Day 6: Hanauma Bay and Manoa Falls

Today is Hanauma Bay day so we're heading south on route 72 which brings us past the Makapu'u(?) lookout. We're planning to hike to the lighthouse, but as much as I love looking at the ocean, I need some time actually in the water. Hanauma Bay sometimes runs out of parking space so today we'll only snap a few quick pictures. Hopefully we can return some other time ...

Next stop; the Halona blowhole that today is fizzling at best. We try to wait for a good one but the waves must not be right cause it's just not happening. Oh well, more snorkeling time for me!

It's later than we'd planned when we pull into the parking lot at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, but there's still plenty of space. We watch the mandatory reef safety video then the doors open and we get to walk down to the beach.

Overview of the bay:

It is often said that Hanauma Bay is overused, which may well be true. It's amazing how many people you see standing on the coral -- where were they during the reef safety video? So sad.

The bay is "divided" into different lagoons, with most people snorkeling around the centrally located keyhole lagoon. We were sitting right by the lifeguard tower there so that's where I entered the water also but it was a bit of a disappointment; bad coral and little variety of fish. I moved over the the backdoor lagoon to the left with only marginal improvement until I found myself over by the channel. To go or not to go!?  Yep, let's check out what's going on on the other side ... much better!

Now getting back took some effort, but it was well worth it so I crossed the channel on the right side of the bay as well and that's where I had the best luck. Turtles, though small, and a decent variety of fish swimming along the "back wall" of the lagoon. Now don't expect anything like the Big Island or Maui even, but it's a nice place if you need a quick snorkeling fix and even though it's crowded the setting is quite beautiful.

Note: if you're not a strong swimmer don't cross the channel because you have to swim against the current to get back to shore.

Now, onto an endless stream of fish pictures! Quality is a bit lacking at times, but since these are pretty much all the underwater pictures I have left I'm going to bore you with them anyway.

Convict tang and hard to identify plain looking fish

 

 

 

 

 Hey cutie!

 Square-spot goatfish

 Convict tang again

 Bluestripe snapper -- they look almost plain silver until the light hits them

 

 

 Bullethead parrotfish (top) and Christmas wrasse (bottom)

 

 

 Hanauma Bay doesn't have a lot of live coral left, but I loved this bright purple one

 

 

 Whitespotted surgeonfish (bottom) and bird wrasse (top)

 

 

 Juvenile surge wrasse

 

 

Common bigeye? Definitely the find of the day as I had never seen anything like it before and even the people at the info booth didn't know what it was, but after reading my fish ID book from cover to cover this is the closest match. 

 

School of bluestriped snapper blending in with their surroundings. 

 Can't miss Hawaii's state fish, the Humuhumu-nukunuku-a-pua'a ... aka lagoon triggerfish

 

 

 

One last overview shot as we're walking back uphill:  

Keyhole (center) and Back door lagoon (left)

 

 



Since today seems to be southeast coast day we use our guidebook to find the somewhat obscure Spitting Cave of Portlock. We're a bit surprised when we find ourselves parked at a dead end with an unmarked grungy, muddy trail leading down a steep hillside. There's a group of people coming back up as we're contemplating what to do so we figure this must be the right place and start heading down.

Here too, it's more of a fizzle than anything, but the weathered cliffs alone are worth the unusual hike.

Wow!

 

Those houses can't be cheap ... 

Back up we go!  

Well, that didn't take nearly as long as we'd budgeted ... why not hike Manoa Falls? We both love hiking and waterfalls so this seemed like a win-win.

Getting to the trail head was a bit confusing, but we get there just in time. The lot attendant lets us park for free since we get there so late, but he assures us we should still make it to the falls and back if we go now. Love the aloha spirit!

Rule #1: all parking lots must have at least one resident rooster

 

It's like a scene from Lost! Quite literally -- they filmed on location here.

 

Muddy. Lots of roots. Don't forget the mosquito repellent!

How cool is this?!

Seen from the back

Lots of improvements on the trail to make it more passable.

Made it! Wish I could've fit the whole waterfall in one picture.

Well, at least the trail is not muddy here ... how do you like rock hopping?

Not fond of the mosquitoes, but that was a nice hike! A bit muddy, but easily navigatable unless you have difficulty walking.

Dinner is a decadent affair at Na Ka Oi -- a delectable crepe restaurant. And yes, they do use Nutella! They're closing when we get there, but they'll still let us put in an order for take-out so Sandy orders a Basically mushroom (scrambled egg, cheese, ham and mushroom) and I order the Healthy alternative (non-fat yoghurt, honey, granola and fresh strawberries and bananas.

Yummy! And they're so big there's enough leftover for breakfast tomorrow!

Breakfast: ABC store goodies
Lunch: snack??
Dinner: Na Ka Oi crepes

Lodging: AirBNB