The organizing committee of the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (HIBT) regretfully announced the cancellation of the 2024 tournament scheduled for July 27 through August 3, 2024. Despite extensive efforts to attract participants from around the globe, including robust outreach campaigns and promotional initiatives, the desired level of interest necessary to uphold the tournament’s standards has not been achieved. The 2024 billfish tournament would have been the 62nd annual.

The organizing committee of the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (HIBT) regretfully announced the cancellation of the 2024 tournament scheduled for July 27 through August 3, 2024. Despite extensive efforts to attract participants from around the globe, including robust outreach campaigns and promotional initiatives, the desired level of interest necessary to uphold the tournament’s standards has not been achieved. The 2024 billfish tournament would have been the 62nd annual.

“The decision to cancel the 2024 tournament was made after careful consideration of various factors impacting the event’s viability. It breaks my heart to cancel the tournament. While this decision comes with extreme disappointment, it underscores our commitment to upholding the tournament’s esteemed legacy and ensuring a quality experience for all participants,” HIBT Director Roberta Fithian said.

In 1959, just two days after the territory of Hawaii became the 50th state, the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament launched its first sports fishing tournament in Kona. A Hawaii team won that first year with competition from teams from Australia and New Zealand. A tradition of international fishing teams coming to Kona began. In 1960, a female angler caught a world record Pacific blue marlin in a preliminary event proving that women could fish. Women were invited to participate in the third year of the tournament.

Before sustainability became a buzz word and over 40 years ago, HIBT introduced it tag and release initiative giving valuable team points for marlin under 300 pounds released back into the ocean.

Teams from Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, South Africa, Vanuatu, Fiji, Palau, Taiwan, Russia, Korea, France and French Territories, Marshall Islands, Tahiti, British Isles, the Bahamas, American Samoa, the Gilbert and Ellis Islands, Philippines, Guam, Hong Kong and Bermuda and the US have competed over the years.

The HIBT organizing committee plans to attempt to bring the event back in 2025.

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – One of Hawaii’s most notorious serial rapists is set to be released Thursday, prompting concern about whether the so-called “Manoa rapist” is still a danger to the community.

John Freudenberg was flown back to Oahu on a charter flight last week from Hilo’s minimum security prison.

The transport was in preparation for his release on Thursday.

One of his victims told HNN Investigates that she believes he should remain behind bars.

“John Freudenberg is still a threat to public safety,” said the woman, who asked that her name not be released. The woman is credited with helping to catch Freudenberg after she picked him out of a line-up.

“He broke into my house and held me hostage in my home and held a knife to my throat, raping me and telling me he was going to kill me,” the woman said. She added that before he left, he said something to her that made her realize he had no self control. “He said, ‘I’m sorry, this had to happen to you,’” she said.

Freudenberg served more than 40 years behind bars for a series of attacks against 15 women in Manoa in the 1980s. He was 23 when he pleaded guilty to crimes, including rape, sodomy, sex abuse and burglary.

The woman who spoke to HNN said Freudenberg cannot be trusted and pointed to his own words at a parole hearing, in which he could not guarantee that he wouldn’t reoffend.

Freudenberg’s attorney, Myles Breiner, said he understands why victims feel that way, but said his client has served his time and deserves a chance to live outside prison walls.

Breiner pointed out that Freudenberg completed multiple sex offender treatment programs.

Breiner added his client recognizes the terrible things he has done, but has taken all steps necessary to be reformed. “He has spent 40 years in prison without a misconduct, which is extraordinary,” Breiner said.

The attorney said Freudenberg did not have one infraction while behind bars.

Freudenberg was a University of Hawaii Manoa honors student and president of his fraternity when he committed the crimes over a 14-month period.

He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, and was denied parole repeatedly until last year. After his release, Freudenberg will live in a halfway house with an ankle monitor.

The Hawaii Paroling Authority said Freudenberg “will be closely supervised by the HPA’s Sex Offender Supervision Unit. He will be under the highest level of supervision that includes a strict curfew, electronic monitoring, reporting in-person to his parole officer at least once a week and other stringent rules he must adhere to.” Breiner also said Freudenberg will have to go out and find a job.

Freudenberg became an electrician while in prison.

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