Feb. 23, 2013: Kapalua  snorkeling---

Today we actually made breakfast before heading out to the beach.  I had checked Maui weather online and it pretty much said it was going to rain everywhere.  The flash flood warning is still on and last night the news showed some wicked flooding pictures upcountry and eastside.  Here on the south side we really haven't noticed it.  Just a little sprinkles now and then.  The wind advisory is still on, too, but I  think we've gotten use to it.  If anything, the trade winds feel good with the temps up around 80. 

Anyway, we finally left the resort around 9:30.  Usually when we go farther away, we take dry clothes along to change into after snorkeling, but today we left unprepared.   We decided after we left to head to Kapalua Beach.   We got to the tiny parking lot just as someone was leaving!  Our lucky day!!!  Soon we were at the beach.  I feared it would be raining---at least that's what the news kept telling us we'd have.  But it was a beautiful day!  We spent about 4 hours here.  Snorkeled the edges of the whole bay.

About a minute after we got in the water, this guy totally startled me by swimming right at me. 



Then it dove to a cavern under me.   

Next thing I knew, 2 turtles came out of it.

We continued on our way and so did the turtles.  Here is a rather common teardrop butterfly fish.

The now official Hawaii National fish---the Humuhumunukunukuapua'a or reef triggerfish.

Male shortbodied blenny.

a square tail filefish

the trumpetfish the color we usually see it.

vast sand and rocky (and destroyed coral) area near shore.

school of convict tangs and a unicorn fish

Moorish idol

the mystery fish again? (Leatherback Jack)

rock mover wrasse

I think these are yellowfin goatfish.

spotted male boxfish

yellowstripe coris

After sunning for awhile, we decided we were dry enough to hit the road.  We decided to see if there was a public parking spot in the parking garage by Black Rock and much to our surprise, there was!  Upon leaving we noticed there was another public parking area just south of the garage, but it's entrance is not well marked.  Anyway, I had figured with the parking situation we would never get to Black Rock, so we took advantage of the parking and snorkeled another couple hours.  The walkway to the beach is lined with pretty flowering bushes and even a bunch of banana trees.

The infamous Black Rock.

At first I didn't see what the big deal was for snorkeling there.  Then we made our way around the point and into the little cove behind it.  That was pretty fascinating.  Most fascinating, though, was what we determined to be whale song!  It was quite loud and pretty constant.  I thought it had to be coming from above water, but the sound was not audible above water.  It was really neat listening to the "wailing". I even took some videos to capture the sound.  Listen----

a school of whitesaddle goatfish

ho hum---another turtle!  We saw another one on the other side of Black Rock, too.

Nice coral along the outter wall of Black Rock.

Schools of fish in the little bay behind Black Rock.

white spotted surgeonfish

Needlefish.  We haven't seen many of them here, but did see lots of them around Kauai.

juvenile paletail unicornfish

white mouth moray

school of black triggerfish

View of the beach from the water.

After a couple hours there, it was time to go in search of food.  So we headed to Lahaina.  After driving down Front street, we decided on Cheeseburger in Paradise.  We even got a window seat on the 2nd level.  Dinner was good.  Too bad we didn't get there before 5 for the happy hour specials.

When we were done eating, it was almost time for sunset, so we stood on the open rail by the ocean and waited.

Felt like time has stood still here in Lahaina.

Playing with b&w!

Finally sunset came and went---without much color.

Back to the south side soon after that. Another perfect day!