I was lucky enough to see this wonder of the natural world on Sunday. The bay, curved like an oar, earned it the name 'Haunama' hundreds of years ago. Now transformed into a snorkler's paradise, it is a thousand times less garish than the beaches of Waikiki. Even with the twenty minute educational video, and the unappetising prospect of hanging with tourists, it truly was the best snorkeling experience I have ever had.
The waves break fiercely upon the rocks, and to go out there you have to have fins of steel, but Glenn and I braved the underwater storm. Once there, I saw images of indescrible beauty. The triggerfish were about four to five feet long. The parrotfish were huge images of the scrawny creatures in Waikiki, about four to five feet as well. Everything seemed beautifully megafauna-esque. The overfishing and polution in Waikiki does not allow the fish to grow as big as they are here, I suppose.
The most wonderful part of the Haunamabay exeperience was the sea turtle I observed for a full ten minutes. These wonderful animals are small and agile swimmers, and very docile. Underwater, one can swim right next to them without disturbing them. The coral was alive, and healthy, and bright yellow, and to see the turtle feasting off sea grass right next to it was a psychadelic light show of yellows and greens.
Glenn enjoyed the live mongeese even more than the fish I think! We heard hissing, turned around, and there were the little Rikki-Tikki-Tavis that I had never seen before. Ferret-like, but much furrier and longer of body, they truly were amazing. They were rooting in the trash cans like raccoons (that were thousands of times cuter).
I long to return to what is so far my favorite spot on the island.
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