A Crowned Jellyfish at Kahalu'u

    We had a very enjoyable visit with our son Charles and enjoyed several snorkels during which we found some very good fish and critters.  For his Aloha snorkel he chose to go to Kahalu'u.  No surprise that two days after Christmas it was full of of tourists engaged in full contact snorkeling,

Crowned Jellyfish  Cephea cephea,  Kahalu'u Big Island December 2018

flailing at your humble correspondent and inflicting what damage they could upon the remaining coral.

  Our friend and recent visitor, Kathy Yoder, showed us an insert from the information provided by Snorkel Bob, in which that long time booster of fishwatching in Kona encouraged his patrons to stay away from Kahalu'u.  Give this treasure a chance to rest and regenerate, pleads Snorkel Bob.  It is my opinion that the Yoders would have approached the coral in K Bay with due respect.  Frankly, I am so discouraged by the attitude of many of the tourists that I despond of protecting the sites to which they have access.  Kahalu'u is victim number one.  Short of the county closing the bay for a year or two, I can't imagine that any amount of pleading by Bob, myself or anyone else will have much effect.

Note the fimbriated contractile fringe at the base of the hood. (lower right)

   It took Charles and I a while to thread our way through the maddening crowd in the bay.  Once free, we swam almost to the Menehune Breakwater.  Simultaneously, we spotted what appeared to be a white plastic bag and headed for it, both with the intention of scooping it up to be deposited in the appropriate receptacle on shore.  But low and behold, this was no piece of plastic, but the most wonderful jelly: a crowned Jellyfish,Cepea cephea.

   It was rolling over and over in the current, so it took a moment to appreciate the various components of this jellyfish.  Surmounting the hood was a significant convoluted cap.  At the base of the hood there was a fine fringe that contracted rhythmically.  As the animal was obviously out of control, these contractions had no effect on stability or locomotion.  In fact, this fringe was so delicate that it is hard to imagine a situation where it would be effective.   Kids Zone Critter Squad states that this species lives at extreme depth, as deep as 3000 feet during the day, and ascends to near the surface at night, so that contractile fringe must be more effective than it appears.

The crown is separated from the bell by a deep groove.

 At first I thought that it might be a dislodged upside down jellyfish.  As it happens, this species and the upside down jelly are in the same order, Rhizostomeae.  Jellies of this order do not have tentacles, and what I took for tentacles were actually oral arms, which serve as multiple port for ingesting tiny prey. The crown jellyfish is divided into two components held together by a central trunk.   
The lower component was the solid bell and below that part projected several stubby oral arms, some of which appeared to have been damaged.  Another site, Whatsthatfish, did a good job of elucidating the separation of the crown or umbrella and the lower hood.

   Floating with the current at the same speed, we watched and photographed the crown jellyfish, meandering passively through the multitude of tourists in the process.  Finally, over by the rescue shelter we ended our float.  At this point we were with a group of young Japanese tourists and some fish as well.  A threadfin butterfly took a taste of the jellyfish, but only one nibble.  Perhaps it needed some wasabi.

While we watched, a threadfin took a nibble of the crowned jelly

   Charles, having watched me take so many shots, remarked that I must have some great pictures.  I responded that translucent animals are difficult to photograph, so we would have to see. We have done some small tricks with contrast and red green coloring to enhance these pictures and allow you to see the animal for what it is.

    One final justification...the picture in John Hoover's excellent critter book was taken, amazingly, in this very bay, presumably before the year 2000.  And his picture is no better than any of these.  Translucent animals are difficult to photograph.

   In addition to telling us about the daily migration from deep to shallow, Kids' Zone Critter Squad revealed another tidbit: this species is eaten as a delicacy in Japan.  No mention of wasabi.  Domo arigato. 

 Dragon Wrasse  Kahalu'u  December 2018. This was Charles' Aloha Fish.

    Neither in Hoover nor in any article I found on the internet were those two black spicules mentioned, which figure prominently in at least one picture.  They certainly seemed intrinsic to the animal.


    Following the encounter with the crowned jelly, we saw a large convex crab and a large brown dragon wrasse.  The crab was in the shade and didn't photograph worth a hoot, but the dragon wrasse and the TG 5 connected for a beautiful shot.  I hope you enjoy this look at one of our more unusual fish.

    We had a great time snorkeling with Chuck.  I hope you enjoyed coming along for the ride.

jeff 

Ewa Blenny at Ho'okena

   This blog will address two important discoveries relating to Ho'okena.  The first is culinary.

    Yesterday was supposed to begin with brunch at the Coffee Shack.  A few miles past Captain Cook, this eatery with the killer view of Kealakekua Bay and Honaunau is perhaps the most popular place to eat on the leeward side of the Big Island.  When we arrived, there were lots of people milling around outside and the waitress who took our name suspected that we might be seated in 45 minutes.  This was Boxing Day, so there are tons of hungry people in Kona.  But even so...45 minutes?

     With filling our bellies in mind, we headed down the road.  In a few miles we ran across Keoki's Ono Fish and Chips.  As we entered, we realized that we had been to this location several years before.  In that iteration it was known as Epicure and specialized in cinnamon rolls.    Yesterday our waitress was Rhonda, a jocular lady of a certain age trying hard to be character of the week.  Hailing from rural  Louisiana, she speaks with a pronounced southern accent and insisted on calling me Mr. Jeff.  (To be honest, I've been called worse.)  Miss Rhonda served us delicious fish and chips and a cheeseburger in a garden setting.  We were done eating by the time our 45 minutes expired at the Coffee shack.

