Charter Boat Feature - Kono, Kewalo Basin, Island of Oahu

Skipper: Don Monroe
Boat: 1970 Hawaiian-Built Sampan, 61 feet of total comfort, meticulously maintained
Power: Detroit Diesel 8v92, 385 HP Twin Diesels
Top Speed: 14 knots
Largest fish to Date: 809 pound Marlin
Other Notable Fish: 757, 690 pound Marlin, 237, 221 pound Ahi
Amenities: Large, heavy and super-riding boat with one of the largest, most comfortable flying bridges on any charterboat in the world.  Equipped with two koa fighting chairs, enormous viewing area (great for photos and video while staying out of the way), 2 private staterooms, spacious galley and salon, 2 heads, 1 shower, USCG certified for multi-passengers.  Also auto-pilot, GPS and plotter, generator, and CD/Stereo.
Fishing Gear:  Full complement of Penn International 130 lb. reels on Kimura rods.  Transom door, twin fighting chairs, an "ikimau" saltwater live bait well located under deck, and a load of lighter fishing tackle.  Tackle and leader rigs all neatly organized below.  The boat is laid out to fish in comfort.

This boat is about size and comfort, luxury without paying a luxury price!!  Great for larger groups, the Kono means in Hawaiian "to invite".  She was built in Hawaii for Hawaiian waters, and unlike many boats of her age and stature, Kono is a proud vessel.  Beautifully maintained for the years, captain Don was the first deckhand on her when she was first built and fished in 1970.  Now actively having been a part of the boat full time since 1990, Don is proud to now own and operate the Kono.

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Skipper Don Monroe
Labor of love.

Wooden boats are known for their stable, comfortable ride, but they take a lot of work to keep them nice.  Heavy seas or a light breeze, both are no problem, keeping the boat from looking like she's been through a war is what's difficult.  And Kono has it all.   Coming in at around 46 tons, the Kono is one of the heaviest boats around, and her wide beam and low center of gravity combine to make smoother seas out of the heaviest chop.  What is amazing about the boat is the ride doesn't feel a whole lot different, regardless of the course she is on.  She just sits and propels her way to wherever Don points her.  A flock of birds to the East might mean turning back up-sea.   No matter to him; turn the boat back up-sea.  No fish there, OK, back to where you were going.  That's the luxury of such a heavy boat; you go where you think the fish are and don't worry about the ride on a different course. 

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Watch the lines in shaded comfort in the cockpit

A place to spread out and relax.   The Kono is open and airy, with plenty of storage for everything you'd like to bring on board.  At 61 feet, the cockpit is huge, with enormous ice coolers surrounding the fighting chairs.  The exhaust vents out of a couple of chimney-like smokestacks instead of the transom, leaving everyone aboard an opportunity to smell the beautiful Hawaiian air instead of diesel fumes.  The interior has bunks along the sides, and additional sleeping quarters are available forward. 

A fishing vessel, yet neat, clean and very well-maintained.  Immediately upon stepping aboard, anglers will get the feeling the maid just left. Don feels the boat should not

contain remnants of yesterday's (or last week's) charter, except, of course, marks from giant fish.  He says hotel rooms are neat, tidy, and devoid of prior guest influence, and he feels a boat should be the same way.  Of course, the Kono's transom contains the scars of gaffs and billfish just like you'd want to see, but the rest of the boat is clean and everything is in good working condition.  Shipshape should not be a cliché, and on the Kono, it's not.
  
A split personality

Don is a kind man, a true gentleman, but chances are you won't know it unless you've been to sea with him.  On land, he can be stoic, almost unapproachable, with his powerful stature and piercing stare.  But on the water, one comes to realize that stare is simply a tool for finding birds and more importantly, fish, and the transformation can be seen in his eyes.  Starting his engines in the morning is like a banker's first cup of coffee; untying the lines is like landing a million dollar contract. The ocean lights up a smile on Don's face much like a young child lights up a room, and his happiness at sea is reflected in everything he does.  Born and raised in Hawaii, Don has his fill of local knowledge to share with anglers during a long day at sea. 

