Sneak Peak: Pacific Warriors Series Premiere

Jon Jon Tabon. Image grab courtesy: Pacific Warriors/Discovery Channel.

The series premiere of Pacific Warriors, filmed in Hawaiʻi, airs this Friday, Oct. 23 (10 p.m. ET) on the Discovery Channel.

The series highlights the sport of kayak fishing and follows Maui’s own Jon Jon Tabon who sets out to catch a 500 pound marlin; and Kimi Werner who uses her kayak as a “jumping off point” for underwater spearfishing.

Tabon, the founder, captain and pro guide at Local Fishing Knowledge, is among a several kayak fishermen and divers that appear on the show.

According to a series bio, “Jon Jon inherited his passion for the ocean from his father, and while his ancestry traces back to the Philippines, his spirituality goes deep into the same Pacific.”

Jon Jon Tabon. Image grab courtesy: Pacific Warriors/Discovery Channel.

The Pacific Warriors series “heads to Hawaiʻi to reveal the “adrenaline-fueled” world of kayak fishing,” where producers say, “one fresh catch can reel in $1,500 or more.”

The series follows a unique group who “risk their lives to catch 100-plus pound fish” in the open ocean.

“Though these men and women survive and thrive by living off the ocean, kayak fishing is not for the faint of heart,” the series announcement states. “Even the slightest mistake can invite deadly consequences,” according series promotional material.

In fact, Maui Now spoke with Jon Jon following a fatal shark attack in waters off of Maui in 2013.  According to county officials, the victim was fishing in his kayak on Dec. 2, 2013 when he was bitten, and died before reaching shore. At the time, Jon Jon discussed safety measures and the growing popularity of the extreme sport.

The Pacific Warriors six-part series is produced for Discovery Channel by Original Media.