Watch the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle

Aloha Hawaii snorkelers, scuba divers and Hawaiian Sea life lovers,
We are certain you all enjoyed Lisa's 'Dolphins' in Hawaii' story. Dolphins, Humpback whales and the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle are on top of our Hawaii visitors' list when exploring ocean life in Hawaii. The Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle gets many oohs and aahs when discovered basking in the sun for a nap or some rest from all its swimming. No need to get in a scuba diver's suit or put your goggles on. Of course, watching the Hawaii Green Sea Turtle in its element, the ocean, gracefully swimming and floating around, puts an extra thrill to your Hawaii vacation.



When encountering Hawaii Green Sea Turtles in the ocean, divers need to pay special attention to what they are not supposed to do. Bobbie from 'The Right Blue' blog had written about 'Tips for watching Sea Turtles in Hawaii' for our blog visitors. Those Hawaii diving tips are still the same valid right now. If you plan on going diving on your next Hawaii vacation, it's some useful advise which helps to protect our ocean life for many years to come.

Our today's post belongs to 'Best Hawaii Youtube Video' category. Enjoy this Hawaii video from JournOwl.com about the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle. Watch a green sea turtle swim gracefully over a coral reef in Maui.



Aren't those turtles in Hawaii a good reason to bring snorkel gear for a snorkel adventure in Hawaii? Ask locals where there is a good spot to see the green sea turtles and where it's safe to snorkel. Have fun snorkeling and watching the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles. Aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations

Hawaiian Ocean Life Related Stories

Where are the Dolphins in Hawaii?
The Humpback whales are still here
More Hawaii Humpback Whale Encounters
Humpback Whale Season in Hawaii
Whale Watch in Hawaii
Sharks, Rays and Whales on the most watched Youtube Video


Tags: Hawaiian Ocean Life, Hawaiian Green Sea, Best Hawaii Vacation, Hawaii Green Sea Turtle video

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Ocean Life in Hawaii

Aloha Hawaii Lovers,
After we talked about the big fish in Hawaii's ocean like Ono, Ahi, Mahimahi, Marlin and the big game fishing season, which has arrived in Hawaii, specifically in Kona Hawaii with the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament, we decided to stay in the water, the water of the Pacific Ocean around the Hawaiian Islands. Let's talk more about ocean life in Hawaii.



Those of you who have been following our Best Hawaii Vacation blog since we started this blog in July 2006 - Oh my, it's another blog anniversary, the 3rd! - have seen lots of great Hawaii photos taken by our friend Jennifer Crites, renowned Oahu Hawaii photographer and travel magazine writer. However, when Jennifer needed to have foot surgery after a hiking accident on Oahu, she was not able to continue to follow up with more Hawaii photos or guests posts like '5 Best Photo Tips for Your Hawaii Vacation' for our blog. We had to fill in the blanks with Kawika's beautiful and sexy Wahine girls of Hawaii - I am sure the guys did not mind - and our own amateur photos of Hawaii.


Today's blog post is about catching up with our dear friend, Jennifer Crites. Good news is that she is back to her busy schedule taking photos of our beautiful Hawaiian Islands, writing interesting articles for travel magazines, and now listen, she is also in the midst of writing a mystery book, which picks up the strong spirituality of native Hawaiians for 'weaving' the story. When the book is on the shelves of the bookstores, we will let you know.


Speaking with Jennifer about her latest book project, reminded us that this is not Jennifer's first book. Her first fiction book, yes.

Jennifer actually wrote together with her partner in life, Gerald Crow, longtime manager at the Waikiki Aquarium, a fascinating book about 'Sharks and Rays of Hawaii', which was published in 2002. If you can get your hands on this book, you won't be disappointed. Amazing, there are 40 species of sharks and 9 species of rays living in the ocean around the Hawaiian Islands, yet, little do we know about them. There is so much in the book that is fascinating. Here are the reasons why we, Keoki and myself, love this book.


