Discovery heads to Hawaii with ‘Pacific Warriors,’ set to begin in October
Beneath the pristine waters of Hawaii, ancient volcanoes have forged steep underwater cliffs, resulting in the best deep-sea fishing in the world. For centuries, generations of Hawaiians have caught these monster fish from small, hand-made canoes, using nothing more than a fishing pole and their bare hands. Now, a rare breed of men and women – armed with just a sea kayak – are re-inventing this ancient art, and risking their lives to catch 100-plus pound fish. One fresh catch can reel in $1,500 dollars or more; but big rewards bring stiff competition.
PACIFIC WARRIORS, an all-new series premiering Friday, October 23, at 10 PM ET/PT on the Discovery Channel, follows these brave adventurers who will stop at nothing to bring in their prize. The series is produced by Original Media.
“Pacific Warriors” arrives in October, on The Discovery Channel
Though these men and women survive and thrive by living off the ocean, kayak fishing is not for the faint of heart; even the slightest mistake can invite deadly consequences. The series follows seven teams as they train and battle it out on the rough waters. Using primitive means, the fearless fishermen and women are regularly taken on what they call “Hawaiian Sleigh Rides,” which occur when they hook monster fish that drag them out to sea – sometimes as much as 10 miles or more. They also fend off sharks regularly, deeming them “tax men,” which are looking for an easy meal.
Each fishing expert brings his or her own techniques and expertise to the craft. Veteran fisherwoman Kimi Werner’s style of kayak fishing is one of the most dangerous. Unlike the others, Kimi goes straight to the source by “free diving” to depths of 150 feet, where she hunts down her prey.
“Though being brave is part of the job, having an appropriate amount of fear and trepidation is healthy, and is what keeps me alive,” Kimi said. “It reminds me that I’m really so small and humbled in this big ocean. I think the people who forget that are the ones who end up in danger.”
The last pioneers of this ancient art face brutal conditions and bloodthirsty predators. Man versus fish is in their DNA; despite the risks, Pacific Warriors live for the moment when they hook their catch.
PACIFIC WARRIORS is produced for Discovery Channel by Original Media. For Original Media, Executive Producers are Glenda Hersh, Steven Weinstock, Lisa Bloch, Peter Goetz, Kelly Hefner and Bryan Severance. For Discovery Channel, Executive Producers are Joseph Schneier and Christo Doyle. To learn more, go to www.discovery.com, on Facebook at Facebook.com/discovery and on Twitter @Discovery.
“Pacific Warriors” photo/ courtesy of Discovery Channel