     If you were worried that, based on the name, this place might cater to locals only, don't be.  The only island presence in the place was the Donkey Balls guy on the sign outside.

    If you find yourself in a similar situation, you might just pull this arrow out of your quiver.

A Male Gilded Triggerfish at Ho'okena, December 2018

    It was a relatively short drive from Keoki's down to Ho'okena, where the day was still beautiful and the parking lot chock a block full.  We were offered a parking spot in the camp ground for a five dollar contribution, but before it came to that, someone pulled out and we slipped right in.

   The other option is parking on the non-existent shoulder of the road outside the park...a fifty meter schlep which we happily avoided.

   Sandra decided to let Charles and I swim while she stayed ashore in her sand chair in the shade and finished her book.  As the sea was calm, we entered by the pillars of the long gone pier for the first time in my career.  Following other snorkelers and canoes out into the bay, we were required to swim over shallow rocks for twenty meters.  But all was well.

   If you follow the blog, you know the expected fish of this location.  Potter's and flame angelfish, gilded triggerfish and garden eels.  Among fish watchers, Ho'okena is famous for these specialties 

Charles flips a face obscuring double shaka at Ho'okena

that everywhere else are found in deeper water. Charles and I found them all in short order.  Heading back into the shallow coral garden, I turned the camera over to Charles, who attempted to photograph a wily stripe belly puffer.

   Shortly after that, in a coral about twelve feet deep, I spotted what I initially thought was a juvenile cleaner wrasse...she of the blue stripe variety, which is what I saw..a long fish with a shiny blue stripe.  Before I took my dive, I realized that I was in error.  This fish was longer and skinnier than that tiny blue stripe cleaner wrasse.   And it was alternately straightening out and wiggling its body.  Still when I dove down and got my one superb look, I was surprised to be eye to eye with an ewa blenny.

    I was surprised because this is an extremely rare fish for a snorkeler.  It was only my second ewa blenny, and Peter Kroppje had to set me up for my first observation, over a year ago outside the bay at Mahukona.  That fish was much larger and had two fine blue stripes running the length of his body.  This guy had yellowish dorsal fins and a very large blue stripe running down his flank. 

Photo Courtesy of John Hoover

   Much of the information that follows comes form John Hoover's Ultimate Guide, including the photo for which he has kindly given permission.  As it turns out, the ewa blenny is variable and some of this is based on age.  The juvenile, like the juvenile Hawaiian cleaner wrasse, has a big blue stripe and it is smaller than the adult, although, in my extremely limited experience, still 50% larger than Gosline's fanged blenny.  The latter is seen commonly at shallow depths in places like Kahalu'u.  These blennies actually attack fish, nabbing a scale or two, so that blue stripe is probably a bit of mimicry.  A smart fish chooses to be cleaned but eschews a predatory nip.

    I wouldn't have been able to snap a photo on this single successful dive, even if Charles hadn't had the camera.  He attempted photos of the flame angelfish for ten minutes, while I waited patiently for the ewa blenny to reappear. It never did.  Obviously, I was extremely lucky to get one look.  Here you see a photo of the page in John's book. The fish we saw at Mahukona was much like the top photo.  The juvenile at Ho'okena was the blue stripe juvenile, second from the top. 

     We have waited a while to add a fish to the Ho'okena list and it is appropriate that it is one that should only appear at diving depths. 

   On the bottom of the photo you see Gosline's fang blenny.  This is an exceptionally deceiving picture.  This fish is usually seen from the top, appearing very long and skinny, like a Virginia Slims cigarette.  And as I mentioned above, they alternately straighten like the tobacco product, and then wiggle the aft two thirds of their body.  This wiggle, mildly reminiscent of that employed by some beach girls here in Kona, may be an attempt to lure a fish into scale nipping range. 

   So. Do I win the MCP award or what? Never fear...Me Too is on this.

   And as long as I have abandoned our subject, let me update you on our friend John Hoover.  He is being paid to go to Palmyra Reef in the eastern South Pacific.  Due south, way due south, of Hawaii Island.   Palmyra atoll is one third of the way from Hawaii to Samoa.  The atoll has been purchased by the Nature Conservancy and John has been

Wait a minute!  You mean I have to compete with this guy?  I don't stand a chance.

hired to create an app for the animals in the refuge.  I assumed that he was creating the app for someone to use.  If so was the Nature Conservancy opening up this far flung atoll to tourism?  Here is his reply:

   "The Nature Conservancy uses Palmyra to raise money from their very wealthy donors. It costs about 50K to go there for a week and stay at the little research station. The app would be for them. I don’t think there are any plans for tourism. No facilities for that, for one thing." 

   This time you got a fish story, a biology lesson and a glimpse at how the ecologically sensitive  other half lives.   Happy New Year from the land of bikini clad hau'oli girls.  Snort, snort.

jeff

Whatch your Wrasse or Christmas 2018

The Christmas Honu

    Christmas Day 2018 dawned beautiful and blue here in Kailua Kona.  We had planned to go to Mahukona for our Christmas tradition, the quest for the eponymous wrasse.  During this holiday season we are reveling in a visit from our son Charles. As he considered our plan, while consuming a brace of bagels, he took my Ironman quip a step further.  You may know that the Ironman competitors race their bicycles 60 miles from the Kailua pier north to Hawi, which is a mere ten miles past Mahukona.  I joke that I get tired just driving to Hawi.  My son took it a step further.  He got tired just thinking about driving to Hawi.  Adjusting to that sentiment, our plans changed; we would go to Paul Allen's reef.

