In an earlier post, I talked about my favorite place on the Big Island, South Point. In it, I mentioned Papakolea, the green-sand beach. I thought I should probably make you aware of a much more accessible black-sand beach. (If you remember, reaching Papakolea required a 2.5 mile hike each way or a 4-wheel drive vehicle to get there.)
Punaluu Beach State Park is located about 20 miles from South Point, toward Hilo. You simply take a short drive off of Mamalahoa Highway, between the towns of Naalehu and Pahala, and you can just about drive onto the beach. Do not attempt to do so, as this is also a favorite resting spot of the Hawaiian green sea turtle, a protected species.
Punaluu is a great spot to take a break from the long drive between Hilo and Kailua-Kona. There is a protected inlet located behind the picnic pavilions that usually provides a calm, shallow, sandy bottomed area that’s just great for the little ones. (My granddaughter was a year old when we took her there and she was as happy as can be walking around this safe haven.)
Wading pool behind the picnic shelter
There are other black sand beaches on the Big Island, specifically on the eastern shores, south of Hilo. This is a very lightly visited area of the Big Island, simply because it requires veering off of Mamalahoa Highway on the around-the-island drive that many undertake to make in a day…a big mistake. (See Drive Around the Big Island posts #2 of 3.)
You take Highway 130 South at Kea’au, go down to the town of Pahoa and can take Highway 130 to the beach or take one of the many side roads that all end up at the water’s edge. Be sure to pick up a map.
Punaluu remains my favorite black sand beach, although except for the kiddie area, its really not the best swimming beach. But, it is a great spot to observe the many sea turtles that frequent the area, except for mating season when they head to the islands of the French Frigate Shoals, part of the Hawaiian Island Archipelago, where 90% of the green sea turtles lay their eggs.
If you are a regular follower of my blog, you know that as a general rule, Hawaii resorts reviews are not my thing. However, I must admit, I just came across an article in WestsideToday.com, a California e-magazine, that I thought I would refer people to who might be interested in some of the resorts on Maui.
Maui Resorts Review
In this resorts review, the author, Pearson Brown, stayed at and gives his reactions to:
Fairmont Kea Lani, in south Maui
Makena Beach and Golf Resort (formerly the Maui Prince), also in south Maui
Napili Kai Beach Resort, in west Maui
Although more noted for its golf and tennis packages, Mr. Brown manages to not focus his review of the Makena Beach and Golf Resort on these athletic endeavors, but rather on those amenities that everyone in the family could enjoy. He traveled with a close friend and his pre-school aged son, so does take the time to mention some kid-focused activities available at these resorts, as well.
Beyond the resorts review…
More than just a resorts review, this article also reviews a handful of attractions that anyone who visits Maui might enjoy visiting as well. Links to previous blog posts here have been given for further information, and links are also provided for those I haven’t.
So, if your travel plans involve finding a nice resort on Maui, I think you will find the resorts review provided in “A Near Escape To Maui” (WestsideToday.com) of interest. But, even if you don’t plan on staying at a resort, you may still find the author’s take on some of the activities worth your read.
I’m sure everyone who ever spent any time at all in Hawaii has a special place that they remember with fond memories. Maybe its because I have strong memories of time spent fishing with my grandfathers, uncles, dad and sister, as well as with my two daughters…or maybe its just because it has such a raw beauty all its own, but my favorite spot is South Point, aka Ka Lae, on the Big Island.
For most, its nothing more than a blip on a map or in a travel brochure/guide that simply makes note of the fact that it is the southernmost point of the US. (Key West is the southernmost of the contiguous 48 states, but South Point, is further south.)
The contrasting sight of the calm waters of Kona on one side and the turbulent, wind-whipped waters on the other, makes it an interesting place to visit. Almost always windy, South Point has been the site of a World War II outpost, a former U.S. Army- then U.S. Air Force satellite-tracking station, and an abandoned wind-turbine farm, the Kamaoa Wind Farm.
Update: As of March 29. 2012, Apollo Energy Corp., owners of the Kamaoa Wind Farm, announced that the dismantling of all 37 of the rusted remains of the Mitsubishi turbines will be completed by the end of the week. The pieces will be stored on-site until a buyer for the scrap can be found. Apollo Energy Corp. is also joint-owners of the Pakini Nui Wind Farm, which can be seen from South Point as you look back to the northwest.
Left: South Point
Right: Mahana Bay
View along the way to Mahana Bay
Mahana Bay and Papakolea (Green Sand Beach)
It is also your gateway to the famous green sand beach. “Back in the day”, before someone decided to add it to the tourists brochures, locals referred to it as Mahana Bay, or simply as Mahana. Once it was “put on the map”, it now goes by its much longer Hawaiian-name Papakolea Beach. (I admit, the first time I heard it called that was only a few years ago.)