During the briefings in the morning, he's up front, honest, and lays the day out for the passengers.  Each new day is a challenge, and Don likes to rise to it.

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Kono deckhand brings aboard a nice Mahi Mahi
Always concerned about passenger safety, Don constantly makes head counts, scans the horizon, checks the position on the charts, and then gets back to the task at hand.  Find the fish.  Stay out all day, but just find those fish.  Go out 70 miles if need be.....just find them.   Fishing experience does the job.  Don has been a professional fisherman for many  years, ranging from deckhand to skipper to owner/operator.  He has run charters since owning the boat in 1989, and in fact, worked on it as the deckhand while studying for his captain's license!!

Don has seen, raised and caught a plethora of fish in his days.  Although no granders are yet notched into his headboard, he is a scholar of the sea, and he spends a great deal of the day studying the ocean for current lines, birds, debris and other telltales to suggest fish might be around.  His boat handling skills are well-honed also, and in addition to the docking of this large cruiser, he is periodically given the opportunity to demonstrate his ability to spin the boat and chase a fish when hooked up to a beast, something many don't realize the boat has the ability to do.

Quiet confidence. 

Don gets excited when the Kono hooks up, but maintains his skipper-like poise, ever mindful of safety.  And he's a good coach, too.  In addition to assisting anglers, Don keeps the boat on a heading, keep the tension on the line directly off the back of the boat, keep other people organized, coach the angler on proper technique, and if he tires, even assist the angler (sure it's against IGFA rules, but sometimes people just like to have fun), all the while encouraging the angler to keep the tip up and crank the reel in smooth, easy strokes.

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Plenty of space on the bridge to scan the horizon for fish
(Note: The bridge is sometimes closed to passengers in bumpy seas)

 Long-range ready. 

The Kono is one of the boats any angler should consider when thinking about an overnighter or extended trip.  She is perfect for extended voyages as she has the ability to carry the fuel, the water, and the supplies, and still have the room for the passengers to enjoy themselves.  Extended range trips can often place anglers into better fishing grounds, and the probability of catching more fish and/or larger fish does tend to increase with such trips.  

Friendly fish disposition. 

Kono is in the tourist business first and the fishing business second.  The vast majority of the anglers who step aboard the Kono have no way of portaging several pounds of filets, so they

have no problem in allowing the boat to keep the catch for appropriate distribution. However, there are those guests who would like to keep some of the catch, and on the Kono, there are no arguments on the back of the boat.  The customer is always right, so a good time is to be had by all. 

However, like all good captains, don is concerned about waste and proper handling.  So for guidelines, here is the policy:  they will tag and release anything upon customer request of it has a reasonable chance of survival.  Any fish taken on board fits into 2 general classes.....those over 100 pounds, and those under.  Any fish under 100 pounds will be split equitably by those wishing to consume fish.  Anything over 100 pounds will generally be taken to the market to assist in the operating costs of the vessel. 

Sportfish Hawaii is excited to represent Kono and Captain Don Monroe in our fleet of high class charter boats.  Please call or email to book your trip today.....otherwise he might be sold out!
 
"The Kono was absolutely fantastic!...Could not have had a more enjoyable time...Don, and his two crewmen were just outstanding...We appreciated their patience, and their professionalism..We thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and we will definitely look forward to contacting you again in about a year for another super outing!!...We caught 4 Mahi-Mahi, and 1 Marlin..Nancy, my wife, was so excited, it is a wonder that she didn't fall out of the boat...Thanks again for a wonderful first time deep sea fishing adventure... "

From Poe, who chartered Kono in March

"Hello, I had a great time on the Kono, the Skipper and the Crew were great, I wish I had more time there in Hawaii I would have gone Fishing again on the Kono. I'm Hopeing that in the next year or two I will be able to do it again this time with my husband. I couldn't have a better time or asked for a better Skipper or Crew. Thank You of all that you all have done."

From Jeanie, who chartered Kono in April

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