    It was glorious down by the Marriot, formerly the King Kamehameha Hotel.  There were lots of people out around the pier and more than a few of them were swimming.  On the way out, I spotted a juvenile Christmas wrasse, pointed at it, but neither  Charles nor Sandra were near enough to see it.

Freckeld hawkfish juvenile.  Paul Allen's Reef   Christmas 2018

    We swam across the tranquil bay and they both were able to swim down, hold on and see the tiny coral croucher in his cauliflower refugio, resplendent in his pastel blue frock with the pink dots. 

    Off we went around the corner, the idea being that a Christmas wrasse was sure to be found where the ocean splashed against the wall. Before we got very far we had a very close approach by a green sea turtle.  He was happy to swim with us for a few strokes and we captured this nice picture.

     We didn't see a Christmas wrasse, but way out where one has a good view of the little light house, Charles spotted a juvenile freckled hawkfish.  This is the fellow with the bold white flank and the chartreuse cap..one of my favorite fish.  This little fish is usually seen by us in calm waters, like Kahalu'u Bay.  What was he doing way out here where the surf pounds against the lava?

   In previous years in late December, from this spot far out on the wall, we have enjoyed a close up view of Paul Allen's boat, the Octopus.  Swimming back, I ruminated on the passing of Mr. Allen and the vacancy we now find in Kona this Christmas season.  With that brewing in my benighted noggin, I composed the following lyrics.

Paul Allen's boat, Paul Allen's boat,
You are not here this season.
Paul Allen's boat, Paul Allen's boat,
His Passing is the reason.

  On Christmas Day we long to see / Your helicopter in a tree

At Christmas Time he gave us mirth,
His helicopter and his girth.

Paul Allen's boat, Paul Allen's boat,
I guess we're gonna miss you.

    We will miss Paul Allen; like Don Drysdale, he should pass into the the legendary fabric of Kailua Kona. Who can forget Paul Allen helicoptering from the pad on the Octopus to the estate, a mere quarter mile away?  Ostentatious?  Nooooo.

    I'm sure that the Redoubtable SKG and your humble correspondent are not the only ones in this beach community that are curious to see what happens to the Thurston Estate.

    We didn't see any Potter's angelfish among the dead coral offshore and nothing special as we swam back over the breakwater.  Right at the breakwater I spotted another Christmas wrasse that swam away before I could get Sandra's attention.

    Sandra went in and I was on my way when Charles announced that he had seen a small Christmas

Five Stripe Wrasse, the Inner Harbour,  Kailua Pier  Christmas 2018

wrasse.  We went back and what he had was the same initial phase five striped wrasse I had seen last week.  We followed it around, took a bunch of pictures and, low and behold, we came up with this gorgeous shot, worthy for a field guide in my unbiased opinion.

   Ashore in the shower, I accosted a young couple who were conversing some un-American tongue. It turned out they were German, from the Ruhr, the mega city that includes Köln and Düsseldorf. 

The guy had a wingspan of an albatross, so I asked him if he was a triathelete, which he was.  In fact, he had qualified for Kona this last year, but had got married and affairs of state took precedence over competing for the world championship.

    I wished he and his wife a frohe Weihnacht.  His wife said Merry Christmas and he said frohe Weihnacht, commenting that despite my linguistic inferiority he could understand what I had said. I replied,"We both said the same thing, but your accent is better. "  The Iron frau had a good laugh  and that was Christmas in Kona.

 jeff
  

Paul Allen's Reef at its Very Best

    This has been a delightful week in Kailua Kona.  Its been dry and cool with blue skies every day.   And we have enjoyed some time with friends and had some very productive experiences at the beach.

Stocky Hawkfish Looking Up.  Kahalu'u  December 2018

      A few days ago Sandra and I went down to Kahalu'u, our first time back there since we returned from the mainland.   Sandra wore her wet suit, but the water really wasn't all that cold, still around 80, and it was fairly clear.  There were plenty of fish, but nothing especially noteworthy.  I saw one of those small shrimp that like to perch on the coral, only to disappear by the time one has his camera adjusted for a shot.  As the shrimp had vanished I took a picture of his surrogate, the stocky hawkfish who was hanging out nearby.  Its a pretty exposure and I hope you will forgive me for showing you a picture taken from above.  The stocky hawkfish is not especially rare, but it is a bit skittish...it is very unusual to dive down to get a side view without Mr. Stocky slipping into the coral.

    While I was getting my shower, Sandra put the camera to good use, nabbing this picture of the

Playing Ukuleles Island Style  photo courtesy of the Redoubtable SKG

ukulele group that seems to be at the Kahalu'u shelter in the mornings.  They play while we are getting ready to snorkel and their songs have a way of getting stuck in my head in such a way that it provides the background music, however insipid, for the swim.  On this day it was Island Style.  A tune with which I was previously unfamiliar, but still seemed to play over and over while I circled the bay.

   Two days later we met Peter and Marla at Ho'okena.  For us it was the doable 40 minute drive.  For them, coming all the way from Kapa'au, it was almost two hours.  In hopes of having mild surf conditions, we made this excursion on Saturday.  Getting there around 9 AM, there was still plenty of parking and we were able to nab a spot at the table under the banyan tree.  There really is nothing like sitting in the cool shade right by a beautiful beach in Hawaii.  I don't mean to be boastful, but its

With Kroppjean Patience and Persistence.

pretty sweet.