Regardless of how you come to call it, it is the only green sand beach that I am aware of and even though it requires an hour to hour-fifteen minute hike to get to it, there are a surprising number of people who visit this once desolate beach. (Once a favorite fishing spot of mine.)
Note: If you decide to take the hike, please make sure you wear a hat, sunscreen, and a pair of sunglasses wouldn’t hurt either. Just as, if not more, important is to remember to bring your own refreshments as there are no services in the area. As a matter of fact, South Point is about 12-15 miles away from the nearest eatery in either Ocean View Estates or Naalehu.
On a visit, it during February 2010, we had a sideshow of whale’s breaching off the coast as we made the trek there and back. I remember making a plea for one of them to display a full breach as opposed to just the spray we were witnessing everywhere.
And, about half way back from our visit to Mahana Bay, we were not only treated to a full breach, but mom was followed seconds later by junior! It was an awesome site that just made my day complete!
I hope you will find the time to visit South Point, rather than just drive-by the turn off.
Didn’t get your tickets to attend the Merrie Monarch Hula Competition? Don’t feel bad, thousands of others also missed out as this venue usually sells out before the first of the year. The good news is, there are a lot of activities that you can attend, many of which are free, during this week long celebration hosted by the town of Hilo.
To quote their website, ” the major purpose of the festival is the perpetuation, preservation, and promotion of the art of hula and the Hawaiian culture through education.” The Merrie Monarch Festival had its beginning in 1964, sponsored by the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce and continued by the private Merrie Monarch Festival community organization, a non-profit organization.
King Kalakaua…The Merrie Monarch
The Merrie Monarch Festival is dedicated to the memory of King David Kalakaua, aka the Merrie Monarch. King Kalakaua reigned from 1874-1891 and was responsible for the resurrection of Hawaiian cultural traditions that had been all but eradicated by the missionaries. He encouraged the re-birth of Hawaiian mythology, medicine, chant, and hula.
Merrie Monarch Festival Is Born
The original program for the first few years included a King Kalakaua look-alike contest, barber shop quartet entertainment, a relay race, and a Holuku Ball. A far cry from the festival being held today.
It changed direction to include the hula competition in 1971, which was perfectly timed for the renewed interest in Hawaiian culture throughout Hawaii to launch its popularity. What may have surprised everyone was how its popularity spread world-wide!
The World’s Premiere Hula Competition
From its humble beginnings with nine female hula dancers entered in that initial contest in 1971, male competition was added in 1976, and the groundwork was laid for the prestigious world-wide competition it has become. The hula competition now takes place over 3-days as entrants from around the world vie for the coveted title of Winner of the Merrie Monarch Festival.
There are now 8 awards that are given for top performers and top hula halaus (schools). The prestige of winning this annual competition cannot be over-stated. You can view a listing of all the winners since 1998 at www.kalena.com. Here are performances by some of the 2011 Merrie Monarch Festival Hula Competition winners.
MERRIE MONARCH FESTIVAL 2011 Hâlau Ke’alaokamaile
MISS ALOHA HULA WINNER 2011 Tori Hulali Canha
Ke Kai O Kahiki – 1st Kāne Overall, 1st Kāne Kahiko
The festivities have expanded to cover a full-week and include hula demonstrations, exhibits, arts & crafts, and food vendors to make sure that there is a little something for everyone. It includes a crowd favorite, the Merrie Monarch Royal Parade, held on Saturday morning and winds its way through downtown Hilo.
So, as you can see, Hawaiian culture, song, and dance are all being safely preserved and shared for generations to come, just as the Merrie Monarch himself, King David Kalakaua wanted. If you’re going to be on the Big Island during the second week of April, I strongly encourage you to take the time to experience at least a part of the Merrie Monarch Festival, enjoy the entertainment, experience the love, and savor the foods!
USAirways announced new higher fees for overweight luggage/baggage for anyone who purchased tickets after February 1, 2011 or travel after March 1st. For travel within the US/Canada/Latin America/Caribbean, you will be charged $90 for bags weighing 51 to 70 lbs each way. For bags weighing between 71 and 100 lbs, the fee is $175 each way. Overseas travelers face even higher fees.
These fees are in addition to the standard checked baggage fees of $25 for your first piece, $35 for your second piece, and $125 for your 3rd thru 9th checked bags. Prior to this change, your 3rd thru 9th bags would have cost an extra $100/bag. Again, these are fees for travel within the US/Canada/Latin America/Caribbean.
The over-sized bag fee is also raised to $175 per piece, each way.
There are exceptions to the checked baggage fees, including active duty military personnel and frequent fliers who have reached silver, gold, and higher status. For more information, check out their Frequently Asked Questions section of the USAirways website.
While USAirways is not a major carrier of traffic to Hawaii, the question is will other airlines increase their fees as well? If history shows us anything, its that they will see how the public reacts…then follow suit.
