About Ben

The Fishing Guy

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The TV Guy

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The Cooking Guy

Aloha everyone!

I grew up on the island of O'ahu in Kaimuki. Like so many of my friends and relatives, I started fishing with my Dad and Mom. My parents came to O'ahu from Makawao, on the island of Maui. My Dad's dad lived his life in Kalaupapa, on the island of Moloka'i.

In my earliest years of tagging along with our fishing family, we often went to Wailupe, which was one of my father's favorite places to fish with his friends and uncles. This shoreline in the 1950s, as you can imagine, was completely different from what you see now. I remember lots of muddy water created by the fresh water stream as it met the ocean. I remember burlap bags filled with opae lolo, that great tasting shrimp that used to be pretty easy to catch.

As a kid, I did my fair share of catching o'ama, aholehole and papio in Waikiki, too. The Natatorium was a destination for a lot of kids like me who had a red scoop net and a bamboo pole. If that area didn't work, I would head down to Ala Moana Beach Park.

At one time, my grand aunt, Rebecca Chang, owned the fishpond in Kahuluu that is across the street from the Hygienic Store. My family spent as much time there as we could. Samoan Crabs were abundant. The makahas were filled with mullet and balloon fish. Eventually Aunty Becky sold and bought a home down the street from Honey's in Kaneohe town.

My family spent every weekend we could in Kaneohe Bay. Dad would pick us up from school with the station wagon already packed and we would head to the country for a couple of days. Lots of papio caught spincasting. Lots of oio caught dunking. Lots of omaka, sardines, and awa awa caught bottom fishing. Lots of mullet, weke, and white crabs caught torching with Coleman lanterns. Eventually, Dad bought a place in Kaneohe and we made the move.

I grew up watching the Let's Go Fishing show with everyone else in the family. This program only served to add fuel to the fire for anyone who enjoyed fishing as much as I did.

Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean means only one thing to-like minded individuals like Ben: Fishing is a good thing. Today, those of us who are lucky to live in Hawaii, and those who are able to visit, still have the opportunity to appreciate and participate with the fishing related lifestyle that continues here.

Besides showcasing the beauty of his island home, Ben Wong's Let's Go Fishing show includes brief segments which spotlights tips and trivia related to the joy of fishing. Fishing in Old Hawaii examines the traditions and beliefs of the native Hawaiian fishers. Tackle Shop Tips features a wide range of professional and shade-tree-mechanic advice for today's angler. And The Bait Shop helps you to check out the newest and brightest fishing toys being offered to reel in a fisherman!