Swimming with the fishes, take 2
Trip Start
Aug 02, 2008
1
15
Trip End
Aug 17, 2008
Where I stayed
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Sunday, August 17, 2008
What to do instead with a whole day, since our plane didn't leave until 10:45pm? We discovered a snorkeling shop across the street, so rented some equipment and went to Kahalu'u Beach Park. This is the same park I went to with the TYS participants when our dolphin viewing trip fell apart. I knew it to be a wonderful place to snorkel and it's somewhat protected from currents by stones put in place by a Hawaiian ali'i (ancestor) or two.
The other thing I decided to try was underwater photography. Mike, the snorkeling shop owner, sold underwater cameras for the purpose, so I bought one and tried it out. A bit of juggling is needed to look through a viewfinder through a snorkel mask while trying to stay afloat and breathe, too, not to mention trying to see the fish through several layers of plastic. The other trick is waiting for the film to develop, because the underwater camera contained actual film instead of pixels. I haven't used that for several years!
The fish, though, are worth it! I'm convinced that the ocean must have a sense of humour, of whimsy, because I can't imagine why there are so many species of fish that eat the same food and seem to occupy the same habitat. The colors and patterns are delightfully inventive and simply beautiful. Perhaps the ocean creates like a child with a new box of crayons. Further, if you hover over a section of coral reef for a few minutes, you can also see little dramas play out. Little fish chase each other over seemingly nothing. Pairs of bright fish flirt and dance about each other. And one slender fish just seemed to need to learn to "chill-lax": he darted this way, stopped and quivered, turned and darted back, quivered, darted here and there, agitated, as though the clock was ticking and he didn't know where he had to be. I tried to laugh and got a mouthful of salt water.
As before, I noticed the fish noticing me. Of course: I was the stranger here. The spotted puffer fish in particular seemed to study me, an action made easier since, unlike most other fish, he can focus his eyes forward. (He didn't "puff," which is a defensive action that I'm glad I didn't trigger because it's stressful for them to do it.) Other species were equally accepting or oblivious. After a while, I began to recognize patterns and colors. Using the fish reference card I bought and tied to my swimsuit, I identified the Hawaii State Fish, the Reef Triggerfish (Humuhumu-Nukunuku-Apua'a, in Hawaiian), first. Others I saw included Moorish Idol, Black Durgon Triggerfish, Orangeband Surgeonfish, Raccoon Butterflyfish, Convict Tang, Sailfin Tang and a Threadfin Butterflyfish, among many others that I couldn't identify. I've included my better shots here (and if you're a Hawaii fish expert and I got anything wrong, let me know!).
For sure, I'm going to incorporate snorkeling into my future holiday plans, and now that I've got an underwater camera, I'm going to do more of that, too, even if I do have to wait to develop the film.
Alas, the day came to an end all too quickly. We returned our rentals and went back to the Keauhou Plaza and the Thai restaurant for our last meal in Hawaii. Afterwards, we discovered the plaza had put up bleachers with a perfect view of the western sky and the ocean horizon. We joined a few other folks (mostly couples) and watched a brilliantly orange sun sizzle into the sea from our front row seat. Then we headed up the airport by the light of a full moon. It broke through the clouds and vog for a final goodbye. We boarded the plane for an overnight flight to Phoenix. We'll be back.
