My Hawaii trip
 

I recently took a vacation to Oahu Waikiki, Hawaii and I have to say that this place is a saltwater fish paradise. Just snorkeling in the local beach about 20-40 feet out and you will come across fish. Take a trip out to Hanauma Bay which is a nature reserve and the fish is friendly and they are EVERYWHERE. This was definitely my highlight of my trip. I got to witness a school fish of convict tangs moving and swarming over rocks. Here are some photos of the pics I took at Hanauma Bay:
This is the overview of the bay
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o.../Hawaii258.jpg
Naso Tang
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o.../Hawaii425.jpg
Look at the spikes on these adult naso tangs:
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o.../Hawaii428.jpg
Pair of my favourite tangs: achilles
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o.../Hawaii445.jpg
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o.../Hawaii369.jpg
Moorish Idol and Achilles Tang:
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o.../Hawaii411.jpg
School of convict tangs:
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o.../Hawaii396.jpg
Porites I believe.....
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o.../Hawaii283.jpg
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o.../Hawaii462.jpg
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o.../Hawaii273.jpg
While in Honolulu, I visited several saltwater fish stores and the best one I visited was Modern Pet Center very close to Waikiki area. The staff was very knowledgeable and the owner Frank was very accomodating. I have been looking for achilles tang for at least 4-5 months and our LPS either didn't get them or when they got them, they were in the 7-9" range.
I had called Frank the week before I arrived and asked him to order me 4-5 achilles tangs. When I went to visit them, he had brought in 6 achilles tangs and put a hold on them for me just from our telephone conversation. I picked up several other fishes including Mystery wrasse, goldflake, flame, and potter angels. Their packing was exceptional and all the fish survived the trip. When I placed a thermometer into the water in their holding transfer tank, it was nice warm 77.
I won't discuss the prices on this forum but if anybody is looking to visit Hawaii area and would like to ship fish through Seattle Airport, PM me to discuss (it wasn't as easy but well worth it).
Hope you enjoy the pics as much as I enjoyed seeing these beautiful fish in the wild.

You Suck!

No really WOW nice to see such great looking fish. Hope you and your Family had a wonderful time

J

Wow, I had no idea we could just bring fish back. What an idea, man I feel dumb for having squandered my visit to 2006 then. :( Oh well, maybe next time. Thanks for the heads-up.

And thanks for the sweet pictures!! :) I haven't spent any time in Oahu but I'd sure like to visit there some day. As well as Kauai and the Big Island.

WOW. Reminds me of when I was there 2 years ago. The beach seems deserted in your picture. What time were you there? When I was there, it was packed and the lineup was huge by 9am. Luckily, I arrived at 7am.

Nice....it will be fun to watch Moe (my Naso) get spikes like that. Even in the past month, I've noticed his spikes are getting larger. Hope he goes easy on the walls of my acrylic tank!

Those are very nice pics....thanks.

nice pics. how big do you figure those naso's are? about 15"???

Wow. I remember Hanauma Bay, too....gorgeous. So now you have 6 Achilles Tangs in your tank???

nice pics! I think it's always kinda cool to see stuff in the wild that we usually see in a tank.

I arrived there at Hanauma Bay at 730am which was when the photos were taken. Family and I had a WONDERFUL time and it feels soooooo cold back here. This is probably one place i would have no problems moving to live for 5-6 months of the year when I retire but that would mean I will have to give up on this hobby one day......

Tony
bringing fish back was no problem at all. NO SPECIAL PERMITS is required for tropical fish and animals that is not listed on CITES. The importation of tropical fish and animals is regulated by Department of Fisheries and Oceans. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/aqu...namental_e.htm

The only document I needed was the genus and species of the fish and bring a Marine Fish book with you for them to make comparisons if they wish to because not too many Customs Officers are knowledgeable in this area.

The spikes on the Nasos were so pronounced I was scared to get too close to them. The fish was about 14-16" long and their spikes look like they could have done a lot of damage if it wanted to. My 6" blonde naso has nothing like those yet.

Oh and just to clarify, I only have one achilles in my tank upstairs and one in my sump. I also kept the goldflake, flame and mystery wrasse. The rest of the fish have gone to locals.

I would love to see a fish store like that. Looks like a great place to go.

Man I miss Hawaii. I went to Maui about 10 years ago. I have been waiting to go back ever since then.

That pair of Achilles swimming around probably made you want to catch them yourself, eh, Chin:biggrin:

Thanks for the Achilles & Potters.

Wow..its so cool that you brought back all those fish. Can we see a pic of the goldflake?

Hi Chin

The fish look great.

It is amazing what you can do with a digital camera.

The mystery wrasse is exceptional. I have never considered wrasses for my tanks but that fish would enhance any one's tank. When you Tyre of him keep me in mind.

I am sure that its a holiday you and your family will always remember.

Tom R

I was there back in 95 for christmas and my brother and I did the snorkeling at Hanauma bay. It was unreal, just like your pictures. I was actually going through the ones I took when I was there ($15 disposable underwater camera for the win) and my pics look a lot like yours, lots of convict, naso and achillies tangs, and even a giant sea turtle.
It's definately high on the list of places I'd like to go back to.

Very nice Chin. I was there in March and also went diving in Kona. It was awesome. I wish I had made more use of my time at fish stores but I was on an island hopping cruise so didn't have a lot of time. Thanks for sharing.:biggrin:

Very nice pictures. I've been to Kona twice on the Big Island and loved the snorkling there and couldn't get enought.
What kind of camra did you use for the under water pictures? Mine didn't turn out that nice. Cheep wallmart camras.
A retired guy, that I work out with at the gym has a house in Captian Cooks bay and he lives the three mounths at a time. Lucky old guy.:mrgreen:

WOW so cool to see fish swimming in their natural environment. Thanks for sharing.

After seeing those pics makes you just wanna jump up and go!!
Trully is a fish lover's paridise, Hey Chin did you see any angels while snorkelling the bay?
I heard emporer was a favourite food there.

Chin, do they still have that flushing hole in cliffs not far from where you took the beach shot ? When the wave came in the hole would fill and go down when the wave retreated. Used to be able to sit in it (3-5 people), but seem to remember it was about a 15 ' plunge.

no angels
 

funny you mentioned because that was one thing I never saw - no angels.

there was a cliff lookout point about 3 minute drive east past Hanauma Bay. Is that what you are referring to? If not, they have closed access on the sides of the bay to public access and I imagine this flushing hole is in the restricted area now.

I seem to remember it as just aroun the corner. I can see them closing that part off for safety, rock cliffs and the hole, not for the light hearted :wink:
Thanks for the pics. :mrgreen:

Thanks for sharing Chin. Brings back memories.