Tribute to Peter S. Fithian (1928–2025) Visionary, Conservationist, Entrepreneur, Loving Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Mentor to Many

Peter S. Fithian, a pioneering force behind Hawaii’s tourism and sportfishing legacy, passed away peacefully on the morning of March 17, 2025, with his beloved wife and lifelong business partner, Roberta Fithian, by his side. He was 96.

Born July 7, 1928, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Peter’s path to becoming one of Hawaii’s most enduring visionaries began with a degree in Hotel Administration from Cornell University in 1951 and service in the U.S. Navy. A training cruise in 1948 first brought him to the Hawaiian Islands—a moment that would shape the course of his life.

In 1955, Peter relocated to Hawaii to manage the historic Kona Inn. Before that, he had managed the renowned Augusta National Golf Club. His move to Kona marked the beginning of a remarkable legacy.

In 1957, Peter founded Greeters of Hawaii, turning a sporadic local gesture into a cultural institution. Drawing on his experience working under Henry Kaiser at the Hawaiian Village Hotel, he institutionalized the Aloha lei greeting for arriving visitors. What began as a gesture became a movement—the embodiment of Hawaii’s welcoming spirit—and helped define the image of Hawaiian hospitality for generations to come.

Just two years later, in 1959, the same year Hawaii gained statehood, Peter launched the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (HIBT) through the Hawaiian International Billfish Association. Modeled after elite sporting events like The Masters, HIBT brought international acclaim to Kona’s deep-sea fishing waters. More than a competition, the HIBT was built around conservation from the beginning—decades before "catch and release" became standard, Peter had already partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to tag and collect data on billfish, laying the groundwork for future marine research.

In 1972, he convened the first International Billfish Symposium, and in 1975, he founded the Pacific Ocean Research Foundation (PORF) to advance oceanographic study. In 2009, he co-created the Great Marlin Race with Stanford University’s Dr. Barbara Block, a satellite-tagging initiative that evolved into the IGFA Great Marlin Race, now the world’s largest billfish citizen science project.

Peter’s influence extended beyond sport and science. When fellow Cornell alumnus Bob Miller approached him about retail opportunities in Hawaii, Peter recommended Honolulu International Airport—a suggestion that helped launch Duty Free Shoppers (DFS). That global brand honored Peter with a $50,000 scholarship in his name at the University of Hawaii’s School of Travel Industry Management.

Peter served on many tourism and marine advisory boards, including the Hawaii Visitors Bureau, where he served as Chairman from 1969 to 1971; the Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council; and the International Game Fish Association (IGFA). His honors include inductions into the IGFA Hall of Fame (2017) and the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame (2018), as well as a Distinguished Service Award from the University of Hawaii. He was a member of SKAL International Hawaii for more than 50 years.

Peter S. Fithian was an entrepreneur, a conservationist, and a cultural architect of modern Hawaii. His legacy lives on in every lei draped around a visitor’s neck, in every billfish tagged and released, and in every person he mentored and inspired.

He is survived by his devoted wife Roberta; his children, Peter Jr. and Marsha; and his grandchildren, Elizabeth and Jordan Siliato. Each carries forward his enduring spirit of generosity, curiosity, and aloha.

Aloha, Peter.  You showed us how to warmly greet the world, fish with purpose, and live with vision.  Mahalo for a lifetime of service and inspiration.