WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

NEW BORN DOLPHINS THIS SEASON

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Dancing Dolphins

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Mom and last years baby.

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Frolicking is life!

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Artistic showoff.

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Eagle Ray slip sliding away.

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It's a pack (school) of dolphins!!!!

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Grace and elegance.

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Look at me mom!!!!

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The eye says it all.

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Dolphins being dolphins.

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More just being dolphins.

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Where are we going mom?

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The Hunu doing what Honus' do.

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Ya missed me didn't ya?

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Green Sea Turtle (Honu)

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Recent sunset from my house above Kailua Kona.

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Ok, I fess up, busy being busy BUT not missing the swim!

The water was HUGE for almost a month. Strange for the "summer"? Nothing much stops Linda and me from going out regardless , but when it got as big as it did, well, it was just not fun. It's been BEAUTIFUL for the past two weeks. Kilauea (Madame Pele') has been collapsing in on herself (the crater vent that started last year) and the vog for the most part has STOPPED (or what we residents consider stopped). The skies are blue again and the water is even bluer! The sea is warm and calm and the dolphins are still doing the thing they do this time of year AND having babies!

There are a few photos herein of babies.

We had several very sad tragic events since our last blog.

The local canoe clubs have their races (regattas) this time of year. They lay allot of rope and debris down on the bottom in order to make the courses for the races. They leave all this clutter there during the racing season and pick up about 75% of it at the end of the season.

A beautiful manta ray got tangled up in one of their ropes and died. I was so upset Linda and I went out the next Saturday and buried the rope under every coral head and under every rock, and cinder block laying on the bottom that I could find. If it had not been such thick rope I would have cut it out myself (I tried). This effort took about an hour and about 30 free dives. Not only was there about 100 yards of free floating rope floating anywhere from the surface to the bottom, there were a lot of other ropes hanging off that rope as well. I was so proud to have successfully buried it. We knew it would never tangle another beautiful sea creature as long as we were around! Several days later, it completely disappeared. I would guess the Department of Land and Natural Resources (the equivalent of the land police) took it completely out along with another buoy. Swimmers like the buoys out there to follow. As for this example, they just create clutter and a means for innocent beautiful sea life to get tangled up and potentially get maimed or worse die.

Linda and swam far clear of the dead mantra ray that day knowing how upset we would have been to see him hanging there. The tiger sharks also came in on him.

The DL& R came shortly thereafter and removed this innocent creature off the buoy lines.

Bummer!!

We had another sad loss of Andy Guillermo. He was a great homeless (the pier was his home) fellow who together with his best friend Brian Fujimori been volunteers at the pier for many years. They have been the watchdogs, the cleaners, the caretakers and wonderful welcoming happy faces to see everyday at the pier, always taking care of some detail . Sadly, Andy passed away suddenly one early morning from a stroke. The pier put on a beautiful memorial service for him sponsored by Destination Kona Coast, Body Glove and others. The Body Glove was generous to take his family and friends out to sea to scatter his ashes. Kudos body glove and Captain Zodiac and everyone who showed up to support Andy’s family and his dear (now lost and lonely) friend Brian.

Andres "Andy" Guillermo Jr.

Published: Thursday, July 2, 2009 9:26 AM HST

Andres "Andy" Guillermo Jr., 53, of Kailua-Kona died June 28 at Kona Community Hospital. Born in Kealakekua, he was formerly employed with Sack '- Save and Whaler's, a volunteer for Kailua Pier commercial boat operators, Kailua Village Merchant Association, Ironman Triathlon, various canoe regattas and a greeter for incoming cruise ships for Destination Kona Coast. Morning service at 8 a.m. July 11 at Lanakila Congregational Church; 12:30 p.m. memorial to follow at the Kailua Pier, under the green tent. Refreshments to follow. The Body Glove will depart Kailua Pier at 2 p.m. for scattering of ashes. Aloha or casual attire. Survived by companion, Brian Fujimori of Kailua-Kona; parents, Andres (Margarette) Guillermo Sr. of Kealakekua; sisters, Martha (Clyde) Sampaga of Hilo, Margarette (Jim Graham) Kanealii of Kailua-Kona; brothers, Tony (Lyn) Guillermo of Kealakekua, Steven (Trudy) Guillermo of Hilo, Fred (Donna) Guillermo of Kailua-Kona, Robert Guillermo of Captain Cook; paternal grandmother, Marta Guillermo of Kealakekua; numerous uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.

A hui hou Andy, we will miss you and we will take good care of Brian for you!

Tell everyone you know how much you appreciate them today because it may be the last time you have that privilege of doing so.

A hui hou

Make sure to check out all the photos on our newly launched site!!!!

http://www.konatraveler.com

TWO DAYS IN A ROW?

Wow, two days in a row DOLPHINS!

