Maui Snorkeling Trips

Photo Courtesy Katie Velasquez

A large congregation of sharks is called a ’shiver’.  The above picture shows a very pregnant grey reef shark, or mano, as they are called in Hawaiian.  The Hawaiians have a very deep respect and connection with the sharks.  For many they still consider the shark to be a family ‘aumakua, or family guardian.

The grey reef is truly an amazing animal.  It’s ear is constructed very similar to a human ear, giving them a definite advantage of superior listening capability, along with their other 5 senses.  Their eyes are grey.  Easy to identify, the dorsal is short, triangular, and the second dorsal, tail, and pectoral fins are tipped with black.  They grow to just over 5 feet and are considered to be a fairly small shark.  They seem to prefer warmer waters on our planet.  The grey reef can do something, which makes them beyond amazing.  They can change the color of their skin!  WOW!  The first time this author saw this on a research video, I was floored.  I had a hard time believing my eyes and played the video again and again until it soaked in.  The female grey reef was feeding off a dead marine mammal and she was not alone.  There were many other grey reefs, along with a couple of blacktip reef sharks as well.  Suddenly this one turned and headed in a different direction.  The researcher filming decided this was too bizarre of behavior to not follow.  She slightly arched her back and lowered her pectoral fins while heading to an area ahead where the water was very murky from a river running into the ocean.  The researcher gasped loudly in the video as he watched the shark enter the murky water slowly, turning white from the tip of her snout to the end of her tail and disappeared in front of the camera.  All we saw was a glimpse of her tail.  The distance was not far and the researcher knew she was right there, evidently following the scent of something yummy, but he dared not follow.  How amazing is that?

Snorkeling, or enjoying SNUBA while in Hawaii would be even more amazing if you were lucky enough to get a glimpse of these apex predators hunting for the foods they love, i.e. octopus, reef fish, crabs and lobster.  What a photographic moment that would be!  But the truth is, not many people snorkeling or diving ever see a shark.  Not if the shark sees them first.

It is very sad to note that over 100 MILLION sharks are being killed each year by the finning industry.  We need to all fight together on this one.  Sharks are a keystone animal in our oceans.  If we lose these incredible animals the eventual down-slide, according to researchers, could be as fast as 50 years.  Our oceans would die off and without our blue backyard, humans would be next.  We could become extinct!  Read more about it through NatGeo, or other websites you trust, and don’t just sit there!!  Help them, they need you!

If you are planning a trip to the islands, bring a camera and come out on the water.  In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, you never know what you may be lucky enough to see!

Octopuses are highly intelligent sea creatures that live in many diverse climates.  They can be found in tropical waters and in the cold waters of the arctic north.  In Hawaii, there are three frequently seen species:  He’e Mauli (day octopus), He’e Makoko (night foraging octopus), & He’e Puloa (ornate octopus).  All species of octopus were an important food source.  The ancient Hawaiians also knew the favorite food of the octopus was a relative (cowrey) snail.  The cowrey was used as an octopus lure, tied to a stick on one side, weighted down by a rock on the other.  Hidden and secured tightly was a fish hook carved out of bone. This lure was dangled nearby outside an octopus den.  How did they know the octopus lived there?  How divers know today.  The octopus is a great hunter, but a very messy housekeeper.  They will clear the den of any shells of animals eaten, which will pile up right outside the front door.

Scientists have discerned that octopuses are more intelligent than any of the other invertebrates and measure their intelligence level about the same as a two year old child.  They have put octopuses through complex puzzle solving experiments in order to test the capacity for an octopus to think.  One of these experiments involved placing food inside a jar with a secured lid and the octopus opened the jar.  Not so very amazing, maybe, but what really threw researchers was the first time the octopus was given the challenge, it took her about 10 minutes.  A couple of weeks later, when given the same challenge it took her only seconds.  She REMEMBERED!  Another sign of an octopus’ intelligence is its ability to camouflage to a diverse array of environments.  This gives the octopus, all of which have no exoskeleton, an advantage over opponents that want to use them as prey and to not be seen by things they are preying on.

The octopus’ eight arms are covered with suction cups, which are used to grab prey and attach themselves to corals or rocks.  Researchers say to tell a female from a male, the animal (unfortunately) must be expired.  When spreading them on a table, the male will have one arm longer and devoid of suction cups. (Third on the left side)  They believe this is the insertion arm.  On an interesting note, the squid, a cousin, has 10 arms.  If you plan on coming to Maui and snorkeling, ask your guide about these incredible and very inquisitive animals.  You might be given a treat of an interesting story or two.