By the way, do you remember the “fuel surcharge”? As oil prices continue their rapid increases and with talk of gas hitting $5.00/gallon by the end of 2012, I would not be surprised to see that rear its ugly head once again. What do you think?
It is estimated that protection of these endangered animals has allowed the number of wintering humpbacks in Hawaiian waters to increase from an estimated 1000 back in 1978 to an estimated to 10-12,000 currently. That’s about 50-60% of the estimated total North Pacific Humpback count of 20,000.
The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is still looking for a few more volunteers to participate in a whale count on Oahu, the Big Island and Kauai.
The annual count is held at numerous locations from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on three Saturdays:
Jan. 26, Feb. 23 and March 30, 2013
Volunteers may register online at www.sanctuaryoceancount.org for locations on Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island. Check to see if the location you’re interested in still has openings…many do.
Whether you’re an island resident or a tourist looking for something special to do while on vacation, you can be a big help in the conservation efforts of these gentle giants of the sea. Mahalo!
UPDATE 1/22/13): Great news! All slots for volunteer counters have been filled for this year’s whale count.
Tickets for the 2013 Merrie Monarch Festival, being held March 31st to April 6th, in Hilo, are available via the mail. You can apply for a maximum of 2 tickets to the 3-days of competition, Thurs (Apr 4th), Fri (Apr 5th), and Sat (Apr 6th). Tickets costs depend upon seat selection. You can purchase tickets to the Miss Aloha Hula competition held on Thursday night, or you can purchase 2-day tickets for the group competitions held on Friday and Saturday nights.
Most activities during the Festival week are free to the public; however this year, tickets are needed to attend the Wednesday Hōʻike and the three-day hula competition. This year tickets to the Wednesday night Ho’ike will cost $5.00 each and you can apply for up to 4 tickets. The Merrie Monarch Festival Committee is coordinating a special Ho’ike to salute the 50th Celebration of the Merrie Monarch Festival. We have invited some of the original dancers, first Kāne winners and special guests to grace the stage. You can find the application for the Ho’ike tickets by clicking the link above.
All applications must be postmarked no earlier than December 26th (yesterday), so you still have a good chance to get tickets if you act quickly. Tickets for the Merrie Monarch hula competition sell out quickly, so if you want to attend, I would strongly suggest you print out, complete and mail your application today!
When people think of fishing in Hawaii, thoughts immediately go to giant Marlin or Mahimahi and while there is excellent deep sea fishing to be found on all the islands, not everyone can afford to spend the $150-300/day that chartering a boat will cost (per person). Adding insult to injury, in Hawaii, unlike many other places, the “catch” belongs to the boat, not the angler! So, if you had your sights set on Mahimahi steaks for dinner, the nearest restaurant or fish market would better serve you. So, check with your charter captain first to see what arrangements can be made on any fish you may catch.
Shore Fishing in Hawaii
This post, however, is on shore fishing in Hawaii. Many locals are avid shore fishermen and women and pursue their two most favorite fish, the Papio or Ulua (Jack or Giant Trevally) and the O’io (bonefish). Of course, there are also times and/or seasons for pursuing other island favorites such as the Aholehole, Kumu, Moano, Oama or Weke, Halalu or Akule, Moi, and whatever else may be running. There are even those who venture out at night, “torching” for “Tako” (aka octopus), both as for bait or to eat. (“Torching” in Hawaii can be compared to “gigging” on the mainland, where flounder are pursued in the shallows in a similar fashion except not from the comfort of a boat.)
Hawaii is the only coastal state left that does not require a salt-water recreational fishing license, at least not yet. That does not mean fishing in Hawaii does not involve a full set of rules and regulations covering what, when, where, and even how you can catch your fish. For example, some of the locals may not be aware of the 10″ minimum size requirement for Papio, or the 5″ minimum size for Aholehole, or the 11″ minimum size and closed seasons for Moi, as is evident by some of the youtube videos being posted.
More than just about anywhere else, fishing in Hawaii is a social gathering. As much or more attention is given to the “kaukau”, or food that will be brought than to the actual fishing. Lets just say, it would be fair to say that going fishing in Hawaii often involves packing the hibachi or full blown gas bbq grill along with the fishing gear. It can be as fully involved as tail-gating at your favorite football game.
Ulua or GT
Ulua, or Giant Trevally, is probably the #1 sought after fish and devotees join clubs and tournaments in pursuit of 100+ pound fish, a true trophy of a lifetime. On the eastern seaboard from the mid-Atlantic states into the Gulf region, “jacks” are considered trash fish! Nobody eats them, very few pursue them, and there are certainly no clubs or tournaments focused on them. For them to relate, they need to think in terms of red drum and striped bass and the passion that incites to appreciate the status of Uluas in Hawaii.
