Thursday 19th – Bay Watch nearly re-enacted

Today we headed to Hanauma Bay a marine reserve and supposedly one of the best snorkelling spots on the island.  One has to get there early to ensure that they can get a park as by mid-morning the parks are usually full and closed for entry unless you want to walk in, and it is quite a way to walk.  Apparently up to 3000 people visit a day.

First time that I can think of that I have had to pay to go to the beach.  Parking was just $1 but then it was $7.50 each to go to the beach, and before you can go down to the beach you must watch a 12 minute video all about the wildlife and water safety.  Once this is completed you are then heralded down to the beach by your own feet or a tram as it is a steep hill.

We arrived just after 8 and were provided tickets for the 8.30 movie, even at this time there was masses of people wondering around, and by the time we left at 11.30 the car park was already full.

As we had been advised to do we asked the life guard about conditions further out in the bay as we had been advised this was where some of the best snorkelling was.  While we were advised that the current would be strong as the tide was going out we were told just to be aware of it and it would be safe to do.

So of we went, swam out past the buoys to the right of where we had entered, saw very few fish but lots of rubbish in the water, not looking too good at this stage.  Q decided we would turn back and head to the left, still outside the buoys, we had been doing this for about 10 mins or so when I heard one of the life guards (there were 3 stations along the beach in all) yelling something over the loud speaker.  Q popped his head up, couldn’t understand what they were saying so just stuck his head down and carried on.  The words that I could make out where “two snorkelers outside of the buoy…strong current…make your way back to the white markers….rescue you…” so thought it was probably best for us to turn around and alerted Q to the fact!

Once heading back into the more protected part we did see quite a few more fish and a turtle.  I found this gorgeous baby fish, normally you see them about 8-10 inches long but this one was only 1-2.  Very very cute!

The only issue with being inside the buoys was that so was everyone else, and it was chaotic in places.  Because it is an attraction to see when in Honolulu every man and his dog was there, even ones that couldn’t swim.  You see these swarms of Asian tourists who have probably never set foot in the water let alone snorkel, arrive with every flotation device known to man kind, noodles, life jackets, rubber rings, and there they are in the water with snorkel, mask and fully clothed.  Floundering around like nobodies business, panicking when they cant work out how to use their mask and snorkel and using their fins to walk everywhere therefore  breaking all the coral.  In some parts the water was only 3 feet deep, so really no need to panic.  Like on land these tourists travel in packs, and if they want to go from point A to B they do it even if you are in the middle, it was like being swarmed by bees!

After that we headed home, showers, feet up before heading back out for some more masalades, yummy.  Then a few chores, post office, shopping etc before we went down to the Kailua Farmers market.   This was a great market with lots of food stalls.  We had dinner down here, so much to chose from, Q ended up with curry and me a chicken wrap.  Then we had to have a lemonade because we had seen everyone walking around with these preserving jars drinking lemonade out of them.  It was very very yummy lemonade, finished by ice-cream.  WE could have been adventurous and had seaweed flavoured, or asparagus but I settled for passionfruit and Q for lychee sorbet.

Another day done and dusted.