Photo Courtesy Dr. Jack Randall

They start mature life as females, then change to males!  The beautiful bi-colored anthias may live in large harems with one male taking care of the females.  Should anything happen to him, the largest female in the school will absorb her eggs and change to a male!  They are beautiful and small, reaching a length of only 5 inches.  The lucky snorkeler may find them in shallow waters or divers may see them down to 100 feet or lower.  The males have very long second and third spines that have yellow tips they use for display, according to Dr. Randall, and all dine mainly on zooplankton.

I love these little fish.  For the photographer, they seem to be less active in the late afternoons, preparing to bed down in the reef for the night.  With a little patience and no flash to frighten them good pictures can be obtained.

The Hawaiian name for these fish has been lost over time, but undoubtedly the Hawaiians had one.

Please remember when snorkeling or diving, please kokua.  We do not touch anything, take only pictures, and leave only bubbles!

Photo Courtesy Dr. Jack Randall

Hawaiians called it lauwiliwilinukunuku’oi’oi, meaning sharp-beaked wiliwili leaf, according to Mary Pukui.  This animal bears the longest name known in the Hawaiian language, but is such a cute little fish.  The butterfly family is large, 24 species known in Hawaiian waters, and as far as experts know had little, or no, food value.  I have not met one fisherman who catches these fish for food, but there are many local collectors for private aquarium use, and that is unfortunate for this little animal.  It puts a great deal of stress on the reef populations, which unfortunately in some places may not recover.  There is currently quite a lot of research being done on the reef fish and their numbers and some movement to prevent hunting for aquarium and collectors alike.

Many divers know that butterflyfishes may mate for life so it is not uncommon to see the adults traveling in pairs.  Some places on reefs there may be schools that are enormous and the splash of color can be breathtaking.  Off Lana’i there is a place where I dove and had a great deal of fun swimming slowly through a large school of butterflyfish, which parted as if I were royalty, coming back together slowly after I passed through.  I waited a few moments then approached them slowly again, and like before, they parted for me while keeping a wary eye.

The longnosed butterflyfish will feed on hydroids, fish eggs, and small crustaceans, but seem to prefer tube feet of echinoderms, pedicilaria of sea urchins, and polychaete tentacles, according to researchers.  They are diurnal, that is they sleep at night, changing their color patterns, and feed in the daytime.  This species may live to be the ripe old age of 18, says Dr. Randall.

Snorkeling with these and other species is a great joy.  Visitors coming to the islands should make every effort to get out there and enjoy the wildlife living in and around the reefs of Hawaii.

Photo Courtesy Dr. Jack Randall

The Hawaiians called them núnú, which has no particular meaning, just a name.  They are beautiful, but if you are a reef fish, or shrimp, they are deadly.  The trumpetfish is an ambush predator.  Capable of changing color to blend with their surroundings and its inhabitants, these fish can mimic sea grasses or hang upside down in the water column, nearly motionless, waiting for the right fish to swim below them, then quickly suck in their meal.  According to Dr. Jack Randall, the ventral part of the mouth is elastic and membranous, with minute teeth, so the fish taken in can be longer than the predator’s mouth.  They have been witnessed using several crafty methods.  One is to swim with surgeonfishes and ambushing a smaller fish as the surgeons break up the schools then swim through.  Another is to swim alongside a larger fish to make it easier to not be spotted, and yet another is to turn yellow and hang with the butterfly crowd.  That way, hanging motionless, you would not be easily spotted.  Anyone who think fish are stupid really don’t know their tactics at all.  As we learn more about the different behaviors of individual species, we are always reminded that we know so very little, but the wonderful thing of it is the amount of knowledge we gain by observing leaves the true marine life lover thirsty to learn more.

There are only three species of this fish in the world.  In Hawaii they are seen gray-brown, or yellowish orange-brown.

Snorkeling in Hawaiian waters couldn’t be more perfect this time of year.  We are in the middle of very warm temperatures, both out of the water and in.  The fish are waiting!

 Flowery Flounder, Photo Courtesy Dr. Jack Randall

Flatfish lie on the bottom with both eyes on their upper side, which may be elevated and independent of each other.  Most are night feeders and are quite the predator.  They are carnivores who ambush small fish and crustaceans.  This particular species has their eyes on the left side of their bodies.  Males may have one or more spines on their snout, and according to some researchers, males may have long rays on their pectoral fin.  According to the experts, 13 species inhabit the Hawaiian Islands.

The flowery flounders can be seen very close to shore.  One morning my daughter and I were about to do a shore dive from a south Maui beach.  A woman and her small son were wading when she screamed.  After calming down, she realized she was not about to be devoured by anything and discovered several very small flounders skirting around her feet trying to escape being trampled.  Actually it was quite comical to watch her son and her do a little jig.

These fish are present in Molokini  but one would have to look very hard at the sandy bottom.  They are camouflage experts, changing colors at will to blend perfectly with their surroundings.

Ancient Hawaiians called these fish paki`i, which means flat.  They couldn’t have come up with a more perfect name.

