Sept. 6, 2016  Snorkeling Tunnels!!!!

Finally---we were able to snorkel tunnels.  Although it reminded me more of a relatively calm winter Tunnels day with the fairly strong current running through it and choppy water.  We got a good workout going against the current then floating back.  But it is such a beautiful place!

But first, our view from the Shearwater Unit 313.  I was worried it wouldn't have a view being on the end of a slanted building well into the golf course.  But it does have a pretty nice view from our lanai.

 Our building.

I took a walk around the property.  

 the views of Anini are awesome.

taro?  growing on the hillside here.

 zoomed in on part of Anini's reef.

the small and inconvenient pool---at least from unit 313.

 statue near the pool---my 2nd whale sighting this trip!

 One last Anini picture from the property.

Inside our unit ---

 being a presidential unit, it's on the top floor with a high ceiling.

master bathroom with jetted tub

long vanity

 and big shower with seat.

 2nd bedroom

 2nd bath

 kitchen

 more kitchen

 dining room.

 living area

master bedroom

 It's very nice, too.  But it doesn't have ac either.  At least the trades are back and it's not so bad in here now.

Now on to Tunnels!   I never tire of this view!!!

or this

 heading in

looking back towards the lifeguard station.

Blue fin travelli.  There's lots of them here.

 surgeonfish hanging out in the drop off waters.

 I think this is a young wrasse, but it sure doesn't have much color.

 another lizard fish

Lots of reef triggerfish here, too.

love the iridescent spots on the young peacock groupers.

 white saddle goatfish

 A female shortbodied blenny, but I've never seen one so lightly colored before.

 palenose parrotfish

Glad to see these guys are still there.  Only seen them here and at Maluaka on Maui.  Lagoon triggerfish.

 school of yellow stripe goatfish.

near the upper end of the inner reef.

yellow tail choris

  endemic blue stripe butterflyfish.

a couple yellow fin surgeonfish (there's a large school of them in Lydgate)

 typical drop off area.

 Christmas wrasse. 

 After about 2 hours we took an hour or so break.  Sat on the sand and looked out at the multi-colored water. then back in the water for another 90 minutes.

I believe this is a female surge wrasse. Usually they're a little more green.

 an Elegant Choris and juvenile saddle wrasse.

 even a bunch of needle fish here.

 I got a kick out of these guys.  They were defending their territory and would dart up at our faces, then go back and do it again.  At one point I noticed them attacking Ken's fins, so I put mine forward and watched it attack my fin. 

This is a razor fish.  I saw one at Lydgate once, but it wasn't nearly as large as this one.  When it got scared, it disappeared into the sand.

If I hadn't seen him in his red smooth color while it was moving, I never would have seen this octopus.   

After another hour or so of snorkeling and sitting around drying again, we decided it was time to go in search of food.  So where did we go?---Kalypso's.  This time we got the happy hour wings and a fish and chips dinner to share.  Food and service was excellent as always.

walking back to the car I took this picture of the old school area.

We went to check out Hanalei pier.  It wasn't too crowded today.  

 beautiful views from the pier.

by now it was after 5 and time to go back to one of the condos and shower and put dry clothes on and try to find a sunset.  We decided to head to Kee.  Loved seeing the top of the mountains for a change.

 Kee

 Within minutes it was going down into the clouds.

 A little color , but not for long.

 I like going down the beach a little ways to get a view of the Napali.

Heading back to the parking lot I saw some of these cute little wild flowers.

There was a bride and groom getting photos taken, too.  I assume the wedding was already over since they were standing in the water for some of the pictures.  

Another great day.  Tomorrow we're back to the Cliffs for the rest of the week.  Hard to believe we've been on the islands for 3 weeks tomorrow!  Time is going too fast!