Kona Condo

STILL de best snorkel beach on the Big Island

In the space of a few minutes, where else can one view a stone's throw from shore, numerous green sea turtles, the state fish the humuhumunu, etc., schools of ravenous convict tang and scores of others but Kahalu'u?

Oh, there are most likely a few, but not many with minutes of OurKonaCondo.

Speaking of which, stay tuned for some exciting news from these parts and in the meantime, please enjoy these snaps of our fellow Earth beings.

And, p.s., godspeed Michael, Farrah and others' loved ones who've left this mortal coil.

What are you looking at, fishface?

It's a jailbreak youse mugs, everybody follow me... No, follow me....No, me... No, wait, here come de Five-Oh...

Hey everybody, wait for me. Guys! Wait up!.

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I...I wish I could swim...like dolphins...like dolphins can swim...

Swimming with the spinner dolphins with Jack's Diving Locker off the leeward side of the Big Island.

This was in the bluish water just off a dive site the locals call Golden Arches.

We had just wrapped up our first dive of the morning, when one of the excellent dive guides pointed about a mile away and said they were en route.

All we had to do was snorkel out to them a few hundred yards straight off the dive boat's bow, and let them swim past.

They didn't stick around. They were on a mission.

Or, maybe they knew better than to hang around a bunch of peoplefolk, knowing how much trouble we can be.

It took much kicking and trashing just to get this close before they sped past, paying us no never mind. Most times, if an ocean critter chooses not to swim with you, it's up to them.

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Putting on a slipper...lobster, that is...

There we were, about to attempt the dismount at Pu'uhonau o Honaunau, aka, The Place of Refuge, aka "Two Step" -- it can be quite tricky sometimes, so, were were trying to pay attention...when something unusual in the shallows caught our eye.

Yon little crusty, scyllarides squammosus, remained stock still, trying to blend in with surrounding coral.

Hmmm...you tell us...was he doing a good job?

Cute little bugger, ain't he?  Well, it was our first sighting of one, as apparently, they're good eating...

We learn from The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) (part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA))), that...

"The commercial lobster fishery in Hawaii is a limited-entry trap fishery that harvests said slipper lobster species in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI).

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are an isolated range of islands, islets, banks, and reefs which extend 1,500 nmi northwest of the main Hawaiian islands from Nihoa Island to Kure Atoll."

Guess also, it's legal to take 'em around these parts, if: they are in season, (Sept. 1-April 31) at least 2-3/4 inches in tail width), and that certain permits may be required -- heck if we can figure out which -- and, since we like enjoying our sea life in the ocean (and thus, cannot eat "familiar" lobster), we won't spend much more time or space on it.

.

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Honu say: Mele Kalikimaka!

Kahalu'u Beach Park, a few hops skips and jumps from OurKonaCondo, is where we spotted gentle Honu here enjoying the pleasant conditions on Christmas Eve. If you are ever fortunate enough to enjoy a swim with a sea turtle (keeping a respectful distance of course, as they are federally protected) you'll find it a life-changing experience. Our ocean's creatures go about their business, quietly, and out of view of most of the world, in a fashion we could all learn a bit from. We wish to take this opportunity to extend warm holiday wishes to all friends and ohana, and especially Steve's Mom, Marie, who so dearly loves turtles of all shapes and sizes. With Aloha . . . S & MLP ...

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Our friends at Jack's are having a sale...

Oh me oh my oh.  Where does the time go?

The good folks at our favorite Kona dive shop have set their annual sale, and if you're on island, be sure to check it out.

You also have plenty of time to plan ahead, grab a flight out, and stay at our humble little abode, as it's on Saturday, August 19th.

See?

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Kona Classic set to launch

We receive late word from the folks at Jack's Diving Locker, which we've previously cited in this space here as among the top-notch dive shops on the Big Island.

They say there are still a few spots left on their dive boat in advance of the 7th annual Kona Classic.

Budding shooters and those hoping to hone their skills further have a number of options (and, of course, you can always plan for next year.