Porcupinefish Courtesy of Fishbase.org

In ancient Hawaiian times, according to Mary Pukui, author of many Hawaiian language books, these fish had an interesting tie to the Pandanus, or pineapple leaf, both having similar looking spines.  Both spines and flesh of the fish were considered to be poisonous, even though this fish was `aumakua (family god) for many.  In Hawaiian this fish is known as kókala.

With their large gold-brown eyes, this fish is said to be nocturnal, feeding on most anything that doesn’t swim away like sea urchins, crabs, mollusks, and hermit crabs.  Similar in several ways to puffers, these cute ones can also inflate, have a short gill opening in front of the pectoral fins, and no pelvic fins, and they have spines, which may be 3 rooted and fixed, or 2 rooted and movable, depending on the species.  Usually the spines lie flat until the animal is inflated; natures deterrent — finely tuned.  In our local aquarium these animals are fed clams, which they crush like humans do sunflower seeds.  They have powerful jaws and beak-like crushing plates.  They also seem to have personalities as witnessed with many species of fish, and some of these animals seem to really relish eating squid at the aquarium.  Also witnessed at the aquarium is how they can make subtle color and pattern changes in their skin, light tan to really dark brown.

Japanese nationals have told me that this animal is also eaten there and treasured (like puffers), but others have said they would not trust the flesh of this very toxic porcupine puffer.

When snorkeling you may see this species traveling in pairs, but being alone is the way most seem to like it.  Interesting researcher’s tidbit:  the tiger shark doesn’t seem to mind this fish’s toxicidity or spines and will eat porcupinefish.  As always, when snorkeling make sure no one is fish feeding.  In Molokini, an amazing tuff cone offshore, these fish are a little rare and fish feeding there is illegal.  Along Maui’s beaches, these fish may hide during the day, but if food is being offered they will appear.  Although usually slow moving they can be coerced to take food from a diver’s hand.  I did have a short conversation with a diver who did just that and wound up in emergency with a crushed finger tip.  Another great way to validate most water lovers ‘no feeding the wildlife‘ policy.

Thornback Cowfish/Male Spotted Boxfish, Photo Courtesy Dr. Jack Randall

They are adorable!  Staying under one foot in length, this species of little slow moving critters always look like they are whistling.  The ancient Hawaiians called the Cowfish Makukana and the Boxfish, Moa, which was a variation of pahu, (trunk, box, cask, drum, chest, etc.  Bald heads were sometimes ridiculed as drums, according to Mary Pukui, co-author of many Hawaiian language books).  In ancient times, these fish were taboo to women.

I have not heard from any locals that this fish is eaten, and we can understand why.  Instead of one spinal column as is with most fish, this little one can have a bony carapace that is triangular, quadrangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, or almost round in cross-section, according to Dr. Randall.  The skin surface is very tough and on the plates, they have small tubercles.  Their mouths are small, low on the head, and their gill openings are short, near vertical slits.  They have no spines in the fins, making them appear to flutter about the reefs.  They are very slow swimmers who feed on tunicates, sponges, some eating large amounts of algae.  It doesn’t look like there is much to them!  According to the experts, some secrete a toxin through their skin when stressed.  Out of the six species seen in Hawaiian waters, one is seen only in deep water.  The colorful male spotted boxfish in the picture above is one of my favorites.  The female of this species is a drab brown with white spots, but still very cute.

These little darlings are not hard to photograph, so when planning your snorkeling trip, do bring a camera. Every time I see one of these fish, they make me smile while I keep thinking of Jiminy Cricket whistling a happy tune!

Yellowtail Coris Adult/Juvenile, Photo Courtesy Dr. Jack Randall

Several times per week we get asked about Nemo, the cute little star of the Walt Disney movie “Finding Nemo”.  Unfortunately, the Clown Fish did not take hold in the Hawaiian Islands, but the closest thing to him (at least looks like him) is the juvenile phase yellowtail coris, which is a wrasse.  The wrasse family is quite large and very diverse.  They vary in size and shape with large lips and protruding front canine-like teeth and nodular to molariform teeth in the throat area.  Their scales are smooth edged and most wrasses are brightly or complexedly colored. Juveniles have very different coloration from the adults, like the pair in the above photos.  This can be confusing to the average diver who may not know this fish family very well.

According to the researchers, sex reversal from female to male may be true for all wrasses in the family.  The change is generally accompanied by great color transformations ending with the male more colorful than the female.  Many species have identical colored male/female in the first color phase (initial phase).  These spawn in male dominated aggregations.  The release of sperm and eggs takes place at the peak in an upward rapid rush.  Terminal males will then establish sexual domination and spawn with individual females in a harem.  Should he die, or be eaten, the largest female in the group will absorb her eggs, develop sperm and become the dominate male.  But, unlike human females, she cannot change her mind and reverse the process.  She will stay a male for life!

