A Conversation with Kathleen Turner or the Revenge of the Bloody Hermit Crab!

   On Wednesday the surf had diminished and it was time to give Kahalu'u a try.  At 8:30 in the morning the pavilion was fairly empty, but our good friend Kathleen Turner, co-star with Michael Douglas in the Joan

Reef Teacher and Co-Star Enjoy a Colombian Bonfire.

Wilder movies, now employed as Reef Teacher-in-Chief, was at her post.  We enjoyed a quick chat during which she told me that the court photographer had recently shot a juvenile Short Nosed Wrasse.  Back in the day, Professor Hillis and I spent many a carefree hour chasing these speckled juveniles around the bay.  I have not seen one there in a year or two, so this gave me something to look for as I made my circuit.

   There is always the possibility that the celebrity reef teacher thinks that I am (how you say?) full of crap.  So just in case she is checking out the blog, I am including two pictures of juvenile Shortnose 

An extreme juvenile Shortnose Wrasse, K Bay 2017

Wrasse taken by yours truly at Kahalu'u.   The most recent shows a very immature fish, a swimming bullet of a baby fish with bizarre, probably non-functional, fins. Light green in color, he boasts a myriad of dandruff-like speckles.  This little bugger darted around in such a way as to make photography a real challenge.  The fact that he was an inch and a half long didn't help.

   

 

 

 

 

 

Shortnose Wrasse Juv., Kahalu'u 2012

 The older photo, taken in 2012, shows a definite juvenile, but one much closer to the initial phase Shortnose Wrasse.  He has traded in those blunt projections that passed for fins for a more traditional set.  He still has diffuse white spotting and nothing approaching the gorgeous multicolored rows of the adult, which is truly a gorgeous fish.

    The celebrity reef teacher did not show me the pictures taken by the court photographer, so I didn't know which end of the spectrum, maturity-wise, that I might be seeking.

    For my part, I encouraged Kathleen, who as it turns out is not married to Michael Douglas (or his progeny), to visit Bali.  I emphasized my usual selling points: cheap lodging, incredible fish watching and the fascinating Hindu culture replete with ancient temples and macabre funeral processions.  I mean, what's not to like?  I left out the part where the Indonesian government has promised me a lifetime supply of arak if I can actually convince someone to visit.  

Strawberry Drupe Home to a juvenile Bloody Hermit Crab

    Come to think of it, three years ago I did convince Peter and Marla to go to Bali (they loved it so much they returned the following year) and I never got my arak.  What's up with that? 

    Kathleen seemed interested, although she noted that the aforementioned husband is a surfer. Commensurate with that avocation he already has Bali on his radar.  Ms. Turner allowed that this would involve some cooperation and accommodation, but that cheap and awesome are outstanding characteristics in a vacation spot.

   For my part, I forwarded to her links to blogs from 2014 and 2017.  I can already taste that fiery arak as it slashes down my gullet.

   My trip around the bay was pleasant, if a bit mundane, but with one exception.  On the way out, I spotted a strawberry drupe heavily coated with red coralline algae.  On closer inspection, I noted that a hermit crab claw was placed strategically across the opening, serving as an ersatz operculum.  Although that claw looked mighty familiar, no amount of coaxing could lure this small decapod from his lair and

Bloody Hermit, juv.  Note the hairy legs and the red elbow patch.

an identification could not be made on the basis of that one cheliped.  And so I completed my otherwise uneventful circuit.  

    As is my habit, after completing my turn around the bay, I swam back up the middle for one last try.  I found the fine strawberry drupe with the reticent crab and a short distance away I discovered a similarly sized shell so worn that, if you weren't suspicious, might be passed off as an encrusted rock.  But no! Inside the opening I spied a claw identical to the the one in the drupe.  

