Mariner's Ridge Hike

I went on an easy hike with some girl friends!  It was the first sunny day after the storm we just had, so it was muddy!!!  Thanks to HYCC, I was prepared for dirty hiking!

This butterfly was a great photo subject!

Panorama shot from the top of Mariner's Ridge

Underwater Photography

So, I've been trying to get profile shots of fishes, and it's really really tough!  The fish don't stay sill, the water is moving, and I can't hold my breath forever! I was able to get one nice shot yesterday while doing a benthic survey!

This is a Bluelined Surgeonfish:

Sick at home during a Swell

I like to think that I rarely get sick. And today happens to be one of those days that I had to stay at home because of some type of sinus cold.  Nothing too major, but I hate that there's a swell today and I can't go!  Booooo!!!!  Me and Ryan planned a surf date for this morning too!  :(  Well, I'm super bummed I didn't get to go but I'm stoked for Ryan because he told me he got BARRELED today!!!!  Way to go Ryan!!!!  <3

Anyways, some advice for those of you who plan to jump in the water anytime until summer time, wear a WETSUIT because the water is ice cold!  I'm going to blame myself for staying in the water too long yesterday at work and getting sick!  At least I was able to get two good photos!  I was trying to get profile pictures of fishes - not the easiest thing in the world to do!  It was fun anyway!  Next time I won't wait to return to shore when I'm shivering!

The water quality wasn't exactly great for photography...

My photo of the day!!!  The smiling Saddle wrasse!

And a cute baby Hawaiian Sergeant

Christmas is Just Around the Corner!!!

Let me just tell you that Photoshop is awesome!!!!  There's so many things that I still don't know about Photoshop!!!  Ryan was our wonderful photographer and helpful photo editor!!!!  And our studio was our living room, but cannot tell yeah?  Out of the four photos we had, I was able to swap faces, both human and animal, to have everyone smiling and looking at the camera!  Ryan also had this great idea to darken the carpet!  It made the photo look so much better!!! THANKS RYAN! YOU'RE A GENIUS!

Now the hard part is getting them printed and sent out!

It's Been a Little Windy Lately

Me and Ryan decided brave the hurricane and go surfing yesterday.  Well, not hurricane, but the wind was pretty strong.  Ryan had this awesome idea to wear a snorkel mask so that when you're paddling, you don't get water blown into your face.  I thought it was an awesome idea!!!!  Everyone probably thought I was kooky though, but they all secretly wished they were just as smart!  Haha!

This guy was sitting right next to me!  I caught a picture of him right when he got up and flew away!

Good thing I had my camera to capture the beautiful sunset!

Oneil Cat

I went to see the world premere of Innersection the other night.  It's a surfing movie made up of lots of surfers, professional and no-namers, that are competing to win $100,000!  Rob Machado was there, and so was John John Florence, Nat Young, Pat Gudauskas, and Mikala and Daniel Jones.  Matt Meola of Maui was the guy that won the money!  Anyways, I didn't have my camera...And me and Ryan got free hats and free t-shirts!!! 

Our free hat, modeled by our surfing cat, Tuey!  :)



Alive and Well in the MLCD

Today's weather conditions were perfect for a snorkel and a fish survey!  No waves, no wind, plenty of sun!  I went to the Marine Life Conservation District in Waikiki, because it's a no take zone, which means lots and lots of fish!!!!  The survey was very successful!  I identified at least 40 species of fish, not counting the ones I couldn't identify (like all the parrot fishes!).  Check out my photos!  :)  I saw only one Lagoon Trigger, which is really really rare, but I wasn't able to get a picture!

Saw 3 Moorish Idols

Orangespine Unicorns

Saw two Pearl Wrasses!

Many many weke, Yellowfin Goats!

Black Durgon, a triggerfish!

Rare Nenue, Hawaiian Chub, and some other chubs!

Saw only one Mu, Bigeye Emperper

Saw only one Paku'iku'i, Achilles Tang

Saw two Fourspot Butterflies!

Barred Filefish



Project 118

I'm gonna turn this old board into a new shape! I'm calling it Project 118.

Hopefully I can construct this board without too much of Ryan's help, but with lots of Ryan's supervision!  :)

Rock Piles was fun this morning! Clean, glassy, and building!



Thats some HOT sauce!

At BC Burrito:

Can you handle?  I cannot, Ryan can!

Fish Survey

Pics from my first REEF fish survey! 

 It was conducted in the Marine Life Conservation District in Waikiki, which is often confused with the Fisheries Management Area.  Most locals don't know, but the MLCD is a no take zone, which means you cannot take any fish, coral, rocks, or shells from the area at any time; it's a protected zone.  This is why the reef is healthier and there are more fish.

However, Diamond Head of the MLCD is the Fisheries Management Area , where it is open to the public to fish during every even-numbered year.  So in 2011, it will be closed for the entire year.

The water clarity wasn't great though....so the pics are very bad...

This is a cool pic cause there's 5 different species: a juvenile Christmas Wrasse, 3 Bluespine Unicornfish, 2 Orangespine Unicornfish, 2 Manini (Convict Tang), and a female Bird Wrasse!

The Humuhumunukunukuapua'a (Reef Triggerfish)

'Ulua (Bluefin Trevally)

Juvenile Hawaiian Sergeant

Female Whitespotted Boxfish

Very long Teated sea cucumber