They were out in full force on the pier swim today. There were also a lot of snorkelers dropped from a snorkel boat which always dampens the mood. Glad to see others enjoy these magnificent  creatures, but they are all over the place like kids scurrying after candy from a pinata'.  This also makes the dolphins unsociable as well. As I always say, you do not swim with the dolphins, they swim with you.

The water is reportedly 72 degrees. Normally 78-82. No wonder I am hyperthermic these days! Because of the cold water, we could not spend long with them today. Once you stop you become a popsicle. Just keep swimming just keep swimming.

The greatest part, it's been clear and sunny and paradise. 

Come to Hawaii, come thaw out and enjoy Gods' creation!

Airfares are reasonable and accommodations are at at all time low. Book today!

http://www.konaoceanfronts.com

Hope to see you!

A hui hou.

"I'll be right back"

It's been rainy and grey all week now. It's still 76-78 degrees though, so how bad can that be? No sunshine makes the water a a little dismal, albeit crystal clear.

My mom was  visiting from Hilo hoping to find some sunshine on this side of the Island. Our unusually rainy weather is typical of weather found most of the time in Hilo (the windward side of the Big Island).

I told mom I was going for a short swim and be right back. I asked her to make sure pray for dolphins and whales for me to see today. Like she has more power of prayer that I would have? Ok, I confess, Linda and I pray for things to see quite often.

As I swam out, the Body Glove drove past me about 10' feet away. I hate when they do that. I think they are making a statement because I am not right inside of the buoy lines.  What the boat captains who run boats (and do not themselves swim) do not realize is that it is much calmer a little further out. We must have the right of way. Pedestrians do? I will have to check that out with DL&R.

I noted the Body Glove had stopped ahead of me about 3/4 of a mile. There was another tour boat on the spot as well. This meant there was something notable to see.  I knew I was going to see those whales I prayed for today! I swam and swam and swam to the location. By the time I even got close, the boats had since left. Keeping in mind it is illegal to  "swim" with the whales, but if they are in the general local and swim by you, all is fair. Whales, whales, whales I kept thinking.

Dolphins. 

I saw them jumping out of the water and I could hear them, but they did not swim with me.....I guess I need to be more specific in prayer, "swim with the dolphins" means, have them swim underneath me, not in the same ocean OK! 

I also saw dolphins on the way back and could clearly hear them and see them, but again, they did not swim "underneath" me! OK, God I will be more specific in my prayers in the future! I get it!

Got back home two hours later.  Oh well, I got some great shots of this little guy. A baby Eagle Ray.

It is rainy, cold and grey today. Being that  I swam about 3 miles yesterday, no swim for today.

A hui hou and hope for sunshine next week!

IS IT SUMMER YET?

At the risk of sounding  whiny .... when is the water going to warm up?  Ok, honestly, it is hard to get in the water these days.  Once you are in for several minutes it's OK, but it's just that initial "What am I thinking" that gets you.

Ok, I admit I am a weenie. Check out the book by Lynne Cox " Swimming to Antarctica"....and you will easily affirm "weenie". Lynne Cox has swam all over the  world in literal ice water (35-38 degrees). Literally having to break thru ice flows and floating ice-bergs to get through!! Her story is amazing. A little disturbing (she's nuts) but amazing. Here is her website for more information. If you like the water, you can not miss this book!

Even when there are no "big things" to see, it is never boring. There are always interesting new things to experience. Not all of it shows up well on camera however (at least the type of camera I use that I can swim with).

Despite the nippy conditions, the visibility has been crystal clear, so I really have nothing to complain about. Beats being in New York or Chicago. or anywhere east of Kona for that matter.

Here are some friends from the sea today.

 Thanks for traveling with us today.

A Hui Hou'

WHAT WAS THAT "BLACK THING" OVER THERE?

A "Hello" fly by

It's "another beautiful day in the neighborhood".

The day started out a bit gloomy but we could see it was going to be a nice sunny day today. The Pride of America cruise ship was in so it was busy at the pier.

We got to see Ken this morning and read his joke about "five things to look for in a good man" (something akin to that)

1) Make sure they love you

2) They lavish you with fine gifts

3) They worship the ground you walk on

4)They would never lie to you or deceive you

5) That they never get to know about the other ones!

Well I told you they were pretty corny.

We were graced by the appearance of Dolphins on the way out. There were only four or five which is quite unusual. There are normally  20-30 up to 50+ in bigger pods. Just four or five today.  They were not very sociable today, but they did do a few very close fly-bys as seen here. As mentioned  previously, you do not swim with them, they swim with you!

We  continued on to our CG Buoy. While hanging out there we always try to take the time to thank God for being able to be here and ask for his blessing upon this day (and beg for dolphins). I saw something very big and black on the horizon. Now too big to be a buoy I thought. It was just past the Kona Aggressor which was anchored about 100 yards off the GC Bouy. We watched for awhile to see if it was a figment of our imagination. Then we saw the graceful beautiful tail as it sounded. A whale! So close but so far away.

