the years from everyone in the harbor. He regularly gives others his generosity and has fostered a community surrounding his two boats, the Pacifica and the Vixen, filled with good fresh fish, sharing with locals, music, amazing company, and countless stories from his inspiring life. In his old age, Kenny can retire at any time, but continues to fish because he claims, “it keeps me young.”