HONOLULU -- A fledgling event has become very popular among festival attendees and fishermen.

Thousands of people attended the Hawaii Fishing and Seafood Festival on Sunday at Honolulu Harbor. It was the second year that the festival has been held at the fishing village at Pier 35.

The festival combines commercial and sport fishing with exhibits, demonstrations, food and entertainment. There are actual fish on display -- a popular photo attraction for kids who might not have come face to face with an Ahi or Mahi Mahi.

There is even fish art. Gyotaku, the Japanese art of fish printing, even adorns surfboards. And the kids got a chance to try making the art themselves.

Great seafood also is abundant at the event. The free samples of swordfish were quite popular, according to festivalgoers.

A top official from the National Marine Fisheries Service came from Washington, D.C., to attend the event.

"This is a model for the U.S.," said Bill Hogarth of the National Marine Fisheries. "I don't know why we can't sell this across the country. The auction -- fishermen come in and sell the fish and get paid the same day."