    Our friends had made this long journey with some good fish watching in mind.  Suffice it to say I felt a small amount of pressure.  But not to worry,  Ho'okena yielded up its four specialties: flame angelfish (which lives in a large coral head with its cousin the Potter's angelfish),  garden eels and bridled and gilded triggerfish.  It took Marla to spot the first flame angel.  After that the four specialties fell like dominoes.  The water was clear and its always fun to swim with friends, but we did not see anything unusual.

   Towards shore, on the way out, Sandra and I encountered a really nice finescale triggerfish...big and creamy white.  Naturally this shy species made getting a good picture as difficult as she could.

   We also saw a school of  keel tailed needlefish.  Keeltails are the most commonly encountered

 Big, Blue Keeltailed Needlefish  Ho'okena December 2018

needlefish.  You see them at the surface, so a snorkeler is actually looking up at them.  Usually they are small and largely translucent.  And they swim in a school, turning this way and that in perfect unison, like a flock of songbirds. These guys were nothing like that.  They were swimming in mid-water, actually interacting with one another.  And they were remarkably large and a lustrous, rich blue.   I really wanted to turn them into a school of Heller's barracuda.   If you look carefully, you will even see a shiny blue lateral line. It is reasonable to surmise that this was a breeding group of keeltailed needlefish.

    By the time I was done enjoying them, my compatriots had deserted me and I made my way ashore unaccompanied.

   Back at our table in the shade, we ate an early lunch and looked at each other's pictures.  On this day, Peter was shooting with a Sony camera in a housing.  And he was also wearing what looked like six pounds of lead...maybe more.  Suffice it to say I was out gunned.  He showed us a killer picture of

Bali.  Come for the fish.  Return for the people.

a gilded triggerfish.  To be fair, in addition to lead and a good camera, Peter possesses a great deal of patience and persistence.  Perhaps if you sign on to his blog, onebreathkohala, you will find that
picture of the gilded trigger.

   As you may know from reading this blog, Peter and Marla liked Bali so well that they went back, having returned to the Big Island about the same time we returned from Mexico.  We were still debriefing them and uncovered a useful detail.  They did not have a driver pre-arranged; when they arrived in Denpassar they chose a likely lad from the mob of solicitors that one encounters as he leaves customs.  Is this more dangerous than hailing a taxi on the streets of Mexico City?  Looked at in the proper pessimistic light, either one might seem foolish heading towards a death wish.  On the other hand, this seems to have worked out fine.  They used the man from the mob for a couple more transfers and then picked up another driver off the street, maybe in Ubud, and used him for several more transfers, going as far as Pemuteran.  And back.  Which despite the excellent snorkeling on the north west

The Coral Croucher outside the late Paul Allen's lagoon.  Finally!

corner of this magic island, is a good thing.

   The government of Indonesia sends me 200 rupiah (approximately 10 cents US) for each one of you that I talk into going to Bali, so I have a vested interest in passing on these travel tips.

    Which brings us to yesterday.

    In the morning we hosted my long lost friends from Salem Hospital to a delicious Hawaiian breakfast.  Bagels from Safeway, muffins from Costco, POG from Target and Yuban dark roast.  We did at least throw in some yummy papayas from the market by the library.  I had not seen these two ladies in what we calculated to be 12 years, but happily we were all in acceptable condition and we had a wonderful time talking about Hawaii and Salem and what not.  After I forced them to look at the fish on the Christmas tree and the bathroom wall (this fish thing really has gotten out of hand) we loaned them some powerful fins and

Potter's Angelfish looking out of his Coral Cave.  Paul Allen's Reef December 2018

made plans to meet at City of Refuge tomorrow.

I thought that they were going to rent masks at Snorkel Bob's and spend the rest of the day acquainting themselves with their new equipment.  As Sandra and I arrived at the pier an hour or so later, I texted Kathy to let her know that she could borrow an underwater camera on Wednesday.  She texted back saying that they were at the Harbor House (drinking beer and eating giant hamburgers.)  So I'm not so sure they took that introductory swim.  Get with the program!

   I texted back, "Have a Firerock for me!" and headed into the Inner Harbour in front of the King Kam Hotel, where the water was now on the south side of eighty.

     I was happy to make it out past the heiau and the breakwater into the warmer ocean.  I swam straight across the little bay to pick up where I left off more than two months ago. It took me a minute or two to find the same head of cauliflower coral that I have been observing.  But it is still there, and so is the pair of coral crouchers!  I believe it is safe to say that this very same unusual and uncommon fish has been in the very same coral for four months.  Parvenu that I am, I hate to say this, but this borders on real  

The usual look at a speckled scorpionfish.  December2018, Kailua Pier

science.  Being by myself, I was able to approach my mission with Kroppjean patience and persistence and was rewarded, at long last, with a picture of the croucher, tucked as deep as he could wiggle his plump, speckled body into his coral amparo.

     That last word comes from the Cuban classic, Guantanamera.  In the traditional lyrics, it is a buck deer that is searching for his monte amparo.  Mountain hideaway to the Spanglishly challenged.  In my lyrics, and it is well within the Cuban tradition to write new lyrics to Guantanamera, it is a pes en la bahia, que busca un coral amparo.   Suffice it say, in whatever language one chooses, this pair of crouchers is well established in their amparo. And, at last, Ive got proof.

     The swim wasn't over.  Around the point, I looked for the yellowtail filefish without success.  I then swam ten yards off shore to look for Potter's angel.  I didn't see one, by I took notice of a lone staghorn coral growing bravely among all the detritus of his bygone relatives.  I dove to take a look at what he might be harboring and suddenly off to my left was a Potter's.  This guy was nosing in and out of a small window in the dead coral and allowed me to photograph him on three dives before disappearing.  This was only about 12 feet deep, so it was a

Speckled Scorpionfish  Sebastapistes coniorta. Kailua Pier December 2018

reasonable chance.