5 Reasons why 'Sharks and Rays of Hawaii' belongs on the best seller list of Hawaii books


1.
There are about 400 photos in the book. There are NO all-text pages. About 60 % of the photos were taken by Jennifer Crites. Other photos were contributed by underwater photographers and scientists from all over the world.
2.
There are exciting stories from people who've had unusual encounters with sharks and rays.
3.
There's also a chapter on the early Hawaiians, their shark gods, how they used shark teeth for weapons and shark skin on their drums, how they co-existed with sharks and rays, and some of their legends.
4.
There's information about staying safe from sharks while swimming in the ocean, and how to recognize the different types of sharks, which ones might hurt you and which ones you don't have to worry about.
5.
There are a lot of "Wow, I didn't know that about sharks!" facts in the book. Kids like to read that sharks, when they have a tummy ache, can push their stomachs out through their mouths, wash them in sea water, and pull them back in again. It's called "gastric eversion."



Now, you can understand that 'Sharks and Rays of Hawaii' does not only attract the adult audience but kids alike. It's educational and entertaining at the same time. This is definitely a book which will keep your and your kids' attention on your next flight to Hawaii.It makes a great gift too.


Well, you may want to own your own copy of 'Sharks and Rays of Hawaii' and peruse through it with your kids leisurely. Amazon makes it possible with used books as low as $4.49 a book. We'd love to hear from our readers who have read the book and tell us how they liked it. Mahalo and aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations
p.s.
Last but not least, here is a short bio about Gerald Crow who co-authored the book "Sharks and Rays of Hawaii" with Jennifer Crites. Jerry is a well-known science researcher who has been interviewed for many TV programs and has appeared nationally on the Discovery Channel's "Shark Week" and on Animal Planet. He's also featured in the Discovery Channel's book, "Sharks." He's currently doing research on jellyfish.



Tags: Sharks and Rays in Hawaii, Hawaii bestseller books, Hawaii photographers, Jennifer Crites

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Ocean Life in Hawaii

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What is the Hawaii State Fish?

Mauna Kea beach on the Big Island has a great reputation not just for the whitest white sand beach but also almost perfect coral reefs for beginning snorkelers. I myself mostly enjoy the clear warm waters for an early morning swim, which I combine with watching the tropical fish in the reefs, as I swim across from one side of the bay to the other. On either end, one finds great coral reefs with an abundance of tropical fish. When you are new to the ocean, we recommend you snorkel on the right side when facing the ocean. This area is covered by Mauna Kea Beach hotel life guards.

When recently snorkeling the coral reefs at Mauna Kea Beach, I spotted several of my favorite Hawaiian fishies: the spiked puffer fish (can blow himself up by swallowing lots of water to a huge size, so he won't get eaten by the sharks), the yellow tang, which are a favorite by lots of Mainland visitors because of their strong yellow color and last but not least, the popular Humuhumunukunukuapuaa, which is really a cutie because of his colors and shape. Of course, there were many more fish to admire and Bobbie from the Right Blue, who wrote our guest post about Diving and Snorkeling in Hawaii would be able to name them all, with common and Latin names.

When preparing this post about the Hawaii state fish, which I was convinced was the Humuhumu, I came across the controversy and the statement that it was 'dethroned'. Well, I had not heard about that in all my years living in Hawaii and Wikipedia had not heard about it either. No one told the public that the Humuhumu's reign was over, so few knew anything had changed. Problem seems to be that the Humuhumu 'only' got chosen by the public through projects by the University of Hawaii and the Waikikia Aquarium in 1989. So lawmakers decided to make it the Hawaii state fish only for 5 years.

I can't even imagine that anyone would not want this fish to be the Hawaiian state fish. Opponents say the humuhumu is not unique to Hawaii. There is no lack of fish species specific to the islands. Thirteen species of wrass alone are found here and nowhere else in the world but none is as cute as the Humuhumu plus has this great Hawaiian name, which any tourist has a hard time to pronounce.

