17.02 Hawaii: Molokini and Turtle Arches, Wytni's birthday with Luau

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROOMIE!!! It was first week of January year 2008 when we moved in together in Fulton dorm :) That was a looong time ago - 11 years! Oh I feel old :)

Unfortunately we had a very early morning today, got up at 4:30 to get to Ma'alaea where our tour started from. Got boarding passes and initial introduction at the Pacific Whale Foundation office. Next we were guided to the ferry, handed out fins-masks-snorkels and the tour started. First stop was Molokini crater that is an extinct crater and is now designated as a State Marine Life and Bird Conservation District. Ride over there was quite rough and lasted about 40 minutes. Apparently there have been very strong winds for the past few days and they have not even been able to do the tour. Winds eased down later on and by the time we headed back there were barely any waves at all.

Snorkeling by Molokini was amazing. I jumped in from the boat, stuck my head under water and got scared the hell out by a little brave fish that was right in front of my nose :) I also got a digital underwater camera to take pics of the sea life - that was a good choice, it was great to click away at the little fish down there.

As I mentioned this time of the year is the peak time for Humpback Whales mating season. Whales come to Hawaiian islands for the winter to mate and then swim all the way back to Alaska for the summer time only to be back here the next year again. There were quite many of them jumping and flapping their tales in the distance. At the end we got to see some great jumps quite close up as well.

From Molokini we were taken to another snorkeling location by Turtle Arches. While the guide was talking I kept peeking underwater and noticed a turtle chilling on the bottom of the water, I freely let the guide know and soon he was down there pointing at the turtle so that the rest of the group would notice it as well :) Turtle was just chilling there, later we saw another one at the surface. Turtles can hold their breath for about 40 minutes and then they need to come to the surface to breathe. The way they move is amazing, they just flap their legs once and then glide :)

Our guide also suggested to dive under water in order to hear the singing of the whales, I was the only one to do it - the song was beautiful. Later on the boat they were able to drop a underwater microphone into the water and we heard singing of the whales over the loudspeakers as well. As they said they usually don't do it on the snorkeling trips, one has to be on the whale watching trip to get to hear them, but they figured to give us a bonus :) If any of you would like to hear them, go to this address, you will get live whale singing from the very same bay area.

At the boat they were telling us all sorts of information about the fish and the marine life. For an example, you are not suppose to feed the fish since they eat the seaweed off the reef and keep it clean, if you feed them, then the reef would get covered with seaweed and simply die out. Also there is a type of small fish that other fish don't eat since they are providing the bigger fish a service - they clean their skin :) Apparently at times the bigger fish form a line like in the car wash to get the skin cleaned by the small fish :D, cute huh?

In the evening we had Luau scheduled. The show was great - lots of dancing, humor and eating. Each dance told a story, they were danced to authentic music and by local people. Just like traditional shows everywhere. It was done quite well and show was definitely good.

Another thing I wanted to write about was the flower in the hair tradition, at the Tropical Plantation our guide explained the following:
- behind the right ear if you are married/taken
- behind the left ear if you are free
- on top of your head if you are clueless :)
- behind your head if you should be followed no questions asked ;)