    So how do you coax a recalcitrant hermit crab?  A good trick is to place the shell aperture side down on a relatively flat surface, and hope that the crab emerges and begins to walk. The first crab,in the fine strawberry drupe shell, did not fall for this trick.  In the above picture you will note the shell is in the aperture down position, all to no avail.  On this day the current was mild and the shell of number two stayed out in a shallow depression on top of a large piece of dead coral..  After a minute or so, I began to see some small movement.  Finding a handhold about two feet away, I swam

The Bloody Hermit Crab watches us from over his shoulder.

down, grabbed on and twisted my body, while fighting a small but definite current that wanted me to bend in a dramatically different direction.  In this way I was able to get a shot at the small  creature poking his antennae out from beneath the lip of the shell.   Not a bad piece of underwater gymnastics for an old goat who had just checked the 70 and over box.

    After another minute the crab wandered over the edge of the rubble and fell into the crevice from which he was initially plucked.  Upside down, he extended his eye stalk fully and watched me, over his shoulder, as it were.

    On the way in I encountered the Saddleback Butterfly pair, but little else.

    When I got ashore I discovered that Kathleen Turner had gone swimming with her clipboard, doing her monthly survey.  We chatted with Vincenzo for a few minutes and then headed back to the ranch.  The pictures of the crab, when I finally

Another beautiful Saddleback Butterfly at Kahalu'u

got them on the computer, revealed a small blood crab, Dardanus sanguinocarpus.  It is safe to say that shell number one harbored another of the same species.  Although there are larger species, this is the largest hermit crab that I see in the local bays.  This individual though wasn't all that big; he and his friend, who was resting five feet away are the first two juvenile Bloody Hermit Crabs that I have encountered.  This is a good thing. A breeding stock survives and we can look forward to more encounters with this species.    I assume that Kathleen made it ashore, but if you want to check up on her feel free to email KTurner96740@moviestar/reefteacher.org.  She always responds, but in this instance it might take awhile.

jeff

Shortnose Wrasse, Kailua Kona Pier, May 2013

Another look at the red elbow

   

A Few Friendly Fish in Kailua

Rainbow Runner, Kailua Bay 2017

     Through out the state, great surfing conditions persisted for most of the week.  Luckily, here in Kailua Kona when the swell is coming from the north, Kailua Bay is largely spared.  Looking for some water suitable for snorkeling, we took a dip on the Ironman side of the pier on Tuesday. As I had hoped, the bay was fairly flat, although, commensurate with the high energy conditions out in the ocean, there was some sand suspended in the otherwise calm water.  

    I spent 40 minutes paddling around.  It certainly was great to get out swimming in the ocean, especially when the people in Texas were wading in frigid water collecting in their living rooms.  However, the sad fact is that I was seeing relatively few fish. Certainly nothing special.  Towards the end of the swim, I had a brief encounter with a jack cruising through the coral rubble near the seawall.  About 16 inches in length, it was a shiny sea green and had a deeply forked tail. It cruised by me, giving me a fine look at the tail as

Opelu (Not Rainbow Runners!) 2013, Kailua Bay

it turned around the coral.  And then it was gone.  

   Suffice it to say, this was unusual and it wasn't until I got home and looked through the books that I decided that this was a rainbow runner.  Under the tutelage of Professor Robert Hillis, just this side of a decade in the past, I have refined my rainbow running diagnostic abilities.  This is an uncommon fish, usually seen in deeper water.  Occurring singly, the Rainbow Runner is definitely not an opelu, that smaller, shiny blue mackerel that we see in frenetic schools.  And contrary to the name, it isn't especially pretty.  You might expect it to have a flashy red stripe on the side, similar to a Rainbow Trout.  On the rare occasion I see one, they are  steely gray above and lighter below with a darker stripe down the lateral line.  The ones I see are less than two feet in length, but the books say they can grow to four feet.  As far as I can remember, which at this stage ain't sayin' much, I have never seen a green one, but John Hoover says they can come in a range of grayish tones, form bluish to greenish.

