This week we are enjoying a visit with Kathy and her entourage from Oregon They visited us five years ago and have come close to returning several times. Covid and other factors always prevented their return. But Hurray! They finally made it. And today we met at Kahalu'u for a reunion snorkel outing,
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| A sole milletseed hangs on at Kahalu'u |
Kathy and her entourage beat us to the Beach Park and by the time we arrived, she had already made friends with Yasuko. Yasuko is an Osaka girl which just happens to be the village where Kathy's son lives, and is happily married, working a sensei teaching English. Truly a small world experience, involving a monster of a metropolis (Kyoto-Osaka.)
The spice (which the blog lexicographer assures me is the preferred plural for spouses) hung out in the shelter while Kathy, Kent and yours truly were swimming in the bay. We had scored a day with extremely low surf; the bay was cool, clear and calm. Immediately on entering, I was able to show Kathy our resident Pearl Wrasse. Kent missed it because he was ogling a trio of smaller Green Sea Turtles. He got some great pictures, and we are hoping he figures out a way to get them out of Kathy's camera and into my computer.)
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| The Day Octopus hangs above the coral |
We enjoyed a nice look at a Milletseed Butterfly, and a miter, which I delicately extricated from the sand without harming the snail living inside this long, tapered shell. We then headed out, still pretty close to the entry. Suddenly Kathy pointed ahead, where only twenty feet away a medium sized octopus was suspended above the coral. His legs dangled down below his drooping proboscis. It was a remarkable look, and as we kept our distance, he remained suspended in the water.
Usually, we see octopus sitting on the coral, or more likely, scooting under the coral. Sometimes we see them scooting rapidly from one spot to another. Rarely do we see them suspended in mid-water. But this guy was suspended above the coral, much like that apparition that rises from the tub in the Wizard of Id. I guess you have to be old enough to remember that wry comic ghost. As it turns out, the octopus has a swim bladder, similar to that in fish. Another instance where highly unrelated species, a bony vertebrate and a mollusk, have evolved essentially the same organ to conquer the same problem...buoyancy. The swim bladder is filled with gas which allows the fish or octopus to adjust his level in the water.
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| If I wait long enough, I'm sure he'll go away. |
I got the picture you see here. As is so often my experience, the octopus seems to have defeated the camera. Looking back, I wonder just how clear a look I got at this amazing animal. I swam around and got another picture after he receded into the coral, which is more defined.
We swam the bay, enjoying the usual suspects which included a Stripe Belly Puffer.
And that was about it. Everyone survived and we were prepared for another adventure the next day.
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The next day involved some extra planning. We had decided to go to the pier, where everyone, even the less enthusiastic and able swimmers, could have a safe experience. With this in mind, and the shower facilities closed, Sandra and I arrived early with five gallons of water, so the multitude could wash off after the communal dip.
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| Spotted Linkia Starfish, Kailua Kona 12/24 |
I parked the car and returned and soon Kathy, Vernon, and Kent arrived. What? No Wendy? Wendy had opted for a massage in lieu of an ablution. Not only that, but it was now revealed that Vernon had decided that he was a non-swimmer and was going to hang out elsewhere while the snorkeling occurred. So, we were down to four snorkelers and a remarkable excess of rinse water.
As the ability level had risen, we decided to swim on the Paul Allen side. The water in the Inner Harbour was chilly, but on the way out I saw a pretty Spotted Linkia Starfish clinging to a rock near King Kamehameha's heiau. This would prove to be the outstanding species for this outing.
We had a nice swim. Kathy fell in love with the Four Spot Butterflyfish and Kent found a Crown of Thorns Starfish. Best of all, Sandra completed her first snorkel in over a year with no jaw pain. Hijinks will ensue!
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| Kathy's new favorite: the Fourspot Butterfly |
So we all walked back to where the cars were parked. I loaned our guests a couple field guides. And Sandra and I headed back to the pier where we had left our gallons of fresh water and much of our gear. Sandra waited in the car while I went to the cubbies and loaded up with fins and bags of equipment. Two steps later I tripped on a curb. It a short curb and one might not even know it was there if they didn't trip over it. People in every direction asked if I was all right. And I lied, as us serial fall takers are wont to do, and said, sure, I'm fine.
Of course, I wasn't fine. Both feet were scuffed up and I had a divot in my right great toe as big as a peanut M&M. And a bruise on my hip. Not to mention severely wounded pride.
Oh well. We took the next day off and the adventure will continue with two more exciting outings.
Jeff
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