PUHI — Bettas from Liz Hahn captured eight first-place awards, including a Best in Variety and Best in Show, at the Golden State Betta Show in California on May 11. The tropical fish, shipped from Hahn’s facility, also received four
PUHI — Bettas from Liz Hahn captured eight first-place awards, including a Best in Variety and Best in Show, at the Golden State Betta Show in California on May 11.
The tropical fish, shipped from Hahn’s facility, also received four second-place awards.
The awards come on the heels of a successful show in Texas, where Hahn collected a number of awards.
“I was looking for pastels since they did well in the Texas show,” Hahn, who vends her popular fighting fish at the Kaua‘i Community Market on Saturdays at the Kaua‘i Community College. “‘Mr. Cellophane,’ humble but confident, kept trying to get my attention, trying to tell me ‘Send me, send me.’”
The white betta finished with the Best in Show award, a considerable feat because of the steps it had to go through to earn the Best in Show, Hahn said between customers at the farmers market.
After winning its class, Mr. Cellophane went up against other Best in Class entries, finishing top over nine other fish to capture Best in Variety en route to getting Best of Show-Male honors at the show which featured more than 200 fish.
Mr. Cellophane is described as a Clear/Yellow/Orange STM, in its class competition.
Hahn also placed well in the Halfmoon Patterned ST class, earning three first-place awards and three second-place awards for Butterfly STF and Marble/Grizzle STM and Marble/Grizzle STF.
Hahn rounded out her awards with a Show Plakat Non-iridescent Male earning top honors in the Shortfin STM class, helping her win second place in the Form and Finnage judging.
Hahn was thrilled to earn the awards for her fish, but was even more thrilled because it demonstrates the quality of fish for customers at the Kaua‘i Community College market.
“The primary reason I prefer to sell at the farmers market is to promote local, tropical ornamental aquaculture,” Hahn said. “Our climate is ideal for these fish and customers say their fish are happy fish.”
Hahn said she wasn’t always a fish fancier.
Saturday, she was visited by Kyle Yamamoto of Honolulu, whom she met when Yamamoto was still a middle school student.
“He learned how to breed fish more than 10 years ago, and now, he motivated me to get back into the fish,” Hahn said.
When she met Yamamoto, Hahn said her goals were to isolate the gene pool for marble, halfmoon, and black.
“Ten years later, Kyle did it,” Hahn said. “He sent me five pairs of fish which accomplished all of the goals I was attempting to do when I met him.”
Hahn said what she likes about Hawai‘i bettas is their unique line.
According to online sources, bettas are anabantoids which means they are able to breathe atmospheric air due to a unique organ called the labyrinth.
This allows the fish to thrive in low-oxygen water conditions, which would kill other fish.
“They make one of the best first pets for anyone, child or adult,” Hahn said. “What I like about bettas is they teach compassion.”
For more information, visit Hahn at the Kaua‘i Community Market, Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., or visit her Facebook page.