    Finally it was time to head for the barn.  As I approached the breakwater, I found another cauliflower coral to examine.  To my delight, there was, in addition to coral blenny, a fine speckled scorpionfish living in the folds of the coral. This species is sort of like the coral croucher:  obscure, small and hides in Pocillipora coral.  In each respect, the  speckled scorpion is a bit less so, but still it is a fishwatcher's fish to be sure and no one else would be aware of it.

The five stripe wrasse shoots up the side of a rock. 

     These were ideal conditions.  the water was clear and not moving very fast, the coral was only four feet down and there was a firm piece of dead coral nearby to use for a hand hold.  On my first attempt I got the fish in its usual attitude, lying across the leaf with its head facing down.  On my second attempt, he moved, lacing his body flat across a recess.  However, form the standpoint of hiding, he made a poor choice and ended up in a spot where he was still accessible to my prying camera.  Snap, snap, snap.  And whadya know?  Not a shabby picture of a species devilishly difficult to photograph.  And don't you just love the coral blenny peering from around the corner?

    In putting together the blog, I had the chance to search for the species name in John Hoover's book.  It is a testimony to how difficult this fish is, that the picture you see here is dramatically better than John's.  Did I just break my arm patting myself on the back? Maybe.

    Thinking that it had been a wonderfully productive swim, I made it over the rip rap and into the

Five Stripe Wrasse.  Thallasoma quinquevittatum  Kialua Pier December 2018

channel opposite the pier.  Suddenly, in the moving water there was an unusual, small wrasse.  About the size and shape of a smaller saddleback wrasse, this guy had a green base and a variety of rose colored markings.  Honestly, I couldn't figure out what I was looking at, but with that rose colored streak across his upper flank, I knew it was not a usual suspect.  Although he was a very fast moving fish, he stayed with me for several minutes and I took at least a dozen pictures.  As is so often the case, the last photograph was the best.  it wasn't until we got home and Sandra and I could look at the books and compare them with the pictures that we decided this was a five stripe wrasse.

   So variable is this fish, that John Hoover provides four pictures in his book.  Our fish corresponds well to the initial phase, male or female photograph.  

   In my defense, not only is this fish always fast moving and found in surging water, but it is extremely variable in coloration.  Back on the beach at Ho'okena, the persistent Peter Kroppje noted that frequently we are taking pictures of fast moving fish in moving water.  Hence, nothing is still and the result is bound to be blurry.  Unknowingly, he described this situation in spades.

   At last the swim was done and we headed for shore. But I had one more treat in store.  As I finished my shower a veritable giant approached.  Over seven feet tall, he hung a purple bag on one of the

Uncle Tui is now the quartebacks coach for Cal. 

hooks.  Noting the W on his chapeau, I asked, "Is that a Washington W?"  Indeed it was!  the giant's name was Patrick and he is here for two months.  He asked if I was going to the Rose Bowl and we agreed that it was a little much from here.  He then revealed that his nephew played center for the Huskies and hiked the ball to Marques Tuiasosopo.  A few of you may not be aware of Tui, but he is my favorite player of all time.  He was not tall enough for a pro team to believe in him...all he could do was win.   Patrick went on to tell me that his nephew now has a house on Hood Canal and that a couple summers ago Tui came to visit for 4th of July.  At a nearby Indian reservation he pretty much bought out the fireworks stand and, according to Patrick, they damn near burned down his nephew's house.  Now each year at 4th of July, his children want to know if Uncle Tui is coming.

    Thanks to you all for being such patient and persistent readers.  We wish you a Merry Fishmas and a micro-brew beer.

The Juvenile Raccoon Butterflyfish at Mahukona

    As Friday approached, Sandra was becoming progressively anxious.  This was a day full of scheduling conflicts.  In the morning we had an appointment to meet with Nick the Handyman.  Starting on Wednesday our neighbor Lonnie started pleading for a ride to the airport for a 9 AM

If your gonna beat the Utes, you gotta dress sharp.

departure to Kauai.  In the late afternoon we had a long standing obligation to take our house sitters, Anita and Brian, back to dear old KOA.  Who could have anticipated several months previous when we agreed to that transfer that our beloved Huskies would be in the PAC-12 Championship game kicking off against University of Utah Utes at 3:30.

   These are not the same Utes that Joe Pesci defended in his hilarious classic My Cousin Vinny, but a bit of searching on the internet left no doubt that the Utah partisans are big fans of this movie.  If the NCAA decides that Utah may no longer use the Indian tribe, excuse me, Native Americans, as a mascot the partisans may well dress up in burgundy tails.

    By Thursday morning I had an idea that, if it wouldn't make things easier, might make them more enjoyable.  Noting that St. Nick, being an independent sort of fellow, was making noises about getting here when he could, I proposed that we give him a pass (he could come on Monday instead)

Juvenile Pink Tail Triggerfish, Mahukona, November 2018

and after dropping Lonnie and Anne off at the airport, we could go to Mahukona.  After all, by the time we got to KOA we would be a third of the way to Kawaihae.  Why not make the best of it?

   After Nick happily accepted a postponement, I dropped a quick text to Peter, our fish watching friend from Kapa'au.  Peter was on it like an Alabama State Trooper on a hapless teenage driver.  We were on for 8:30.