No wonder that we see the cute fish and its long name on T-shirts, cups and in TV commercials. Let's have some fun! Gov. Linda Lingle refused to give the fish the state title back and instead said that decision should instead be left to the public. If it ever comes to a new 'vote', let's vote for the Humuhumunukunukuapuaa as the Hawaiian state fish, or what do you think?
Aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations


Tags: Best of Hawaii, Humuhumu

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Tips for Watching Sea Turtles in Hawaii

Hawaii and the ocean is calling you again here at Best Hawaii Vacation Blog. After our recent tips for kayaking in Hawaii - one of the best Hawaii attractions around the Hawaiian islands - we are still staying in or close to the water. We are delighted to publish another well written guest post by Bobbie Sullivan, who lives on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island. Bobbie has been diving for more than 30 years and is a PADI certified Divemaster. She writes about the ocean and diving on her website 'The Right Blue'. We promise you her ocean blog stories and amazing ocean life photos will get you hooked. Go visit and see for yourself! Get a taste now with Bobbie's article:

Tips for Watching Sea Turtles in Hawaii by Bobbie Sullivan
Most visitors who come to Hawaii spend a good bit of their time in and around the ocean, swimming, snorkeling, beach-combing or just enjoying the sunshine and salt air. Sometimes, if they are lucky, they will get to see one of Hawaii’s most special shoreline residents – the sea turtle.
Several species of sea turtle can be found in Hawaiian waters, but the one that is most commonly seen is the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas). These creatures are native to Hawaii. Most Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles breed and nest in the uninhabited Northwest Hawaiian Islands, away from human populations.
During their adolescent and early adult years, they spend a lot of time at or near the shorelines of the main islands of Hawaii. Green Sea Turtles can be seen, at least occasionally, on any of the Hawaiian Islands you might visit, but they seem to be most plentiful around Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii.
A diver or snorkeler may be lucky enough to see a sea turtle swimming underwater, or resting on a coral shelf or a sandy patch on the bottom. If you happen to see a turtle in the water, it’s very important that you not try to grab or – heaven forbid! – try to ‘ride’ the turtle. Sea turtles are air breathers. They can stay underwater for quite awhile, but from time to time they have to come to the surface for a breath. They become instinctively frightened if they are restrained or cornered underwater.
People wading in shallow water close to shore sometimes encounter sea turtles, especially in rocky areas. The Green Sea Turtle’s favorite food is a type of seaweed (limu) that covers inshore rocks. If you visit a rocky shoreline, you may notice a turtle lazily grazing on limu, but just as with the turtles you may see underwater, they do not like to have their space invaded while they are feeding. Do not approach a turtle that is grazing. Watch from a distance that will not make the turtle uncomfortable.
Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles engage in a behavior called ‘basking.’ They haul themselves out of the water onto rocks or sand, and go to sleep. Marine scientists are not exactly sure why Green Sea Turtles do this. Some think that they do it to rest, away from their natural predators. Another theory is that basking serves as a way to elevate the turtle’s body temperature. In any case, this behavior is quite common. As a result, beachgoers in certain areas are very likely to see one or more turtles lying on the sand, looking like they’re working on their tans!
Some people become alarmed when they come across a turtle basking in the sun. They imagine that the turtle is injured, or that it has become stranded. Be assured that this is a natural behavior. The creature will haul itself back into the ocean when it has finished its nap -- and without any help!
You should know that sea turtles are protected by both State and Federal laws. It is important not to touch or harass the turtles, whether they are in the water or on the shore. Please respect them and enjoy them from a safe distance – safe for both you and the turtles!Have a wonderful time in the ocean in Hawaii, and stay safe."
Have you seen the turtles on your last vacation in Hawaii and if so, what was the best part meeting them? Tell us your about your encounter with Hawaiian green sea turtle.
Mahalo and aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations
p.s.
Mahalo again Bobbie for helping our Hawaii visitors to get more educated about the ocean life around the islands.
Tags: Best of Hawaii, Scuba, Hawaii, turtles

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Tips for Snorkeling and Diving in Hawaii

Aloha and welcome back to Best Hawaii Vacation blog,

Since we got you all excited with our recent invitation to a Big Island vacation with beautiful photos of places to see when on vacation on the Big Island, we thought this guest post about one of the Best Things To do on Hawaii Vacation, snorkeling and diving in the Hawaiian waters, fits right in.

