Three cited for kayak vending near Kealakekua Bay

by Erin Miller
West Hawaii Today

County police and law enforcement officers from the Department of Land and Natural Resources cited three men Wednesday for allegedly improperly renting kayaks on county and state land near Kealakekua Bay.

Permitted kayak vendors have long complained about illegal rentals along the roads leading to Napoopoo Pier, as well as in the adjacent parking lot. Officer Calvin DeLaries said the three men, who are 21, 28 and 44 years old, were ticketed for soliciting business on state property and trespassing, as well as commercial use of a county street.

The Police Department and DLNR officers also seized a truck and 13 kayaks.

The department has received numerous complaints about illegal activity at and near the pier, prompting the Community Policing investigation, DeLaries said.

Up Close and Personal

Heather was visiting from the great white north and took this awesome shot. While snorkeling at our secret spot on the Expedition trip a pod of Spinner dolphins swam right up to our guests! Turns out Heather is a professional photgrapher, check out her website. www.thisisphotography.ca

Man in the Grey Suit

We were heading south out in the deep water looking for Pilot Whales when we spotted a familiar dorsal fin. We got a quick glimpse of a Hammerhead shark. He didn 't want anything to do with us and went deep.

Tourist Comment #58

"Who made up all the Hawaiian words?"

First Breach of the Season!

Adrian sent in this awesome shot of our first Humpback whale breach of the season. We were on the Expedition trip heading south towards Hookena when this guy launched right in front of us.

Sunday Morning

Sunday morning Bob and Alice had the whole boat to themselves, glassy water conditions and a pod of Spinner Dolphins.

Semester at Sea

The school ship "Robert C. Seamans" stopped in to Kealakekua Bay. Based out of Woods Hole, Ma. this 135 ft brigantine takes students on semesters at sea across the Pacific. I never had this option. Where can I sign up?

Hawaiian Sailing Canoe

Kalani was down in Kealakekua Bay with his sailing canoe. He was bringing children from Kamehameha schools out for an educational trip to Ka'awaloa and the Captain Cook Monument.

First Humpback

We saw the first Humpback Whale to make it down from Alaska for the winter whale season. Still early for whales but Captain Mar spotted this one just outside of Honaunau on Tuesday, Nov. 10th.

Tsunami Video

Seaquest alumni Kurt Bell took picture's of the tidal surge in Keauhou Bay here in Kona from the Samoa earthquake with his Iphone. These picture's (posted here first!) have been making their way around the internet, now there's a video!

Ironman 2009

Saturday, Oct 10th the 2009 Ironman World Championship started at 7 am. See the smoke from the start cannon. The video is looking down Palani Rd. at the "hot corner". The tri-athlete's have just made the transition from the swim to the bike. The cut off time for the run is midnight.

Spinner Dolphin Video

Tsunami

On Tuesday, September 29th there was an 8.0 earthquake off of Samoa in the South Pacific. It created a huge tsunami that devastated the area. Hawaii was put on tsunami alert until 1:15 pm that day. It was then cancelled and we were told to watch for abnormal tidal surges. About 4 pm in Keauhou Bay the water level dropped extremely low and then rose to completely flood the pier and parking area. No one in Hawaii was hurt. Thanks to Kurt for the photo's, it all happened with in five minutes.

TSUNAMI'S ARE VERY DANGEROUS AND UNPREDICTABLE. IF THE OCEAN LEVEL EVER DROPS WAY BELOW NORMAL RUN FOR THE HILLS!

The Fleet

Seaquell, Manta Raiv, Kai'imi and Makana ready for the morning trip.

Exploring the Big Island: From Captain Cook to active volcanoes

By Tony Hicks
Contra Costa Times


We motored the Zodiac into Kealakekua Bay around noon, the sun gleaming off what I'd been looking for: The Captain Cook monument, its ivory surface and vertical shape sharply contrasting the green foliage background.
It marks the spot on the Big Island where one of the world's great explorers, Captain James Cook, met the initially welcoming Hawaiian people in 1779 — the first encounter between Hawaiians and the Western world. It began a long, often rocky relationship that more than a century later resulted in American rule of Hawaii and a two-part "Brady Bunch" episode featuring Vincent Price.
It's also where the natives killed Cook rather brutally after a disagreement over a boat.
But never mind the ugliness. Because the bay is one of the best snorkeling spots on the island (only minutes later I'd be scrambling to see a manta ray disappearing into the depths), the area was relatively full of people.
The Cook monument is no more than a square encompassing about 400 square feet and accessible on land by a rugged trail. It also is said to be the only non-embassy in the United States that sits on land owned by the British government.
Well, that did it. My ancestry is British. I've never actually been there, but my brand new third-degree sunburn assured me that, at the very least, my skin was very British. I asked the boss of our Sea Quest tour boat, the very entertaining Captain Liam Powers, how we would get the boat to shore.


"We don't," he said, adding that doing so would destroy the pristine coral.
"Can I swim there?" I asked.
"No."
"Wade?"
"No."
"But I'm kind of British," I pleaded.
Powers just smiled. Maybe the British thing doesn't go so far in Hawaii anymore.
That was the only thing that didn't work on our seven-day adventure exploring the Big Island. My wife and I experienced probably the best of our half dozen-plus Hawaiian trips.

