New book chronicles decades of kolea studies
In the mid-1990s I wrote a column about the Pacific golden plover, Oahu’s favorite shorebird, known here as kolea. Read more
Ocean Watch
Tahitian prawns gain foothold in local waters
I had the pleasure of spending the long Thanksgiving weekend on Molokai with friends. After exploring that island’s remarkable beaches, we signed up with a local family for a guided hike up Halawa Valley to its waterfalls. Read more
Some reef encounters captured in blink of eye
One of the pleasures of being home after an adventure is sorting photos of the trip. But as I go through pictures of my recent sailing trip in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, I’m also enjoying the images my mind took when it was too dark or too distant to shoot, or when I didn’t feel like looking at something marvelous through a lens. Read more
Mesmerizing sea ‘squash’ part of reef mod squad
While anchored off this small, round, wooded islet, Craig and I started snorkeling on its leeward coral side and later emerged to walk the sand beach on its windward rocky side. As time passed, the tide rose so high we had to abandon the beach walk and swim over the rock bottom. Read more
Expedition to spot shark encounters spotty shark
To mark exceptional snorkeling spots, the cruising guide for this area shows happy faces wearing mask and snorkel. Tiny Ravens Cove gets three. Read more
Help wedgies by turning lights off near shorelines
Honu is still inside the Great Barrier Reef, but because we’re on the move and near neither reef, islands nor mainland, the sailing feels a bit like Hawaii. Except we miss the wedgies. Read more
Corals’ outer beauty belies fierce battles over territory
Among these famous islands, fish of every color, shape and size swim among corals of every color, shape and size. Read more
‘Pompom’ corals create a colorful ocean delight
When a local sailor heard we were sailing to the Palm Island Group, he kindly fetched his cruising guide to show us the best places to go. Read more
Australians have learned to coexist with crocodiles
We arrived in the Townsville marina to find a notice from the Queensland government. On the gate of Honu’s pier, a sign read, “WARNING! ACHTUNG! Recent crocodile sighting in this area. Read more
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Heading Down Under again, this time like the bird flies
As you read this, Craig and I are on our way to Australia once again to explore the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park on our sailboat, Honu. Read more
Opae ula are hardy critters, but treat them with respect
If you dig it, they will come. Not the ghosts of baseball past, but equally enchanting, the shrimp of Hawaii present: opae ula. Read more
Oahu hui works to protect urban-dwelling white terns
If you love the white terns that flit around our trees and add joy to our city, join the club. Really. There is a club. Read more
Man-of-wars are 1 animal, not a mishmash of critters
At the beach, I recently ran into my neighbor, Marya, who, as usual, had a thoughtful marine animal question. She wondered how it is that a Portuguese man-of-war is a colony of individuals rather than one animal. Read more
White birds ‘having a blast’ likely honeymooning terns
Nuuanu resident Robert emailed, “For the last few years we have been blessed by beautiful white birds cavorting in the sky, swooping all over our valley at great speed. Read more
Reproduction is laborious for certain marine worms
Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer, the beginning of school, the kickoff of the football season and, where I grew up, the last day of the year that it was acceptable to wear white (go figure). Read more
Nonprofit’s scientific news is a salve for a gloomy world
The Society for Science and the Public, a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing scientific news, emails me with weekly updates. Read more
Little cleaner wrasses offer spa experience to other fish
Last week, in about 7 feet of water, I swam over a reef wall and found myself in the middle of a dozen jacks, a new species to me, each bearing yellow, dashlike marks on their sides. Read more
Lone sea pen makes mark during shallow-water swim
Craig and I don’t often snorkel side by side. He thinks that swimming fast in deep water is best, because that’s where the big jacks, sharks and manta rays hang out. I, however, like to float quietly in a few feet of water. Not only do some astonishing creatures live there, but I get to see them up close and take their pictures. Read more
Kolea kamaaina at heart, plover lovers sure to agree
I’ve always wondered where home was for kolea. Is it Alaska, where for about three months the Pacific golden plovers build nests, raise chicks and “forget” their winter partnerships with humans? Read more
Watching frigate birds soar lifts spirits like nothing else
I had the blues last week. Our little dog, Lucy, died, and the storm spoiled my usual stress reliever of snorkeling. Nor did I feel like walking the beach. Besides when it drizzled, Lucy and I walked there for years. Going alone made me miss her even more. Read more
Hallucinations from toxin in fish are rare but potent
A Kentucky man emailed that he was doing research on nightmare weke and wondered whether I knew of recent cases here. Because I hadn’t written about this odd illness, also called hallucinatory fish poisoning, for years, I wondered, too. Read more
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