Wrasses are diurnal, i.e. daytime feeders with smaller animals burying in the sand for protection while sleeping.  Larger ones will seek shelter in the reefs.  All wrasses are carnivorous, most feeding on hard shelled inverts like crabs, sea urchins, mollusks, hermit crabs, and brittle stars, which they crush with their powerful throat dentition.  Some of the larger fish will turn over rocks to get to their food hiding underneath.  According to Dr. Randall, the species Anampses strike forcefully the bottom with their projecting teeth and suck in crustaceans and mollusks along with debris and sand.  Some feed mainly on fish and others, zooplankton.  It is amusing to note that the ones with really big lips will feed on coral polyps.  In an earlier posting we discussed the cleaner wrasse, hinalea, who is a parasitic eater, also taking in skin mucus.

I get great joy watching wrasses swim because they do so mainly with their pectoral fins, flapping madly and using their tails only when they need a burst of speed.  Most stay close to the coral reefs, but not the razorfish and knifefish.  They have compressed bodies and thin foreheads enabling them to dive into the sandy bottom for protection.  In Hawaiian waters, the wrasse family (Labridae) is represented by 43 species making them larger than any other shore fish family.

If you are coming to the islands and plan on snorkeling it may be a good idea, for those who want to learn some of the reef fish, to pick up a copy of Dr. Randalls’ book “Shore Fishes of Hawaii”, available in most Longs Drugs, ABC Stores and also in our local aquarium gift shop.  This book is full of color pictures and will make learning fun.  It is this author’s opinion, everyone should get out on the water at least once when they arrive.  The Hawaiian Islands sit in the middle of the sub-tropics and are surrounded by beautiful beaches and coral reefs.  To really get the full well-balanced enjoyment of your vacation, please plan on getting wet.  Let the children know that although Nemo lives in Australia and other places, they can look for his double, the baby yellowtail coris.

Stripebelly Puffer, Photo Courtesy Dr. Jack Randall

Puffers are so named for their ability to swell up by drawing in water (or air if out of the water) into a highly distensible diverticulum of their stomachs.  They have amazing jaws fused to beak-like plates and a slit-like opening in front of the pectoral fins.  Their have no pelvic fins and no ribs.  Their skin is very tough with no scales.  Puffers are known for producing a very powerful poison (tetrodotoxin) in their tissues, liver, and ovaries.  Depending on the species, the toxin strength varies, some species safe to eat and others may be lethal.  According to researchers, this may also vary depending on the geographical area and reproductive season.  In Japan, they are known as Fugu.  In accordance with Japan laws, only the most highly and specialized training will enable a sushi chef to serve this fish, thought by some to be a delicacy.  In Japan it is eaten raw, grilled, or in soups.  It is said by those who eat it that the flavor is very light and delicate.  Even though the most toxic part of the fish is discarded, this author has had many conversations with Japanese visitors who claim that the gentle numbing buzz one gets from eating this dangerous fish is quite worth the concerns.  (Yikes!) 

Most puffers are solitary, but a few may form small schools.  Currently known to scientists, there are 14 species of puffers recorded living in Hawaiian waters, and 9 of those are near-shore.  That means most snorkelers, when taking their time on the water will most likely see one.  I love the fact that they eat anything that doesn’t swim away since they are not a very speedy animal.  With their impressive crushing plates they can easily make short work of any sea urchins, mussels, clams, worms, and probably crabs and lobsters.  

One morning early, while snorkeling with one of my sons off a south Maui beach, we noticed two puffers holding vigilance over a particular section of reef.  When we approached slowly they backed away.  It didn’t take long to find their comfort zone and we respectfully held our place watching them to see what is was they were waiting for.  Then we saw it.  It was a collector urchin who was cautiously trudging down the rock face toward the sandy bottom.  They kept close by, following it slowly.  We were nearly giddy with anticipation.  Close to the rocks edge the urchin lost its grip falling several inches.  The pair pounced in an instant, gutting the poor unsuspecting sea urchin.  I must say, emotions ran every which direction, but the first was dismay and sorrow for the urchin, then curiosity took over.  We knew we were witnessing a very wondrous part of wildlife……carnage!

The ancient Hawaiians used the name o`opu hue for many species of puffer.  Translated it means: gourd.  This fish was `aumakua (Family God) for many.

Upon your arrival to the islands, most folks want to get out there and snorkel.  It is summertime and the best way to beat the heat is get out in the water!  Grab some gear and wade in.  Some folks prefer going out on boats to such wonderful places as Molokini, Lana`i, or Moloka`i.  Whatever your pleasure is, take the time to observe the locals in the reefs.  You never know what you might find.