    Before moving on I have to leave you with two quotes:

Otto to KKK Ken, "Don't eat the green ones, they're not ripe yet."

Yellow Subamarine, "Funny, you don't look bluish."

Kevin Kline in A Fish called Wanda, "Don't eat the green ones, they're not ripe yet."

   Mid-week, or Hump Day, as we are reminded nightly on the Geico commercial which appears just before Final Jeopardy, Sandra and I went to our favorite butterfly bush, the crown milkweed tree behind the library.  This was a great choice as the area was literally swarming with monarch butterflies.  We found several caterpillars and two or three chrysalis. The highlight, though, was a pair of monarchs flopping beneath the bush, locked in a cunjugal embrace.  

    Being the voyeur that she is, schmoopie caught the pair in the act.  Photographically, that is. She sent the picture to Cousin Don back in New Hampshire.  Being snowed in, he had nothing better to do and improved the image and that is what you see here.

Monarchs In Love.  Photo by SKG, Graphics by Don Batkins

  

    All of which reminds me of the old Sioux Indian story.  One day a young boy emerged from the teepee and confronted his father.  "Father" he implored, "Why do I have such a peculiar name?"  "Well, my son," the brave answered, "In our tribe, the day a child is born, the father greets the great spirit and the next thing he sees becomes the child's name.  That is why your sister is named Running Deer and your brother is named Badger Digging a Hole.  And that my son, is why you are known as the Two Butterlies In Love."

    Suffice it to say, I cleaned the story up the story a trifle in case any impressionable children start reading the blog under the covers.

Pearl Wrasse Female  Kahalu'u 2021

    Thursday Sandra and performed some death defying surgery on a tree that was touching the roof,  filled the Honda with branches and transported them to the dump in Waikoloa. By early afternoon we were down at Kahalu'u.  After a quick konichiwa with Yasuko and Vince, I was in the cool, clear water. Although there are not a gazillion fish at K Bay, the fish watching there is currently much better than at the pier.  And by some miracle, the homeless are prevented from congregating and camping in the park.

    Hoping for a photo, I first checked the area where we saw the Leaf Scorpionfish a week ago.  Of course he wasn't there, but I did find a large female Pearl Wrasse in the turbulent water that prevails in that corner of the bay.  Perhaps I should send this photo to Señor Batkins and see if he can sharpen it up.  In any event, I'm sure you get the idea and rejoice that such a fish can still be found at K Bay.

Ring Tail Wrasse,   February 2021

     Shortly after that, out in the middle, I encountered a Ring Tail Wrasse.  This fish can be spotted in deeper water or in the relatively peaceful bays.  He has an unmistakable profile and is often approachable as he looks for something to eat among the nooks and crannies of the coral. 

As I swam around the bay, I saw a few good fish, but nothing special.  Finally I made it over to the area by the breakwater.  In some clear water I had a close encounter with a large male ember parrotfish who remained still for a nice picture.  Nothing earthshaking, but a pleasant end to the week.

jeff

Ember Parrotfish, Kahalu'u  February 2021

A second look at the Ring Tail Wrasse showing off some terminal red.

    

The Leaf Scorpiofish Part II

       What a difference a day can make.  Saturday morning Sandra and I made it down to Kahalu'u at 8:15.  It was a gorgeous morning, but the placid pond in which I did my hunting the day before had turned into a wave swept challenge.  The day before a hand full of surfers sat on their boards at the end of the breakwater, bobbing ever so gently in the minimal swell.  On Saturday excellent surfing conditions prevailed.  Waves swept from the open end of the bay right in to the opening by the shelter.

    Sandra stood by our table in the shelter holding her wet suit up in front of her.  She was game, but this really wasn't the day for her to go swimming.  We decided that she would spot me while I swam over to the Rescue Shelter to see if I could find the Leaf Scorpionfish.  