Options for the event include merely attending the daily seminars by the photo pros, participating in the contents by book your own dives or those by shore. And of course, if you are "mondo", you can still get into the "whole Enchilada."

Check on their site for more info.

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Senor Frog's big Hawaiian adventure

Okay, pay attention now, this is very important, because the next few words here in the Kona Isle C31 Kona Condo blog could change your life.

This here is the Commerson's Frogfish, which we were guided to by our very fine diving friends at Hawaiian Rafting Adventures off Lanai earlier this month.

Good thing we had Capt. Steve Juarez on the dive to point it out for us, because these little critters are well camouflaged as you can see.

Some of the science stuff here we attribute it to a cool web site called Tree of Life.

"Frogfishes of the family Antennariidae are typically small, globose anglerfishes easily distinguished from members of allied families by the presence of three well-developed dorsal spines, laterally directed eyes, a large, anterodorsally directed mouth, and a short, laterally compressed body (Pietsch, 1981). They share with other families of the teleost order Lophiiformes a peculiar and unique mode of feeding that is characterized most strikingly by the structure of the first dorsal spine, which is placed out on the tip of the snout and modified to serve as a luring apparatus."

What does all this have to do with our Kona Condo?

Well, it's this, again, attributing to TOL. It seems that frogfishies such as these "spend the greater part of their lives squatting on the bottom."

Now we ask you, is this any way to live?

They are rather sedentary, and hence, this attributes to their portly, if not somewhat rotund appearances.

Now it doesn't take a rocket scientist (or even a marine biologist( to see that the only thing a frogfish is going to interest in this world, is

another frogfish. (Unless you believe in fairy tales, which I do not). Or, a terribly nearsighted fishie that gets too close and sucked into a hungry frogfishie's mouth via a very efficient vacuum-like method.

So, you there, stuffed into your rapidly shrinking cubicle looking at your rapidly expanding waistline, book some time next month (March, good seats still available but going fast) to visit Kona, stay and play, scuba, swim, snorkel, whatever, and shake yourself loose from the early year Frogfish doldrums.

Guaranteed, the experience will change your life.

 

7th annual Kona Classic Underwater Photo and Video competition

The Big Island demands Big Events, and, for underwater imaging types, they don't get much bigger than the Kona Classic. It's one of those things you really ought to plan for in advance.

The classic is set to  kick off with a reception on Saturday May 24th and conclude with a gala awards ceremony on Saturday May 31st.

It's your chance to spend a week in Kona, have fun, and learn something besides. And, what a coincidence, as of this writing, the week is still open at our KC.

Highlights include daily  seminars, five days of day dives and one night dive, and a gala awards ceremony / dinner.

Space is limited.  The numbers to call at Jack’s Diving Locker at 800 345-4807 or 808 329-7585, or, on the web at www.jacksdivinglocker.com..

Tell 'em you heard about it from Steve and Mary Lynn's Kona Condo blog.

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Still on this underwater diving kick...

Our little buddy and I officially transmit to all who visit the Kona Condo c31, Kona Isle web blog a Happy New Year.

Don't think he'd like the fireworks that were going off at all hours last night along Ali'i Drive, but, that's the way that goes.

arc-eye hawkfish is the dude in the coral.

Diving with Jack's Diving Locker

We came across this whitemouth moray (puhi oni o) in  about 30 feet or so of water on our first dive a few days ago.  We're gearing up to go out again (New Year's Eve).

Said moray can reach up to 40 inches and is supposedly one of the most commen of the eels in the Hawaiian waters.  So says John E. Randall in his Shore Fishes of Hawaii book.

The site is known as Pyramid Pinnacles.  Dive guide Andy showed us this lovely place, a nice drop-off at the edge, lots of nice coral heads to explore, and, near the shore, a lava tube to swim through.

Shiver me timbers, man. Water temp is 77 degrees, and halfway through the swim, was wishing I had more than the 3/2 full suit.

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