    But the best was yet to come.  Shortly after dinner, Lonnie texted us, saying that their real estate agent would take them to the airport at 7 AM.  The following morning, as I was gathering our snorkeling gear, Sandra called from the bedroom.  Anita had broken her washing machine, could not store her car as planned, and this parlayed into her real estate agent getting them to the airport.  Or picking up their car.  Who cares about the details?  We were free to watch he Monsters of Montlake fight the dreaded Utes, no leaving halfway through the fourth quarter for taxi duty.  And they say there isn't a God!

    And so we found ourselves motoring care free up The Queen Q highway on a brilliant Friday

Maui rising majestically behind Marla.

morning.  As we approached Waikoloa the Kohala mountains were gorgeous.  Not only that, but in the distance Maui rose out of the ocean in unprecedented glory.

    Peter and Marla were waiting for us by the bay.  We hadn't seen them in two months so we had some catching up to do before we went swimming.  You may recall that a year or so ago, we went fishwatching together to Bali.  Our friends liked it so well that they went back for three weeks and just returned two weeks ago.  Peter is an exceptionally talented underwater photographer and if you enjoy my humble efforts, you should sign on to his blog, onebreathkohala, where he is posting some remarkable photos from their recent trip.

    It was a big high tide yesterday at Mahukona and this is nothing but good.  The water was just at the top of the ladder so getting in was like slipping into a swimming pool.  Once in the water, I looked around and thought, "What a bunch of fish."  Among other things, two Achilles tangs were swimming right in front of me.  And that was just for starters.

    As we reconnoitered, Peter alerted me that there were juvenile pink tail triggerfish in the bay.  This is a moderately unusual juvenile that I have seen only a handful of times before.  Instead of a pink tail

Juvenile Raccoon butterflyfish, Mahukona November 2018

they have one of dark orange.  Otherwise, they are the same in size and behavior, e.g. skittish.  Within a few strokes I saw three of these interesting fish. Bonanza! Unlike what I have seen in the past, which is also the way they are described in field guys, these guys boasted tails ranging from a light orange through yellow, almost to chartreuse.  I figure that they don't have enough carrots in their diet.  Perhaps they have substituted some of the romaine lettuce that we have been disposing of by the ton.

    Before heading out, I took a few minutes to photograph these fish.  I thought I had the perfect picture, but when I got it home, I found that I had been shooting into the sun; it was only 8:30 and the

Christmas comes to Casa Ono.

sun was low in the south east sky.  So in preparing this picture for you I had to deal with a lot of scattered light.  Still, it gives you a pretty good idea of the coloration.

   On my way out to the north side of the bay, I spotted a female pearl wrasse.  Usually a plummy red, this lady was fairly dark, still bearing the myriad of white spots that gives the species its common name.  This fish used to be fairly common around Kailua, but we don't see it no mo'.  So this was a treat. 

   Out in the deep middle Marla spotted an octopus about 30 feet down.  He was working with a goatfish.  Naturally, despite multiple attempts, the camera was unable to take a picture of the octopus.  Instead, I'm presenting a picture of Marla in snorkeling regalia.  But what is that rising behind her?  Maui!

    On the south side of the bay we found a dozen or so milletseeds.  On the way in we saw one of my favorites, a juvenile Christmas wrasse with red and white patches forward and some spotted blue aft with a yellow tail.

A second look at the remarkable juvenile 'coon.

   But the best was yet to come.  Just opposite the ladder is a monumental chain which leads eventually to a giant anchor.  the links are damn near a foot in length and five inches thick.  covered with blue green coralline algae.  It would make a tremendous ornament in a giant's aquarium.  I was following the chain towards shore, just getting ready to make my turn to the ladder, when I spotted a small butterflyfish.  He was using the chain for cover, but I was able to dive down and hold onto one of the links, waiting until he appeared in the open.  And it was worth the wait, this was an adolescent size raccoon butterfly.  Look carefully and you will see an occulus above the tail and that distinctive black wing behind the white mask line.  Once out in the open, he remained in place long enough for six quick shots.

   In my humble estimation, this is a rare sighting.  Certainly it is the first of my storied career.  (Don't believe all the stories you hear.)  Just under two years ago I did a show entitled the keikis of the reef, in which I made four of the possible juvenile butterflies.   We see the teardrop and four spot routinely in the late summer.  And in another lucky encounter I was able to follow a keiki blacklip as he

On Friday night Judge Chamberlain Haller declared the Utes out of order.

developed for a month in the shallows by the Kailua pier.  However, I had to use the field guides for pictures of the keiki ornate, which I still haven't seen, and the raccoon.  This year I have used those baby butterflies to decorate the top of our Christmas tree, so I was very well prepared to name this fish.

 John Hoover says that the juvenile 'coon can be found in tidepools.  All I have to say is that Mahukona is the best tidepool for fishwatching on the leeward side of the Big Island.

jeff

PS.  In a hard fought struggle the Dogs held off the Ute's to earn a berth in the 2019 Rose Bowl.  Go Huskies!

That's what I'm talking about!

    



  

Is the Kona Pier Worthy?

    We have returned from our travels, surviving grandchildren, a multitude of wonderful Mexicans and a brace of airports.  Somewhere along the way, Sandra picked up a virus.  Between getting her well, catching up with two months worth of gardening and all the other details, it took more than a week for me to get into the water.  This was made all the more dramatic as I needed to shave my vacation beard prior to snorkeling. 

Stripe Belly Puffer,  Kahalu'u 2015

    For my inaugural swim, I made my way down to the Kona pier.  Home, sweet home.  We are in a period of significant swell and each day we watch the surfers down at Banyans from the distant safety of our lanai.  Never the less, the pier was remarkably calm for my snorkel.  The water was a bit
cloudy, but not not terribly so.  And the water is only a little cooler than when we left in October; it will drop another ten degrees by the middle of February.

