Kona Snorkeling, Fish Watching and Other Adventures: Honokohau Great for Kids!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Honokohau Great for Kids!

Honokohau

Honokohau. The pretty beach and protected bay.

Looking seaward. Note swimmers, dog and dive boat.

    I have now brought you back south so far that you are virtually in Kailua. Honokohau is the boat harbor, where you might board a boat at great expense for day or night snorkeling or deep sea fishing. It is less than a mile south of Costco, home of cheap pizza, steak and gas. Mongo likes the pupus.

Before going further in this description be aware of the Shark Alert. There are now sharks in the recommended snorkeling area, See the blog, Tiger Sharks of Honokohau.

    There is a sweet sandy beach on the south shore outside the harbor entrance. Drive down the palm-lined road, go straight (left) at the Y. Pass all the boats to where you can see the ocean and park on the lava, next to other parked cars. Below and to your left is a small sandy crescent. The route over the lava ridge and across the pahoehoe lava is obvious. If you are reasonably agile, you can do this. Once down, pick a spot for your stuff and get in the water.

     The water you enter is sun warmed and protected by a shallow reef about 15 yards wide. This pond is frequently used by local families with kids and flotation devices. Your family (including keikis with their flotation tube) will be welcome!

A pair of Citrons lived inside the Honokohau reef for a year.

Snorkelers will swim out over the reef. I would not attempt this in rough conditions! The reef bottom is covered with a beautiful lavender weed. Once outside the bay the bottom slopes away amid large boulders.

This place is so good that dive companies motor out of the harbor and anchor right where we are swimming. (If it were me, I might be upset that someone is swimming around the boat I paid beaucoup bucks for and chatting up the skipper.) Sometimes this spot will reveal something very special. Swim out fifty feet seaward of the dive boats...stay inside the green channel buoy! In the water column we have seen Thompson’s Surgeon and Butterfly. Potter’s Angelfish is regular, if deep. Fish hide among the shallow boulders. You might see soldierfish. A few years ago we saw a Fantailed Filefish. Dolphins are common a bit further out. They are in the lane used by returning fishing boats , though, so don’t swim out there. Please be very careful to stay out of the way of the fast moving boats. This is their right of way and they go so fast they would hit you before they saw you.

A perfect Threadfin at Honokoh

There is one significant caveat relating to this wonderful little beach. Over the last ten years it has developed the reputation of being dog friendly. In fact, if you tell someone you are going to "the dog beach", they'll know you mean Honokohau. Beware of Rover’s business and be aware that there is a genre of dog owner that might be deemed thuggish.

The marina is a friendly place full of interesting craft. In the afternoon you might see a returning skipper displaying his catch. There is an acceptable restaurant and shop with amusing T-shirts at the marina. About a quarter mile from the place you parked is a cinder block building with restrooms and sinks.