Makani (Wind) and He'e (octopus)

Aloha oukou! (Hello to all!)

First things first...the people I work with are bad a$$. I am amazed every day at the stamina and strength put forward by the Beach Boys that I work around (this just in, I too am a Beach Boy, the only female Beach Boy on staff...yea...).

Today was my first official full day on the job. I will have a couple of different locations but for now I am working at Anaeho'omalu Bay (an-eye-na-ho-o-malu) or A Bay in Waikoloa, Hawaii. Since I am new my tasks have been to become familiar with everything Ocean Sports. I took a ride on the Glass Bottom Boat, went SUPing around the bay (not nearly as large as Monterey Bay, we're talking the size between the wharf, Cowells and the Lane), and spoke to guests about their interests in Hawaii and trips that we offer.

Today before even arriving at work I walked right past an entire pig in the ground being cooked for a luau to happen this evening...I should have known today was going to be an adventure. Apparently today was a day full of snorkeling along the coral reef with two of the Beach Boys (Matt and Dennen). I think it was a test to see if I could keep up with them (I ended up beating them back to the beach in the end so I think I passed). I taught myself to free dive and met them on the bottom where we found countless fish, sea cucumbers, beautiful huge coral, honu (sea turtle) and a particularly large octopus (we followed its ink trail to its lair...very cool).

Matt (approximately 140lbs and 5'5'') decides he wants to catch the octopus for calamari (harsh but true), while Dennen (who seems to be much more able bodied for this task standing at around 6' and 170lbs) and myself look on waiting to see what happens next. Matt's in for a battle.

Ink flies! The octopus is for lack of a better word, pissed to have Matt poking around with his dive knife and soon gives him a piece (or rather eight) of its mind. I did not realize the fear I harbored for octopuses (yes, octopuses, I checked) until this thing pops out of its hole in the coral and wraps around little Matt's arm and knife. I think I might have screamed a little (which looking back on, I am now a bit ashamed). Matt quick as a flash grabs it by the head and after major pulling and ink everywhere manages to get ahold of its head and calm it down (Octopus Whisperer seemed inappropriate, but that's what it seemed like). He then proceeds to insist that I touch it (I see my short Hawaiian life cut short by calamari so I quickly feel its tentacles and head and am back at a safe distance)...Keep in mind we are in 40 feet of water at this time with hellish offshore winds and chop (if we keep this up we are going to drift out to Maui...okay not really, I just really did not like the octopus for some reason).

Then out of nowhere Matt bites the octopus! UNREAL! I actually did shriek this time. The octopus retaliates by attacking Matt's face and pulling his mask off, but the damage is already done. The octupus is dying (he bit its eye...gruesome and downright disgusting, but it apparently is the quickest way to kill it). It turns a tie dye of colors like a crazy special effect and then loses all pigment and turns a sort of blank empty color of white. Matt retrieves his mask and snorkel from the octopus' grip and puts them back on. He is stoked on his find and I am sure if he had the beer batter and tartar sauce he would have fired it up right there on the beach (nothing will surprise me with this guy after that).

We are still about a 1/2 mile offshore at this point and all I am thinking is crap, we have this dead octopus in this deep water, we are going to get attacked by something that smells its blood... needless to say I am moving quickly. We get back on shore and not half an hour later, right where we were a tiger shark (or so it is thought) is spotted chasing a sea turtle. I rest my case. So what am I doing tomorrow? Going on an open water swim with Matt (another test?) to see how I fare against the chop...gggreeaattt.

Waikoblowa, as it is called by the locals, has seen nothing but intense winds for the past couple of days. Apparently there is quite a big storm coming in tomorrow sometime. Spectacular clouds and howling and I mean howling winds. I have had a restless couple of nights due to this wind up here in my lava field.

My exhaustion has gotten to me. I have evaded SPAM thus far and am instead sampling all of the fruit I can find including dragonfruit, banana apples and papaya.

Until next time,

Aloha nui loa,

M.