Their tackle is as specialized as it gets. King Mackerel fishing from an east coast pier is as close to GT fishing in Hawaii as it gets. It often involves the same anchor-line pole with a slide-bait technique, however, in Hawaii they don’t use a separate anchor line. They simply throw out and anchor their lines, then slide down the baited hooks, all on the same pole.
Where the real differences come in is, I have not heard of any King fisherman being pulled to his death off of the end of a pier by large waves, whereas this is unfortunately, a fairly regular occurrence with ulua fishing.
Safety is just one of the reasons for ulua fishing clubs and/or groups existing. Another reason for such club outings is it is a team effort landing one of these giant fish in the kind of terrain ulua fishing often involves. Fishing from a sandy beach is the exception, rather than the norm for Ulua fishing. Rocky shorelines, usually involving cliffs of 20′ or more, are more commonly the battleground for these pursuits.
And, if that’s not enough, these 100+ lb. fish are typically caught at night.
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This video shows the team work involved with landing an Ulua from a typical rocky shore.
Of course, the biggest reason shore fishing in Hawaii is, as I mentioned before, a social gathering and eating event. Just as important as what bait will be used is what food will be taken and prepared. Most Ulua outings involve an overnight stay, so food is required. But, even if its not going to be an overnight stay, there will be food! Shore fishing in Hawaii, combines the best of surf fishing and tail-gating and if actual fish are caught, all the better!
However, for every enthusiast that pursues a 100-pound ulua, there are dozens of fishermen and women who are just as happy pursuing the under 10-lb Papio (Jack Crevalle). They are commonly found in virtually all the Hawaiian waters and eagerly attack both bait and artificial lures presented to them. Their popularity is such that unlike any other state, there are size and catch limits for these fish.
While commonly eaten in Hawaii, catch & release fishing is becoming more common. This practice has been helped along not only by the locals awareness for conservation of this resource, but also due to the Ciguatera toxin that infects many of the ulua found in Hawaii. Eating an infected fish can cause mild to severe symptoms include gastrointestinal and neurological effects. That does not take away anything from the sport of catching these great fighters.
O’io or Bonefish Fishing in Hawaii
Fly-fishing for O’io (Bonefish), in Hawaii has only become a “sport” in the last 30-years or so. The majority of O’io are caught while bottom-fishing using either shrimp or ika (squid) as bait. And, again unlike Florida fishermen who treat Bonefish as a strictly catch and release fish, in Hawaii, the O’io is excellent for use in making fish cake, popular with the locals. Catch & Release fishing for O’io is also becoming more and more commonplace, especially with the fly fishermen, but there are many who still pursue them as a food source.
So, the next time you plan a trip to Hawaii, maybe you should check into the local fishing scene and see what’s “running” and see if you can’t get in a little shore fishing time and not have to budget as much as that off-shore fishing excursion would cost. I will say that there is a near-shore fishing charter that goes just outside of Waikiki and pursues many of these same fish, aimed at the younger family members and is more affordable than a big game charter would be. Fishing in Hawaii is not limited to chasing 800 lb. Marlin!
Commonly Caught Fish and Their Restrictions
This is by no means an all-inclusive listing, but simply the more commonly shore, hook-and-line caught fish you are likely to catch. For a more information on regulated areas and species, you can go to the state website: http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/regulations.html and for the current list of limit and size restrictions, you can go to: http://www.fintalk.com/states/hi/min_sizes.html
Aholehole: No possession limit, min size of 5″ **FL
Moi: Closed season June – August. Limit of 15 per person/day, min size 11 in *FL
O’io/Bonefish: No possession limit, but minimum size of 14″ **FL
Papio/Ulua/Jack Crevalle: Limit of 20 per person of all species/day, min size of 10″ **FL
Weke/Oama: Limit of 50 oama (weke under 7″ **FL) per person/day, no limit above the min size of 7″ **FL
Kumu: No possession limit, minimum size 10″ **FL
Moano: No possession limit, minimum size 7″ **FL
**FL – Measure fork length, the straight-line distance from tip of snout to middle of trailing edge of tail.
As always, you are reminded that this information, while believed to be accurate at this time, is not guaranteed and you are encouraged to visit both websites listed above for the latest information. Fishing rules and regulations are constantly being changed, so what is in effect today may not be tomorrow. So, if you like the idea of fishing in Hawaii, be sure to check both websites out.
In invite you to visit my other blog, coastalfishingvideos.com, if you’re interested in seeing more about fishing Hawaiian style. In addition to videos of fishing in Hawaii, the site includes over 480 of the best east-coast, gulf-coast, and west coast surf-wade-pier-kayak fishing videos from around the internet. You will also find information on fishing rules, regulations, and licensing on all the coastal states (except Alaska), as well as a link to tide charts for coastal states. Happy fishing and tight lines!
The owner of this website, Randy Yanagawa, is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking My Hawaii Food Fun to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com.