    Entry was interesting.  I waited for a couple waves to fill the entry then I pushed off holding my fins in one hand and fending off with the other while the current swept me out through the narrow, rocky opening.  On my way out I spotted a turtle who probably had as much on his mind as I did.  Once I was washed into the bay,  I put on my fins and swam over to the boulders by the shelter.  There was plenty of current and every minute or so a set would crash against the sea wall.  

   I had my landmarks in mind.  The small stick that was so helpful the day before was long gone.  I was able to line up the second palm tree with the protruding remnant of the wall and after washing back, forth and around for five minutes,  I finally located the rock that was to be my handhold and marked the spot where the fish had been the day before. Of course, there was no way I could use a handhold, unless I was willing to risk dislocating my shoulder.  And so I washed around passing over the boulders between which the scorpionfish might be cowering.  I never saw it and I suspect that he had chosen to take the day off.

   Watching from shore, Sandra thought that I got within ten feet of the seawall.  I think it might be more like twenty.  Whatever it was, when those waves crashed in and washed me over the shallow boulders if was pretty interesting.

    After twenty minutes of this nonsense, I turned around and headed for the barn.  As I approached the entry I encountered a really strong current flushing out. Unlike what I expected, this wasn't waxing and waning, it was more or less constant.  Could it be that water is entering in over the shallow reef seaward of the entry and then finding the course of least resistance through the narrow channel that leads snorkelers home?  

    As I was marshaling my energies to swim against the current, I was joined by the turtle.  He  was swimming about three feet to my right.  He looked over at me and said, "I'll race you to the beach."  Turtles are amazing.  Here I was swimming just about as hard as I can and he didn't seem to be working at all;  I could barely detect any flipper action as he paced me.

    Well, we did not find the Leaf Scorpionfish, but it was fun trying.  Perhaps the surf will come down in a day or two and we can have another try.  

Knowing that many of you look to the blog for a picture or two of reef fish, regardless of the verbiage.  With that in mind, here is a sweet and short video of a supermale Saddle Wrasse flapping his fins at Kahalu'u on a clam day about a week ago.  Enjoy.

jeff

Something Special at Kahalu'u

     Finally, after what seems like an eternity, I have a good fish story for you.  But first I have to update you on Things in the frozen northland.  Two nights ago we received a call from our friends John and Verna Slater who live, like lots of other people who (used to) come to Kona for the winter, on Vancouver Island.  At some point or another they have appeared in the blog...John throwing Verna off the rocks into the fishpond at Kona Makai, Verna getting wrapped up on landing at Beach 69, etc.  You may think that it sucks to be Verna, but that is far from the case. 

    At any rate, they called because, as far as I can tell, they thought if they talked to us for half an hour it would be almost like they were in Hawaii, maybe they would feel a bit warmer, possibly their Canadian white skin would turn a bit pink.  The sad truth is, they are stuck in Canada much like we are stuck here.  In our case, one would have to be crazy to face the rampant virus on the mainland if they didn't have to.  In the case of the Canadians, they are convinced that if they leave, the province won't let them back in.   

    Many of us are waiting our turn for a vaccine.  Hawaii isn't unique in having very little to spare and the likelihood that I'm going to get one in the arm anytime soon is poor.  The Canadians have a peculiar twist on the scenario.  It seems there was a national mandate that prisoners and First Nations (we call them Indians, feathers not spots) would get vaccinated first.  In the case of both B.C. and Alberta, those groups were dutifully vaccinated, following which the cupboard was bare.  The Slaters have an elderly friend who went to get a vaccine.  When she got tho the front of the line the nice lady asked her if she was an Indian. Receiving a negative response she was told to beat it.  

    Unlike the U.S., Canada has no more vaccine on the horizon.  the company that their government has been working with is producing a product with dismal efficacy.

    Now that you are up to date on current events, we can get on with the fish story.    

