Maui Snorkeling Trips

Photo Courtesy fishbase.org/Flescher, D

The ancient Hawaiians called the young of this fish aha aha, and the mature needlefish aha.  This author couldn’t find much on the importance of the needlefish, but surely it was eaten, and still is.

The flat needlefish is seen in worldwide tropical and temperate oceans including the east and west Atlantic oceans, Bermuda, north Gulf of Mexico, throughout the Indian Ocean, Japan Ocean, east and west Pacific and as far south as Brazil.  Wow, they get around, don’t they?  Interestingly, their meat is green tinted, so although they are seen in markets and sold frozen, salted, or smoked, the needlefish is not sold in mass quantities.  Their maximum recorded size is 140 cm, (55 inches) and weight of 4800 gm, (10.5 lbs.).  Needlefish can be seen in small schools or solitary and feed on small fish.  Although they are seen in river mouths or estuaries, they seem to prefer island waters.  These fish attach their eggs with filaments to other objects like corals, mooring lines, piers, etc.

Snorkeling while in Hawaii is most certainly a joy and small needlefish may swim closer and gently tap on the mask of a curious snorkeler.  We know fish like to people watch occasionally, but the needlefish can be especially fun!  Don’t forget your camera!!

Photo Courtesy B. Small/Birds.Cornell.edu

The ancient Hawaiians called this beautiful bird koa`e kea, (kea means white in Hawaiian).  The long tail tropicbird is breathtaking to watch in flight as it may plummet down to the ocean to retrieve a fish or squid at any time.

This bird was used for featherwork in ancient times, and the product of the featherwork was used to adorn the ali’i, or chiefs (chieftess) of the villages.

Watching this bird in flight is really amazing and this author has not heard the birds emit any sounds, but researchers say their call is a rasping scream.  They are usually seen as solitary travelers, but on Kaua’i there are many that live on the cliffs.  They are also seen off the Big Island soaring in Kilauea crater.  They lay a single egg in nests built in rock crevasses on cliff faces, which makes studying the mating habits there nearly impossible.  Breeding is from March to October.

Snorkeling in Hawaii allows marine life lovers to get out on the water and explore everything the Pacific has to offer, including sea birds.  When coming to Maui, please take time to get out there.  You won’t know what is awaiting you until you do!