Peter Fithian
(Born July 7,1928)
Sport Fishing

Peter Fithian was the founder of the Kona Billfish Tournament which, since 1959, has served to identify Kona on the Island of Hawai'i as the big game fishing capital of the world. Fithian served as the Chairman of the Tournament for the next 39 years following its debut.

Fithian began his relationship with Hawai'i in 1948 while assigned duty on a U.S. Navy Cruiser. After studying Hotel Management at Cornell University he returned to the islands to manage the Kona Inn Hotel. It was there that he turned a love for sport fishing and Hawai'i tourism into the internationally renowned Kona Billfish Tournament.

Fithian's desire to promote tourism in Hawai'i continued to grow. After founding the tournament he went on to manage the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel on Oahu and eventually became chairman of the Hawai'i Visitors Bureau.

Historical Timeline: 1959, Alaska and Hawai'i become the 49th and 50th States.

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