Feb. 24, 2013: Po'olenalena and Makena Landing--

Woke up to another beautiful day.  Winds seemed to be down quite alot most of the day.  Don't think the flood watch is in effect anymore, either.  We have encountered several areas while snorkeling where fresh water is entering the ocean and blurring vision for awhile.  It also makes those areas much colder!  Even at the south beaches.

Speaking of south, we spent the day here today.  After our breakfast of spam and eggs, we headed off to find Po'olenalena beach as recommended by someone.  Of course we drove past it, but found a parking spot at Makena Landing so we took it.  The beaches were supper crowded today!  Lots of pic nicing locals at the beaches.  Neat to watch the kiddos having such a blast.  There was even a Harley group here.

Anyway, we had been to Makena landing earlier this week, but covered a whole lot more area today!  We spent at least 2 1/2 hours non-stop snorkeling.  First we headed to the right and around the point---and around a couple more points.

Again we saw turtles galore!  In one little cove, there were 3 very large ones.  One had a bad infection to it's face.  I felt really sorry for the poor feller.  Here's 2 in the deeper water we were snorkeling in.  Underwater photos don't come out as well in deeper water, but I thought these two were cute interacting with each other.

After spending quite some time in the deeper water (listening to more whale songs), we headed to the opposite side of the bay(s) where it was much shallower and easier to get better pictures.  Of course, a couple more turtles swam by us there, too!

Soon we were way out to the far end here.

I thought the reef there was really neat and quite clear and I saw a lot of interesting critters, like this guy-- a devil scorpionfish?  Frogfish?

star eye parrotfish?

cleaner wrasse

juvenile coris

pink tail triggerfish

Heading back to the beach---another turtle getting in my way!

Also saw a small Christmas Wrasse.  This is one fish that is a lot more common on Kauai---along with surge wrasses and other wrasses.

 I believe this is a Hawaiian knife fish.

 After enjoying the beach for awhile, we headed back to the condo---but first looking for Po'olenalena bay again.  Finally found it, so I went to check it out while Ken rested in the car.  We lucked into one of the few public parking spots.  I thought the walkway to the beach was very nice.  Loved the flowering bushes.

I saw these on Kauai before they opened and they looked like tucan beaks.  Now I know what they look like in "bloom". 

The beach was really pretty.  Perhaps we'll make it back there next week.

Then we continued on our way to the condo,  by way of the little Cinnamon Roll shop near our condo complex.  Got a cinnamon roll to share and a yogurt and granola for myself.  Ate it at our pool area, then hit the pool and jacuzzi.  Excellent cinnamon roll (and yogurt)! Got both for under $7.

Later, we headed back to Wailea to Mulligan's on the Blue.  Their happy hour looked interesting online, so we decided to check it out.  Being on a golf course, the place had great ambience and service.  Unfortunately, our happy hour picks weren't the greatest: fish and chips (too much coating); hot wings (soggy skins); and caesar salad (bland).  Even tried the fruit cobbler for dessert, but it was just ok.  Perhaps happy hour is not the right time to go?  Really, I'm not a picky eater!

Ok, the beer was good.

Dinner done, we had an hour to find a sunset spot.  Ended up going to Big Beach.  The clouds were pretty heavy, so there wasn't much color at sunset, so I looked for something different for sunset pictures.

I guess the view towards the ocean wasn't too bad, either.

On our way out, Ken spotted this guy.  We've seen them on Kauai, but they had more yellow on them there.

One last parting picture.

So goes another day.  Can't believe we've been here almost a week!!!

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!