Kona Snorkeling, Fish Watching and Other Adventures: Pier Beats City. Details at 11.

This week Sandra and I are hosting two of our dearest friends, who have come to Hawaii to enjoy the fish,

Christmas Wrasse, City of Refuge, August 2013

the Kilauea volcano, the Mauna Kea Observatory And, of course, the excellent company. The first day was dedicated to fine cuisine, etc. and the telling of lies. On day two, it was time to hit the water.

We always start at the pier. Its the safe place to make sure all systems are go. On this day there was a modest swell and the water was fairly cloudy. Brad and Dale enjoyed the fish and the delightful cool water, but it was far from the best possible show.

Having consumed a variety of barbecued fish the night before, we set out for City of Refuge the next day. The Painted Church and the Pu'u Honua were excellent. The park was hosting a large blubbery monk seal, replete with a childish autobiography, indubitably composed by one of the twenty somethings, looking cute in her Smokey the Bear Hat.

Loco Moco, Breakfast of Surfers (and Snorkelers)

    After the requisite Tiki Face picture, we headed over to the Two Step entry. City was pristine, with flat, crystal clear water. There was the usual group of Thompson's Butterflyfish accompanied by Three Spot Chromis and Hawaiian Dascyllus. In the corner, Dale spotted a gorgeous Christmas Wrasse. This fish is becoming progressively less common and I'm treasuring every encounter. Good spotting, Dale! Otherwise, it was usual suspects.

     That evening our guests took us out to the Big Island Grill. B.I.G. was hopping with noisy locals meeting and greeting. I ordered the loco moco. In the past, we have left it to the children to order this famous surfer dish. A large bed of rice, a heaping helping of roast pork, two fried eggs, bathed overall with brown gravy. It was yummy and it took me two days to finish the scrumptious left overs.

     All of which brings us to yesterday. Our guests had departed to try their hand at volcano watching and Sandra and I, left to roast in Kailua, repaired to the pier for a swim. The water in the bay was refreshing and dramatically more clear than it was two days earlier.   We'd been swimming for only a few

Nesting Night Sergeant, Kailua Pier, August 2013

minutes when Sandra called me over to the sea wall. She had discovered a large Green Sea Turtle feasting on the algae growing inside an even larger tire. As I watched the turtle, a Night Sergeant made a couple runs at me. It seemed that he was protecting a nest inside the tire.

A bit further out, we encountered a Zebra Moray Eel, slithering around on an afternoon hunt. While I was fiddling with the camera, Sandra watched the eel catch a small fish. How exciting is that?

Way out in front of the palace, we saw a single Saddleback Butterflyfish. Turning seaward, I was virtually in the middle of the bait ball of Big Eyed Scad. This time the ball was composed of large adult fish. Previously, we reported on an interaction with Black Durgons. They were present, but so were a variety of other fish. A bevy of Ringtailed Surgeon were on the bottom and a large

Lined Butterflyfish Accompany the Bait Ball

school of Lined Butterflyfish was hanging with the scads, as well. The bait ball, as always, creeped out my swimming companion, who kept her distance while I dived into, and otherwise annoyed, the enormous school of silvery fish.

Soon we headed for home. Opposite the outermost swim buoy, in about fifteen feet of water, I spotted a very small Day Octopus. Initially, he was white, which is a pretty unusual appearance for this animal. Soon he changed colors and textures, blending in with his background. He permitted us to watch him for about five minutes, swimming and perching twice, until he disappeared into a crevice. What a treat.
I sang him the Octopus Doxology and we headed on in.

Be you in Honaunau or downtown Kailua, there is always a chance that some excellent animals are waiting to say hello.