The Blessings at Paul Allen's Reef

New Construction on the Kalapaana Lava Flow.

     From the fish-finding perspective, things have been pretty quiet lately.  We entertained a visitor (Sandra's son) last week.  He went swimming with us a couple times, but we also did some of the things that you only do with guests.  Like driving to the volcano and then back to Kailua over the Saddle Road.  It was interesting to see the homes built on the recent lava flow at Kalapaana.  There were over a dozen new dwellings in Madame Pele's neighborhood, ranging from shanties to large, luxurious homes.  We have been told that some people received insurance payments predicated on rebuilding.  Never the less, when you see a stick built house resting on a recent lava flow, you have to figure that the occupant is an extreme optomist.  Given a choice, I think I'd rather be neighbors with Mr. Rogers.  All of which has little to do with marine biology.

Momma Humpback and Auntie in False Labor

  We were able to segue a hike to the petroglyphs into a swim at 49 Black Sand Beach.  It was a beautiful day at the Mauna Lani.  Sandra and I saw a pale gray chromis swimming in the cloudy water with some young Hawaiian Sergeants. Its exciting to see something that's not easily identified...we'll let you know if we puzzle it out.  The poor visibility made for an inferior picture, not suitable for publication.  So it goes.  (It always seems to be cloudy at either of the snorkeling sites at the Mauna Lani.)
    The day after Douglas departed,  there were whales to watch.  Therefore, two days ago I spent the day on our lava rock beach watching a pair of whales, presumably an expectant mother and a female attendant known in the  whale-birthing business as Auntie.  They surfaced repeatedly right out front.  The whales were attended by an alternating flotilla of boats and other water craft.  The award for Closest Encounter goes to a board paddler who was about ten feet away from a surfacing humpback.  Many of the surfacings were associated with a great deal of respiratory effort.  I could almost hear the Lamaze instructor coaching the whale to take several small breaths.  Alas, despite all my good thoughts, no baby whale was forthcoming on this Friday the 13th.

Can't a Guy get a little Privacy?

    Saturday between football games, I took myself to Paul Allen's Reef.  The water was calm and clear, but it was usual suspects until the very end.  Just before calling it a day, I swam in the shallows right in front of the King Kamehameha Hotel.  To my delight, I encountered a crab burying itself in the sand.   I scooped it out and discovered that it was a box crab the size and shape of a sea going jewelry case.  A second scooping and I was able to get three quick pictures before my crustacean friend could delve back into his sandy hideaway. 

I recommend a dry white wine with the sushi.

    Today, for the first time in a week, I got to go swimming alone with my sweetie.  We went in front of the King Kam and soon found ourselves on Paul Allen's Reef.  Immediately, Sandra saw an eel behaving strangely.  It turned out to be a Whitemouth Moray with a dead fish in its mouth.  We were able to follow this large eel back and forth.  At one point it regurgitated its fish, but soon had it back on the way down the gullet.  This was the first time I can recall seeing an eel actually eating a fish  (I thought they were supposed to eat crustaceans) and it made for a couple interesting photographs.

Day Octopus,  Paul Allen's Reef,   January 2012

    Abandoning the eel to its supper, we swam out a bit further.  Near the entrance to the estate boat channel I spotted an octopus.  This Day Octopus perched on a coral head about ten feet below the surface.  He generously tolerated our approach.  (I think he liked our song.)  While we watched he turned from yellow to brown with some texture changes thrown in for our delight.  The photos that I am including here are the best I have taken of Day Octopus and i hope you enjoy them.
My good friend Ron Jaecks was planning a trip to Hawaii in a week, but his plans may have been sidetracked by a herniated lumbar disc.  Hopefully, the Holy Ghost will  come to Ron's aid.  With luck, he will look after each of us.
jeff

One last look .