The Usual Suspects

     My choice of swimming venues is currently limited, so it seems I am seeing fewer species that might qualify as blog worthy.  Still, I'm seeing some fish that made me very happy when I first started snorkeling in Kona.  Recently the surf has diminished, and the water clarity has improved, providing the opportunity to take some better pictures of what we disparagingly call the usual suspects.  

     A few days ago, I went swimming on the Paul Allen side of the pier and saw painfully little.  That night I dreamed of swimming with eagle rays, perhaps because my best eagle ray encounter, lo these many years ago, took place just seaward of the entrance to Paul Allen's Lagoon.

    As an aside, some of you may wonder about Paul Allen's legacy.  Paul was never a big time fish watcher, but he did provide some serious cash in pursuit of PNW sports franchises.  Immediately after the Seahawks won the Superbowl, their current owner, the Paul Allen Estate, put them up for sale.  His will dictated that his assets, including the Seahawks and the Trailblazers be sold and the proceeds go to charity.  

Pearl Wrasse, Kahalu'u 2026

    Seattle fans have a dream:   MacKenzie Scott (Jeff Bezos's ex), Melinda Gates and Jody Allen (Paul's younger sister and primary heir, who manages the trust that currently owns the Seahawks) will team together to buy the franchise.  It is possible, despite what one hears in the Seattle media, that this is only a dream.  But such a grouping of three fabulously wealthy ladies in the Jet City, coming together to buy the favorite sports team, is the stuff that dreams are made of.

   And what about the Thurston estate, which provides the sea front for Paul Allen's Reef?    Following Paul's death, the estate was sold to Sam Altman, CEO of Open AI for 47 million.   I have not seen anyone using the estate for several years, and now it is back on the market for 49 million.  If one were considering this simply for a base from which to watch fish, there are probably better bargains.

    A couple days after that disappointing swim, I went to Kahalu'u.  To be honest, the highlight of that excursion occurred as I was sitting on a rock in the entry, putting on my fins.  As I sat there, over the seaward lava came a middle-aged foursome.  Walking on those rocks on your way out of the bay is never a good idea.  In this instance, one of the gentlemen had copious blood dripping down both shins.  A true "Oh my God" moment.  Could he have attempted to crawl onto the lava knees first?  Note to swimmers:  swim all the way in and sit in the sand to take of your footwear!

Yellowtail Coris, supermale, Kahalu'u 2026

     At any rate, the water was clear, not too cold, although it wasn't pulsating with marine life.  I did see a couple nice fish, though, including a female Pearl Wrasse near the Rescue Shelter. 

    On my last spin up the middle, I photographed a nice male Yellowtail Coris. This species has four distinct patterns.  The keiki are red and white, sometimes called the Red Labrid Wrasse.  I had been lucky to see one at Ho'okena last week.  There is an intermediate that is fascinating as its coat turns from red and white to the female pattern, which is the most common.  And then you have the big males with the striking cobalt blue and lime green face pattern.  This is certainly one of the most striking among fish we see regularly.

   As you can see, usual suspects in calm, clear water are dramatically better than no suspects in choppy current! 

Teardrop Butterflyfish, Kailua Kona Pier, 2026

   Yesterday, conditions were the most calm yet.  It was one of those days when the tides varied little; it was going to be about half a foot, which is pretty shallow, for most of the day.  Since I wasn't excited about crawling over the rocks at Kahalu'u, we went to the pier.  

    There has been a different cruise ship in port every day for a week.  Yesterday Kailua Kona hosted the Ruby Rainbow, or something like that.  The ship was huge, home to 3,000 guests.  As I stepped into the water, I was greeted by the welcoming smell of diesel exhaust, courtesy of the multiple tenders ferrying the myriad cruisers from ship to pier and back again.  Keeping an eye on those floating buses, I swam out into some exceptionally clear water.  It was as clear as Ho'okena had been last week.  This time I had the camera at the ready, but would I see some worthy subjects?  

     Out past the last swim buoy, over a coral reef, I spied four Teardrop Butterflyfish .  The top of the coral was about eight feet down.  It rose from the bottom perhaps fifteen feet below. I got a picture of all four and one of a single that floated up a little nearer the surface.  This is a nice picture, but it would have been better if the fish was faced more forward.

Oval Butterflyfish, Kailua Kona Pier 2026

   I had seen some Oval Butterflies on the way out and then again among the coral in the deeper water near the fourth swim buoy.  As I worked my way in, I found a cooperative pair in the coral near the second swim buoy.  The water was very clear there and only six feet deep.  

   This is one of my favorite Hawaiian fish.  The bright gold surrounding the pectoral fin reminds me of those illuminated houses made famous a few decades ago by Thomas Kincade.  His publicist portrayed him as the painter of light.  Can these ovals be the butterflies of light?  In any event, they are a jewel among the usual suspects.

jeff