We feel honored and grateful that one of the most experienced Hawaiian scuba divers, Bobbie Sullivan, is sharing her expertise and knowledge & love for the ocean and marine life with our blog visitors. Bobbie Sullivan has been diving for more than 30 years, and is a PADI certified Divemaster. She lives on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii and writes about the ocean and diving on her website The Right Blue. Her diving stories are touching and educational, and her ocean life photos magnificent, just like the marine life photos in this post, which were also taken by Bobbie. So let's take a Dive with Bobbie:

"Tips for Snorkeling and Diving in Hawaii" by Bobbie Sullivan

"I once saw a sticker in a souvenir shop that said “The best half of Hawaii is under water.” While that may be a little bit of an exaggeration in light of all the wonderful things to see and do in Hawaii, it is true that the reefs along Hawaii’s shorelines certainly are magical.

Whether you are a veteran diver or a novice snorkeler, you are virtually guaranteed to see things in Hawaiian waters that you have never seen – and won’t see -- anywhere else in the world. Because the Hawaiian islands are geographically isolated, something in the neighborhood of 20% of the fish species and marine invertebrates in Hawaiian waters are unique to the islands.

Since Hawaii has so many unique marine species, you might enjoy having a way to identify them. Dive shops, souvenir shops, drugstores and stores like WalMart and K-Mart sell full-color plastic fish and creature identification cards. They are inexpensive, and can be taken to the beach or into the water. They are a nice keepsake of your diving or snorkeling adventure in Hawaii, as well.

Basic snorkeling gear can either be rented from dive shops, or purchased inexpensively on every island. Scuba equipment is available for rental to certified divers. Be sure to bring your certification card with you!

Dive shops and tour operators throughout the islands offer organized diving and snorkeling adventures by boat. Snorkeling or diving with an organized group offers several advantages. You will be taken to prime sites where you are most likely to see the best variety of marine life, and you will be supervised to ensure your safety. Most of these operations offer basic instruction to beginners as well. The price for such an excursion usually includes gear rental and a snack or lunch.
If you choose to venture into the water on your own from shore, it’s a good idea to stop by the nearest dive shop first to chat, to learn which places are the safest and most interesting for snorkelers and divers. Some dive shops even provide free maps showing the best locations for shore diving or snorkeling.

When you arrive at the shoreline, take some time to just watch before you enter the ocean. Note where other people are entering and exiting the water, especially if there is any surf. Many visitors to Hawaii have little experience with the ocean, and do not understand how powerful even small-looking waves can be. They can knock you down or push you into rocks or coral. It’s always safest to enter the water in areas where there is little or no surf.

We always recommend that snorkelers and divers cover up when they enter the water. If you don’t have a dive suit, wear a long-sleeved tee shirt over your bathing suit. It will protect you from sunburn while snorkeling, as well as from scrapes and cuts should you accidentally brush against some coral or a sharp rock – something that happens more often than you might think! Wear a high ‘SPF’ waterproof sunscreen on the beach, on the boat, and in the water.

When you dive or snorkel in Hawaii, please do your part to help preserve this unique marine environment. Remember this slogan: Take only pictures, and leave only bubbles. Don’t stand or walk on the coral. Don’t take any coral or shells as a souvenir. Don’t feed the wildlife. Don’t chase, touch, or try to pet the critters. Not only do they bite, many species are protected by law and penalties for harassing them can be stiff. And please do pick up all of your trash when you leave the shoreline: If it doesn’t grow there naturally, take it with you when you leave.

Have a wonderful time in the ocean in Hawaii, and stay safe."

Much mahalos again Bobbie for these great tips for diving in Hawaii. We hope you can come back another time with one of your exciting dive stories. Allow me to to share with our blog visitors just one of my favorite posts on your blog about Myrtle, the turtle. Divers-to-be, have fun reading!

Til next time. Aloha, Pua Kohala Coast Vacation Guide

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5 Best Things to Do on your Hawaii Vacation
Humpback Whales are Back

Tags: Best of Hawaii, Diving in Hawaii

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