     Mindful of the recreational swimmers I made my way out, seeing a fair representation of usual suspects.  Out by the last swim buoy there was a small stripe bellied puffer on the sand, a mu or two and small scribbled filefish who swam away wiki wiki before we could nab a picture.

    Back by the pier, I slipped under the floating line and checked out the area where the cruise ship

Helmeted Gurnard, three inch juvenile, Kailua Pier, Ironman side, November 2018

boards.  There was nothing special there, either.  At this point I was questioning my judgement.  We have friends coming from Oregon who have been competent snorkelers in the past, but haven't donned their mask and fins in five years.  They are looking forward to going to City of Refuge and Ho'okena and they are considering a snorkel at Mahukona, as well.  They are only going to be here for four days, not counting their days of travel, and I seem to have convinced them that a shakedown snorkel at the pier is a good idea.  Now I'm wondering...is this a waste of their limited time?

   Pondering this as I swam back under the floating line and headed for the shore, I was suddenly confronted by a small gurnard.  He was a handsome little fellow and tolerated multiple photographic approaches.  Here you see the best photo.  It certainly demonstrates those spiny rakes on the edge of his wings, with which he forages for his daily bread.

   This fish is not at all common; we probably see one ever year or so.  And he seemed to be telling me that the pier is still worth a try on a given day.  It certainly was on this one.

jeff

  

Our Aloha Blog

    This week we have been struggling

Kawaihae Harbor  High Tide

to find something special to write about for our aloha blog.  That's right, two days hence the Redoubtable SKG and your humble correspondent will board the silvery bird and head to the land of grandchildren.  Although there will be more snuggles dished out than the average evening with Beverly Goldberg, I doubt if much will happen of a blog-worthy nature while we are in the vicinity of PDX.  But one never knows.  Starting in late October, though, my beloved and I will be in the land of the Aztecs for two weeks.  That should give you something to look forward to.

   But enough about the future.  Let me regale with you what's been happening this last week.   Fish or no fish, the most important thing that occurred was the confirmation of our next supreme court justice.  Political shenanigans aside, and I assure you there were more than a few, we will be snorkeling with Bart O'Kavanaugh for the rest of my lifetime.  And unless you are the youngest of my readers, probably your lifetime, as well

.

The Mauloa, Sailing Masters and the Charter School

  Que lastima.   That's Aztec for pass the tequila.

   Here on the windward coast, while the nefarious senator Grassley was screwing the pooch, Sandra and I did our best to find a fish or two.  Five days ago we made the pilgrimage to Kawaihae harbor.   In doing so, we made a significant mistake...not checking the tides.   When we arrived, the tide was really high, so much so that it covered the base of the platforms.  In addition to cloudy water, neither of us felt safe swimming under those submerged platforms.  We saw a few fish, but nothing earth shaking.

    The action in the sweet little park beside the harbor was another story.   There beneath the trees, a benevolent deity had parked a koa outrigger sailing canoe.  When we returned from our swim, there was a class of red shirted students and a sailing master who explained about this interesting vessel. 

Svelte Ironpeople wash off after a training swim.  Kailua Kona pier  2018

At the end of his talk, after the students and the sailing master had blessed the canoe and each other with a long and complicated chant in Hawaiian, we were able to corner the skipper and get the skinny on the boat.

   The name of the boat is Mauloa.  Her hull was crafted from a single koa trunk harvested on the slopes of Mauna Loa.  Carving was done entirely by hand and the master, who introduced himself as Maulili, stated that this was the first sailing canoe built with ancient methods in 250 years.  He called her an island canoe.  Unlike Hokule'a, she was not intended for long open ocean voyages and has
spent most of the last 25 years in the waters around the Big Island.  Her furthest sail has been to Honolulu, a voyage of some significance in our opinion.

Finescale Triggerfish  Kailua Kona 2018    Devil with the blue lips.

    The rest of the week has been spent gardening, packing and cleaning, but I have been lucky enough to squeeze in two swims at the pier.   A few days ago I had a nice swim on the PAR, touching bases with the coral croucher and his court of guard crabs, but seeing little else.

Collector urchin adheres to the cowry with blood crab.

     As it is October, the Ironman is upon us.  On that day I had the pleasure of meeting two
competitors from the Czech Republic.  My policy is, when I hear folks jabbering in some inscrutable tongue, I ask them, during a break in the dialogue, where they are from.  This guy, unfortunately for him, was the recipient of my friend Bud Hanzel's comment that there is no such thing a a bad check.  A bad Pole perhaps, but never a bad Czech.  Suffice it to say, that Ironman couldn't get away quickly enough.

   Today was our last chance to find a fish for the next five weeks.   The tide was high again and the water was really warm, maybe 88℉.  It was clear and since it was the afternoon, most of the Ironmen had done their swim training hours earlier...the chance of getting mowed down was greatly reduced.

   Out by the last swim buoy I happened upon a finescale triggerfish.  More often than not, this species is skittish.  This fellow, however, was very cooperative.  When I dove for a picture he rolled

Come out, come out,wherever you are.  Blood crab hiding in the cowry.

on his side, providing me with a nice profile.  Later, back at the ranch, Sandra remarked upon his blue lips.  As previously noted, the water wasn't all that cold, so I think this individual just happens to have really swell kisser.