   This morning I got dropped off at Kahalu'u and Sandra headed up to the KTA where she was bound to see more interesting fish in the deli than I would see in the bay.  Soon I was sitting in the freezing water,  putting on my fins. As I sat,I realized that I had forgotten the camera.  Was this a harbinger of something special?  

     Moments later, I rounded the first corner, into the bay, where the water was marginally warmer.  Immediately I happened upon a lady foundering on the rocks.  I surfaced and asked if she was alright.  She said her mask was fogged and she couldn't find the entrance.  She didn't ask for any more help so I assured her she was almost there, a few yards and turn right.

    I then enjoyed a brisk swim in the clear water, encountering nothing that would require the camera.   After twenty minutes, I was on the mauka side of the bay in the rocks by the rescue shelter. Poking around I spied a Leaf Scorpionfish.  He was propped between two rocks in such away that one had to be in just the right position to see him. Luckily there was a well positioned boulder sculpted with a hand hold.  

   If one were to ask what color he was, the quick answer would be black.  In fact, this was an elegant fish.  He was a dark gray on the flanks with ashy margins to his feathery dorsal fin.

Before leaving the fish, I took a careful look around, noting a stick wedged in the water, my distinctive hand hold, a distinctive rock and a certain palm.   I was then able to swim away and return to find the fish for a second look. 

    It is well known that Leaf Scorpionfish will return to the same perch day after day (Krottje and Hill, 2017, unpublished data).  With this in mind, tomorrow morning we are bundling Sandra up in her wet suit and heading back to "the spot" with the hopes of finding, and photographing, the Leaf. wish us luck.

jeff

 

   

Kawaihae with the Cat Wrangler

Tom Brady, Patron Saint of Old Guys

    Last Sunday was the Super Bowl.  A relatively older guy turned out to be the dominant player.  At some point in the third quarter, one of the announcers said, "For all you kids out there, Tom Brady is old enough to be your father."  Well, I am old enough to be Tom Brady's father.  In fact, he could have a significantly older brother and this could still be the case.  So, hurray for old guys.  

      Yesterday Sandra and I went snorkeling with Jon and Susan Menton at Kawaihae Harbor.  They are

Susan looking for a victim beneath the second platform.

accomplished swimmers and snorkelers but had never gone looking for the little stuff.  As part of my due diligence, I asked one of their fellow reef teachers about their swimming ability.  Vincent gave them high marks, saying that they swim around the point at Keahou Bay to look at mantas in the ocean.  He also noted that Susan takes some good pictures of fish.  I thought I would check this out by perusing her Facebook page.  In addition to finding lots of good fish pictures, I discovered that she is the self styled Cat Wrangler.  Prominently placed on her Facebook page is a picture of Susan on the outside of a slider with five cats adoring her, through the glass, from the living room.

Cup Corals  photo Susan Menton

    We met Jon and Susan at Kawaihae at 9:30.  The four of us enjoyed a chat with Hai and Lottie, while whales surfaced half a mile offshore.  Nai'a is walking now and Sandra took a short stroll, bestowing a Baby Luau gift at the same time.  Such a precocious young lady, Lottie held the ABC book while Nai'a opened it and turned the pages! 

   Just as we were about to enter the water, Peter and Marla showed up.  Peter explained that Marla couldn't swim that day, but that he would catch up with us out among the platforms.  Soon all four of us were in the cold, turbid water.  Although it was very cloudy there was hardly any plankton.  No wonder the whales were remaining outside the harbor. 

    We worked the first platform for a few minutes.  There were no nudibranchs and very few fish.  This would turn out to be the first time that I have snorkeled at Kawaihae, and not seen a single juvenile Hawaiian Damsel. Things weren't looking good at the second platform until deep inside I found one minuscule nudibranch.  I identified it as a painted, although at less than a centimeter in length and about 2 cms in width, it was so small that only a photograph would determine its true identity.  I nabbed a quick photo and then cleared the way for Susan and Jon to enjoy this tiny mollusc. 

