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Pioneering Hawaiian captain George S. Parker dies

Parker was the first person to land a Pacific blue marlin weighing more than 1,000 pounds

Captain George Stevens Parker, 96, of Holualoa, Hawaii, died on April 4 at his residence, Bali Hai, overlooking the Kona coast. Born July 10, 1991 in San Diego, California, he moved to Hawaii in 1935 and was a pioneer in the Kona charter boat fishing industry, and the first person to land a Pacific blue marlin weighing more than 1,000 pounds (his world record fish was caught in 1954).  Parker was inducted into the International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame in 2005, he was awarded a Silver Medal of Honor for a heroic rescue at Kiholo Bay in 1965, was a leader in the creation of the Honokohau Small Boat Harbor, a strong advocate for Hawaii’s sport fishing industry, and a

supporter of fishing tournaments in Hawaii, including the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament. Which he fished from 1960 until he retired from charter fishing at the age of 85.

He is survived by his brother Phillip Parker of Kailua-Kona, sons:  Captain Marlin Parker and Captain Randy (Lisa) Parker of Kailua-Kona, Mark Parker and Steve Parker of San Diego; daughters:  Gale (Doug) Parker Allen and Jillynn Parker of Kona; grandchildren: Jessica Parker, Claire Parker, Loren Parker Shoop, Keahi Parker, Jamie Parker, and Gage Allen. 
 
Services will be held May 3 from 2-6 PM on the lawn of the Kona Inn.  Burial at sea May 4 at 10 AM.  Donations can be made in the memory of Captain George Parker to the International Game Fish Association, Hospice of Kona or the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament.

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