    The aloha swim was winding down and I was approaching shore when I noticed a cowry shell motoring with true determination across a coral.  As you can see from the pictures, this shell, almost two inches in length, was well covered with gray detritus that matched the dead coral to a tee.  Had it not been moving, it would have escaped notice.  I swooped down and grabbed it.  Turning it over, I was greeted by a set of gray, hairy legs and two yellow antennae.  This was a bit of a tricky location and I fumbled my prize, watched it roll under a coral, to be followed by a collector urchin I liberated from its perch.

    It took only a moment for me to extract the collector urchin and the cowry hermit from under the coral where they had come to rest.  In this brief minute, the collector urchin had already formed a

Blood Crab Kahalu'u 2013  Gray hairy legs and yellow antennae.

bond with the cowry to the extent that when I lifted the urchin with my gloved hand, the cowry came along.  The internet reports that collector urchins manipulate objects onto their test with their tube feet.  And there are reports of the adhesives that all urchins produce to seal leaks in their various hydraulic systems.  In my quick search I could not find a description of the adhesive used on the outside of collector urchins to secure runaway hermit crabs, but I can report that the adhesion was impressive.

    Once liberated from his new host, I positioned the cowry shell this way and that in hopes that in hopes that the blood hermit crab (for that is surely what this hermit was) would make an appearance.  In my experience, this species of hermit is often found in tritons, but i have seen it in auger shells, as well.  This was the first time I have seen a blood hermit in a cowry shell.

   Three times the hermit made an escape when I was otherwise occupied.  After his third disappearance, I called it a day.  God willing, he is out there making new crabs even as you read these words.

     I see a blood hermit about once a year and, despite not getting a picture, I got a good look and it was a great end to the aloha snorkel.  Look for our blogs from Mexico.

Hasta luego,
jeff

   While we are in Oregon our good friends from Calgary, Anita and Brian will be looking after Casa Ono.  Anita will attempt to hold up the fish watching end while Brian sips a cool drink and edits science fiction novels.  

Snorkeling With Bart O'Kavanaugh

   This week the blog comes to you from the land of Bart O'Kavanaugh, where up is down, things go

Bart O'Kavanaugh.  I think I'm going to ralph.

sideways and, when all else fails, you can have another beer.  Beer is a judicial beverage.  I like beer.   So does Bart.

  A couple days ago I went snorkeling down at the pier.  the giant cruise ship that goes back and forth between Vancouver and Sydney was anchored off shore and there was a veritable mob on the mean streets of Kailua.

     While I was getting ready, I had a nice conversation with a young man who had just completed a training swim.  He was from So Cal, down near Oceanside and his uncle lives here in Kailua.  As you might guess, he was here preparing for the Ironman.  And yes, we need to be more careful out on the highways and byways, for the Ironmen are zipping hither and thither on their bicycles.  Best to forego that judicial beverage if you're going to drive in Kona this week.

A trio of juvenile moorish idols, Kailua Bay September 2018

     Considering how many people were hanging around the pier, there were relatively few in the water.  The water was pleasant, in the mid eighties, and not all that cloudy considering that there has
been some pretty good surfing conditions over the last few days.  Not to mention several days of rain.  

    On the way out I saw nothing, but did manage to run into the only other snorkeler in the bay.  Luckily, neither of us was a belligerent swimmer.  We shook hands and promised to meet out at the old airport later in the day where the 100 Keg or Bust event was being hosted by Mark Judge.   What an appropriate name for the purveyor of judicial beverages.  N'est pas?

A flowery flounder regards us with his widely spaced peepers.  Kailua 2018

     Shortly after that friendly collision, I saw a large, pale flatfish.  Despite its lack of remarkable pattern, it was probably a flowery flounder.  to paraphrase John Lennon, "Its all in the eyes, you know."  This guy has widely spaced eyes to the left of his mouth, which, I am sad to say (because I always want it to be a rare fish) is pretty much the end of the story.  Regardless, there is something compelling about these strange, compressed fish who fly across the sand like Alladin's magic carpet.

    Its almost enough to get one humming the eponymous rock classic by Steppenwolf, which I am told was on the sound track of the 100 Keg spectacular out at the Old Airport

    Small groups of juvenile Moorish Idol were in residence and virtually begged to have their picture taken.  And then, close in, I discovered a juvenile barred filefish and a lagoon triggerfish messing with something under a coral.  The spotted juvenile filefish is a late summer specialty.   Ordinarily he

A juvenile (17 perhaps) filefish and a Lagoon Trigger looking for beer.

is quite shy and I don't think I have ever seen him working with another fish ... file, trigger or otherwise.   Eventually the three of us tired of this rendezvous and went our separate ways, the fish to gnaw on a hunk of coral and I, your candidate of choice, in search of a beer.  Did I mention that I like beer?

   Apres swim I was showering with a young, tall gentleman from Australia.  In fact,  he was dousing his children as well as himself.  I asked if he was here for the Ironman and he replied no.  He was off the cruise ship.  Over the next minute or so he revealed that the family of four had flown to LA, gone to Disneyland etc., flown to Vancouver and boarded the ship the very next day.  They were going to disembark a couple days hence and fly home to Sydney from HNL.  Such a family man was this bloke that he called this pilgrimage a holiday.

Photo courtesy of Chuck Hill the Younger.  Preposterous!

    As a bit of a post script, I would like to bring your attention to a photo that found its way into the blog's in-box.  It appears to have been taken on the slopes of Mauna Kea within the last month. When I showed it to Sarah Sanders, she pronounced it preposterous.  But, as Sarah knows, presumably better than most, truth is in the eye of beholder.

jeff