Trembling Nudibranch, Kawaihae February 2021 S. Menton

    Out beside the third platform Peter caught up with us.  After introductions he noted that we were all members of the red TG 6 club, that being the camera that all three of us were using.   Then, having seen nothing earth shaking, we headed across the harbor to the breakwater where Sandra and I located the cup corals, a life species for the Mentons. Peter once again caught up with us, this time telling us that he had to go back soon as this was his anniversary.  

   Having hit the sure things as hard as we could, we headed back.  Sandra went to the beach while the remaining freezing three of us looked for nudibranchs.  Finally on the second platform I found a large Trembling Nudibranch and stepped aside so Susan could apply her skills.  Here is her best photo of this trembling.  At the time she said that she was shivering so badly that she couldn't hold the camera still.  I think she did pretty well.  I was darn glad at having found one that was big enough to enjoy. 

    John wasn't wearing a stitch of neoprene and said that he hadn't been so cold since he swam off Monterey five years ago (where the water was in the mid 60s!), but I wasn't done torturing them.  We had to stop at the first platform to dive for Banded Coral Shrimp.  I remember the first time Hai

Banded coral Shrimp, Kawaihae 2021

instructed me to dive down five feet or so, hold on and then look up into a crevice to see the shrimp.  At the time I felt this fell just short of water boarding.  Nevertheless, Jon and Susan had paid the full price for the tour and this was included.  I worked my way around the platform, diving likely spots and found one on my third attempt.  It was four feet down and back in a crevice, the hand hold being another foot or so deeper.  I dove a second time,  got the picture you see, and pointed into the crevice.  This isn't a very good picture but it gave them an idea of what they were looking for. Neither of my friends were wearing weights, so they were at a remarkable disadvantage.  But it was good that they got a chance to try out this new skill....modified waterboarding. 

    We all enjoyed being back on shore, warming up.  As we drove away we shouted, "Happy anniversary!" to Peter and Marla and Happy Birthday to Nai'a.  

Tiny Trembling Nudibranch, Susan Menton

    It wasn't until later that I looked at my picture of that tiny nudibranch at the second platform.  My picture, albeit a poor one, showed that it was clearly a trembling nudibranch. Considering that she
hasn't had a lot of experience taking pictures of tiny animals underwater, Susan got a pretty good shot of this trembling that was just a little bigger than a self respecting grain of rice. I had never seen one anywhere near this small.  Note that there is no evidence of larval variation; it is a very small replica of the adult,.  

    I hope you enjoyed Susan's pictures and I leave you with one thought:  Next time you need to employ a guide, don't discount the old guy.  With any luck you'll get Tom Brady!

jeff

On Friday the surf was so high that Kahalu'u Beach Park was closed.  We had hoped to find Jon and Susan there at lunch time, but instead ended up dining al fresco at our favorite picnic spot which is near the Sheraton.  After lunch, Sandra captured this video of the surf crashing onto the far point and erupting into the nearby blowhole.  

      

Time Marches On and the Old Airport Arboretum

    In a week I will check a new box, the one that says 70 to 75. In the State of Hawaii, that and 25 cents will NOT get you a cup of coffee (Kona or otherwise) or a Covid vaccination. Out here in the middle of the Pacific Ocean we are seriously under supplied and, as we a frequently told, every state is different.

I'm just glad that a few of you out there in blog land have received your vaccine. 

    While bemoaning the slim chances that I will join the vaccinatti in the near future I composed the following lyrics.  Before proceeding, you might enjoy this video in which the Irish Rovers sing Whiskey in the Jar, the obvious mold upon which my virus infused ballad is set.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYGyERe2Vbw

There's Covid in the Jar  

As I was goin’ up over Cork and Kerry Mountain

I came on Captain Farrell and his vaccines he was countin’.

Well first I pulled my pistol and then I produced my rapier.

I said” “Stand and deliver for I ate a bat for dinner.”

With a ring ding danby dar.