Strong start

While autumn on the mainland may not scream vacation, it makes perfect sense in Hawaii. The weather is warm and mostly mild. The prices are relatively reasonable. There's far less waiting for that restaurant table facing the sunset and far more room for give-and-take with tour guides. And with school back in session, you have fewer children in the way when gazing into a volcano.
You need at least a week to properly see the Big Island, the biggest in the Hawaiian chain. We traveled from Kailua Kona around the southern tip to Hilo in the east, then around the northern tip to the resort area of Waikoloa. The pace was constantly brisk.
The Sea Quest snorkeling tour was the best of four Hawaii snorkeling trips I've taken. It covered three sites in five hours, including the aforementioned Kealakekua Bay and Honaunau Bay, near the historic Place of Refuge. The latter is where we encountered a 5-foot white tip reef shark, casually swimming toward us near a coral wall. The water was so clear, it felt like we were swimming in the fish tunnel at an aquarium.
With only minutes left on the trip, Captain Powers found a pod of spinner dolphins, which he estimated at 100 strong. A number of babies were learning to jump and spin like their mothers. One, Powers estimated, was only days old.
The Place of Refuge itself lies on what was royal grounds in Kona, with a handful of thatched buildings, guarded by giant tikis (for Hunter S. Thompson fans, this was where he allegedly hid at the end of "The Curse of Lono"). A massive, 16th century stone wall survives, ensconcing the area considered a sanctuary for ancient Hawaiians. It's also one of the best sea turtle viewing sites in Kona. My wife almost stepped on one.

Rookie?

Somehow the cooler slipped and dumped all the cans into the bay. Due to Joe's quick response no fish were injured during this incident.

Shadows

Check out the shadow of the water drop on this Spotted Dolphin. (click on the photo for a close up)

Don't mind me...

This Hawaiian Monk Seal decided to take a little nap at the Keauhou boat ramp. It didn't last long and he swam away.

Black Sand Beach

When conditions are just right (safe) lucky guests on our Expedition trip get to explore a remote black sand beach at the base of a 1950 lava flow in South Kona. Because the black sand originated from this flow, the beach is only about 60 years old.

Spotted Dolphins

We came across a big pod of Spotted Dolphins close to shore which normally stay in the deeper water. About the same size as Spinners but the spots and white nose make them easy to id.

Really????

This wouldn't work on the mainland, why would you think it would work here? Mike sent this shot over from Oahu.

Kona Weather

It's been the same forecast since I've been here: Sunny in the morning with upslope showers in the afternoon. Here the afternoon clouds are forming in Kealakekua over the South Kona coffee farms. There is no irrigation on coffee farms, sunny mornings and rainy afternoons.

New Skin

Seaquell needed a facelift. Liam, Josh, Kyle and Brian prepped the hull for the new cover and it didn't take Liam long to fill the boat with plenty of hot air...

Pilots, Sharks and a water bottle.

We found a small pod of Pilot Whales with two Oceanic Whitetip Sharks close behind. Crinkling an empty plastic water bottle under water brought both of the sharks right to the side of the boat for a closer view. I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it myself.

High and Dry

Found this local fishing boat up on the rocks at Honaunau today. No storms or bad weather, must have drifted up on a high tide?

Chillin'

Captain Liam and a buddy hanging out while the rest of the crew snorkels in the bay by Pu'u Honua O' Honaunau.

Captain Cook Monument

IN MEMORY OF THE GREAT CIRCUMNAVIGATOR CAPTAIN JAMES COOK R.N. WHO DISCOVERED THESE ISLANDS ON THE 10th OF JANUARY, A.D. 1778 AND FELL NEAR THIS SPOT ON THE 14th OF FEBRUARY A.D. 1779. 

THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED IN NOVEMBER A.D. 1874 BY SOME OF HIS FELLOW COUNTRYMEN

Pilot Whales

We spotted a huge pod of Pilot Whales about 2 miles offshore of Ka'awaloa. They were logging on the surface, probably resting after feeding on squid last night. The pod was spread out as far as we could see. Here Brian is thinking about jumping in for a closer look. Oceanic Whitetip sharks often follow the pod looking for scraps and leftovers.

Some of the adults males made Capt'n Shawny and the 6 pax boat look kinda small. The bulls can weight up to three tons.

Tourist Comment # 47

A lady was disappointed with her trip to the volcano park. "We went to the rainforest yesterday and all it did was rain!"

Bottlenose Dolphin

A pod of at least 10 Bottlenose Dolphin came by the boat today just outside of Ka'awaloa. It's rare to see more than two or three this close to shore. These two are checking out the humans. Dolphins have acute vision both in and out of water.

The State of Hawaii Intends To Ban Snorkeling and Diving From Kealakekua Bay

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) recently announced a new plan called the Kealakekua Steward Area. Some highlights of the plan include:

-a $5 per person fee

-prohibiting tours on weekends and holidays, or roughly one third of the year.

-banning commercial ocean activities from Honaunau

-on Jan. 1st 2018 ALLOWING ACCESS INTO KEALAKEKUA BAY ONLY VIA OUTRIGGER CANOES. THIS APPLIES TO RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS ALIKE.

While there are some good provisions in the plan such as the state taking a management position in the bay and the restoration of Ka'awaloa Village, the plan should better balance the needs of the West Hawaii community and include ocean recreation, education and appreciation.

You can view the entire plan at:

www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/ksa

We implore you to email your thoughts and questions about this plan to:

kealakekuaplan@yahoo.com

before it's too late. You have until the end of April to make your option known. The DLNR intends to begin implementation of the plan in the summer of 2009! Mahalo for your kokua!

Hawaiian Monk Seal

While exploring the caves just north of Honaunau this Hawaiian Monk Seal swam right up to the side of the boat for a closer look! We could see a red tag on his tail so it's seen humans before. This is a very rare encounter!

No Vog Today

A few days of southerly wind cleared the Konaside of vog. From Pu'u Honua O Honaunau you can see the 8271 ft peak of Hualalai.

Hard At Work

Capt'n Dre and Capt'n Mar hard at work on "Seaquell" in the calm waters of Kealakekua Bay.