March 5, 2013:Maluaka---

Last full day!  Can't believe time has gone by so quickly!!!  One last chance to snorkel for a long long time!  So we were up early, had a quick bowl of cereal, and were out the door about 8:30.  Headed to Maluaka Beach (where we tried to go with Bill and Sue the last day they were here, but couldn't get parking).  It was our lucky day, again, and we got the first non-handicapped parking spot.  The water looked really inviting---rather calm and beautiful blue from the sunny skies.  The south surge was down today.

 Even the water was clearer today.  Here's another lei triggerfish.

 Still the only place we snorkeled around Maui where I've seen these guys---lagoon triggerfish.

 More sailfin tangs

 more schools of these tiny fish.  Can't get a close up of them.

 We headed way to the south around the point and all the way to Oneuli Black Sand Beach.  Snorkeling was great!  Couldn't get a good picture of these guys (soldier fish), they hide fast! 

 saw more trumpet fish, including this nicely marked one.

 Also had a turtle swim by me trying to get away from a flock of snorkelers from a nearby boat snorkel tour.

 Came across this little area where air was coming through the rocks.  Thought at first there was a diver below, but there was no cave for a diver to be in!  Reminded me of a mini version of Champagne Reef at Dominica in the Caribbean. 

 Another first for Maui---a spotfin squirrelfish.  I was lucky to get a picture of him.  They're another hider.

 Just liked the unusual color of this coral.

After about 2 1/2 hours, we sat on shore for a bit and regrouped, then headed the other direction---almost to Mekena Landing.

a school of bandtail goatfish.

 yellowfin surgeonfish.

 A big school of yellowfin surgeonfish.  Really cool!

 another school of goatfish.

 The neat little church near Makena Landing.

 Looking towards Makena Landing.  By now it was after 1 and the surf was picking up.

 One of the few chubs we've seen on Maui.  There are lots of them around Kauai, especially at Poipu.

 juvenile yellowtail coris

 Mr. Bill!------couldn't resist!  (Hope it's not against the celebrity privacy act that just passed here last night brought on by Steven Tyler---I guess the picture I took of him the other night was the last straw!) There were actually several little starfish in the sand near shore---this was by far the largest.

About 2:30 we decided we'd had enough snorkeling.  Must be time to leave---this is the first time in the 2+ weeks that I'm feeling the swaying of the water when I'm no longer in the water!  Bye bye Maluaka Beach!

 We decided to head down the southern coast and get one last look it for awhile.
This is  somewhere around LaParouse Bay.

 I took the cinder trail along the coast there to see what was there.

 More of the trail.

 Love that someone made this for me!

 sort of reminded me of the Big Island beaches.

 We headed back to the condo then and started eating the leftovers---kalua pork, bagels, toast, pizza, cookies, BEER, ... .  About 6 we left for sunset.  This time we headed to the south end of Kalama Park.

 Another one without much color.

 zoomed in to see the colors.

 I'm sure I'll be wishing I was watching another lack luster sunset tomorrow night while I'm sitting on a plane all night!  Have no idea what we'll do tomorrow, but the snorkel gear is packed!  Our flight is scheduled to leave at about 5:55 pm tomorrow night.  Get home about 8:30am on Thursday.