Whack-o the daddy-o, whack-o the daddy-o, There’s Covid in the jar.

Well I gathered up his vials and it was a dozen doses,

I took them home to Jenny ‘cause she had a zoonosis.

She should not have gone to China and had pangolin for dinner.

And that monkey spleen tartar was surely not a winner

With a ring ding danby dar.

Whack-o the daddy-o, whack-o the daddy-o, There’s Covid in the jar.

Well I gave my love a shot and she started feelin’ better.

Her lips went from blue to pink and she doffed her woolen sweater.

But I was feelin’ woozy, so I went upstairs to slumber

Then Jenny sold my syringes, though they was a pretty number.

With a ring ding danby dar.

Whack-o the daddy-o, whack-o the daddy-o, There’s Covid in the jar

Now I’m in the ICU and I’m feelin’ mighty ill.

They say I caught the variant that started in Brazil.

I’d like to see my brother, though that might happen later.

But I don’t think that I’ll be able if I’m on the ventilator.

With a ring ding danby dar.

Whack-o the daddy-o, whack-o the daddy-o, There’s Covid in the jar

Coral Blenny Female, Kahalu'u February 2021

(Whisper)   There’s covid in the jar

 

Hopefully you paid careful attention to the video so you could rip off the four quick claps before the 

chorus. 

 

This week was one of storms, replete with wind and rain. We only went snorkeling once and it was

 disappointing. The only picture worth a hoot is this one of a female coral blenny. I can recall a couple

 years ago sitting in the living room of Martin and Gail DeLuke, two of our faithful readers. The DeLukes 

were regaling us with pictures of the fish they had taken in Kona and in the process threw up one of 

a female coral blenny. The fish was positioned in such a way that it utterly defeated me. Sandbagged!

 Hopefully you can make heads or tails out of this humble effort. In any event, Gail, this one is for you.

 

 

Maybe a Prickly Pear blooming in Runway Park

Just today we were supposed to go snorkeling with the Jon and Susan Menton's up in Kawaihae. 

The Menton's are Reef Teachers at Kahal'u and this was to be our first outing together. Yesterday there

 were flash floods in Kohala, a brown water alert was issued, and so our nudibranching has been

 rescheduled for Monday.

 

Instead, Sandra and I took a walk on my beloved's new favorite path, the arboretum / walking trail / cat

 sanctuary hard by the runway at the Old Airport. Early in our walk we discovered a charming cactus

 garden at the south end. Best of all, several of the cacti were in bloom.  Aside from Candelabra Cactus

 and Prickly Pear (maybe) we found one small cactus that seemed to be growing a giant tomatillo from

 amid its spikes.

 

We took pictures of the flowering succulents and moved on. This really is a wonderful place to take

 a walk, both for exercise and also to view what in my experience is a Kona curiosity on steroids. 

 This .7 mile loop contains an arboretum cared for by the community and, at the north end, a large 

shaded grassy area with a few benches. Here you find Cat Ladies in all their glory. The ladies bring 

small carts filled with everything a feline could want. Although these are feral cats, they have been

 re-domesticated to the extent that they crawl over the ladies, allowing themselves to be petted and, 

of course, named. On a previous visit we watched one of the older ladies grooming Spot. This

morning, we chatted with a younger, but no less avid, cat lady who was playing with Skipper. You'd play

too if someone had just fed you a can of Chicken of the Sea!  

A Strange Fruit Growing in this Cactus

everything a feline could want. Although these are feral cats, they have been re-domesticated to the 

extent that they crawl over the ladies, allowing themselves to be petted and, of course, named. On a 

previous visit we watched one of the older ladies grooming Spot. This morning, we chatted with a

 younger, but no less avid, cat lady who was playing with Skipper. You'd play too if someone had just 

fed you a can of Chicken of the Sea!  