The good news, bad news is that it is illegal to be within 100 yards of them, it was tempting to swim over, but no can do. We watched awhile longer and he never reappeared. It was not a singer because we heard nothing, but still enough to make our day. Want to hear the Hawaiian whales sing  live? Go to jupiterfoundation.org. It will blow your mind!

I have attached photos of a baby whale that did swim by me one day while swimming and several others taken in Tonga (where is it legal to swim with them).

Humpback Calfs in  Tonga

Remember to check out the website  if you love whales.  You can hear them sing LIVE as well as a live video cam of Puako Bay.

No blog tomorrow. I have to go to Hilo and the water on that side of the Island is not very inviting.

A Hui Hou

FROM CRABS TO ABS

Our beloved little Village of  Kailua Kona 

Today was a potpourri. You never know.

It was one of those oh, it's so grey today. "Look, I think it must be raining down at the pier, another 5 minutes of sleep". Those five minutes lead to never getting out there. So off we went as usual.

There was no one there today when we arrived other than our friend Ken (who we told you about yesterday). 

We did the customary let's go have "COFFEE!!!" thing and the customary u-turn in the sand thing, then we got serious and started out on our otherwise uneventful swim out to the Coast Guard Buoy.

I'm showing a picture of the the buoy so you can 'go there with us' when you read.

Swam back in and didn't hear even a peep from the Dolphins today. "Oh no, nothing to see today"? Never!

Coast Guard Buoy off Kailua Kona Village

As we swam back in, Linda saw a big crab trailing along the bottom.  He was the size of a small dinner plate. Ah ha! Picture opportunity!

I snorkeled down to him , got him in my sights and POOF! he was gone. Once he saw me he disappeared under the sand. Now how did he bury himself so fast? I am talking a second and he was buried. The photos shows him as he  did his deep dive in the sand. We cracked up!

Our camera shy crab. He was 8-10" across in size.

We got several photos of eels on the way back, several were so close, you can not even see what they are, but I put one up just so you can see if you can find the eel in the picture!

Curious spotted eel

Then comes the really good good part of the swim. The Fire Department was out doing their entry drills. Baywatch here we come!

 

Note the picture of Linda swimming after them? Can you believe she feigned a heart attack right there? Kidding of course, but I bet the thought crossed her mind.   Ever wonder how they find all those cute hard bodies?

I also have enclosed a few photos of the pier so you can see the leaving spot and as well as our Coast Guard Buoy turn around spot.

......yeah baby!

The U-Turn, it's not too late, lets go have COFFEE!!! spot. 

Just another day in paradise! 

A Hui Hou!

The Pacific Mermaid

BARRACUDA AND DOLPHINS

AH, it's Monday. One of those dreaded Mondays. Well, not here! It is blue sky and gentle breezes and the place I call my backyard beckons.

It was quiet down at the pier this morning.  Just Ken. Ken is a local Veteran who swims quite often. He is in a motorized wheelchair and can not walk.He makes it down to the pier, gets himself into the water, floats awhile and crawls back up the stairs back to his wheelchair. If the ladies are pretty he will let them "help him", otherwise he would rather do it himself. Talk about challenges. We sure have none.

Ken always a has a joke tucked away in his shirt pocket. The jokes are cut out of magazines and taped carefully to a piece of card stock. A collection I'm sure.He always asks everybody who happens to be there or walk by if they "want to read a joke"?  Most the locals who know Ken just go up to him and say, "Ok, give it here". He points to his pocket, we read them and laugh whether they are funny or not, thank him and put them back in his pocket. OK, honesty, sometimes we give him a hard time because the joke was pretty stupid.

I would guess Ken had a severe stroke because he can not speak clearly. People that do not know him have no idea what he is saying when he says" want to read my joke". They politely smile and keep walking. I often interpret for him. He is an icon and I thank God for him. We worry when we do not see him for a time.

After out customary laugh with Ken, we geared up and just kept swimming,  swimming swimming... to get out of the cold spot. Today it was about a quarter mile out before we hit warmer water. The water was clear and it's never boring.  We did or normal Coast Guard Buoy swim hoping we would be visited by our friends the Dolphins. No where to be seen though. Oh well, can't have them everyday we joked.

On the way back, I could hear them. I could not see them anywhere but I could tell they were out there taunting us. We kept swimming. At about the half mile buoy, they graced us with a swim by. They were not in a very social mood. They kept just outside our distance (you do not swim with the dolphins, they swim with you). I see people chasing them all the time. People actually think they can catch a dolphin?  Quite the contrary, they swim with you if they feel like it PERIOD! As a matter of fact, the quieter and stiller you remain, the much high chance you will have of seeing them for a long period of time because they will stay with you. Start kicking after them, and they are gone GUARANTEED!!

A clicked a few photos. Then a  3-4' barracuda came by as well. I tried to grab a picture of him, but he did not stick around either.

I guess they all had the Monday morning blahs!

A Hui Hou