 

All this may seem harmless, if a tiny bit eccentric. However the Runway Park boasts not just cats 

but a fine tribe of mongeese. Mongooses are legion on Hawaii Island. They were introduced originally 

to catch rats, who were introduced by the Hawaiians to attract Alaskan Spottted Owls, our much 

beloved Pueo. Well, maybe the Polynesians didn't know why they were introducing the rats. But the

idea that the mongooses are putting even a tiny dent in the rat population is equally far fetched. And 

why should they when they can eat cat food? On our previous visit the lady feeding Spot allowed that 

she had a loyal family of 25 cats and 22 mongeese, I swear, as we watched the mongeese were 

crawling on her. 

 

At this point it is good to point out that there is no rabies on this island.

 

On our walk a few days ago, I noted the Super Bowl was coming up and in the spirit of American-

Is it Tom Brady deflating the balls?  photo by SKG

style competition, I pitted the Cats against the Marmots (see the big Lebowski for a complete

 explanation). As we walked the loop the Marmots took an early lead, It was 19 to 7 as we approached

 the meadow. Three cat ladies were holding court and by the time we were on the home stretch it was 

 32 to 25 in favor of the felines. By the time we made it to the car, the Cats had held on for a narrow win,

 34 to 32, We didn't count the Tom, who was sitting in the car park grooming himself. He was clearly 

out of play. And I didn't say licking his...whoops, that was a close one.

 

Well, you be the judge... Does Tom Brady look more like a Cat or a Marmot? Enjoy the Superbowl 

but be careful if your mother offers tuna dip at halftime.

 

jeff 

 

 

 

Candelabra Cactus blooming at the Old Airport

 

Editors note: Tom Brady achieved a modicum of infamy by ordering the deflating of the footballs

 before the 2014 AFC Championship Game versus Indianapolis. As far as we know he has no

 urological experience.
 

 

 

Yellowtail Coris and Elegant Hermits at Kahalu'u

Elegant Hermit Crab, Kahalu'u 2021

 Last Friday I went swimming at Kahalu'u with a goal.  It is apparent that Elegant Coris is no longer prevalent at Kahalu'u, but it occurred to me that no one was looking for the juveniles which are much less obvious than the adults.  I reasoned that a juvenile or two might be found if I investigated a number of mixed juvenile schools.
 

    I did find several schools of juveniles poking around in the rubble.  Saddle and Belted wrasse, Bullethead and Ember parrotfish were well represented, but I did not find a single Elegant Coris in these mixed schools of juveniles.  Sadly, this is what I expected.  

   I did turn up a couple nice Elegant hermit crabs.  The first was sitting on a ledge eating his lunch and I was able to nab his photo without bothering him.  As you can see the shell he is wearing is so worn as to make identification difficult. 

Elegant hermit Crab in Small Strawberry Drupe, Kahalu'u 2021

    The second of these hermits attracted my attention because of the shell he was calling home.  I saw a small, nicely horned strawberry drupe clinging to the side of a large piece of rubble. I plucked it and saw the hermit crab inside.  As I often do, I put the shell in a depression with the aperture facing up.  The crab came out immediately, waving his arms, hoping for some purchase. If you looked at it in the right way you might think he was beckoning for assistance. Doesn't he look cute with the corona of protuberances, like a crown or a bonnet.  Don't worry.  I returned him aperture down to a coral niche, safe and sound.

 

 

     Towards the end of the swim I encountered a large number and variety of fish chilling in the pahoehoe lava near the entrance. Chilling is the right word as the water is now about 72 degrees.  I'm presenting here short movies of both a large male Yellowtail Coris and a handsome female / initial phase.  They are both pretty fish.  I have always loved the constellation of shiny blue spots on the flank of the female.  

   In the video you can really appreciate the way this species is constantly checking out the bottom, poking at the substrate and turning over rocks, while looking for a tasty invertebrate. 

    Where ever you are, I hope you are staying safe.  And if you can't be in the water looking for fish perhaps you can dream up a reef of your own.

jeff