A Hawaiian Education

Photograph Courtesy of Best Hawaiian Activities
Best Hawaiian Activities. 6 May 2010.



I tugged experimentally at my goggles and tried breathing through the snorkel. Everything seemed to be in order. I had received a brief education about the wildlife of Hanauma Bay through a pleasant thirty-minute video; now my goal was to actually meet some of O‘ahu’s marine wildlife firsthand. I cast one final glance at the pewter sky, decided that now was as good a time as any, and slid between the waves. The sounds of the beach abruptly vanished, almost as if pillows had been pressed over my ears. Squinting through the dim water, I noticed mountains of coral looming ahead of me and began to struggle toward them. My progress was hampered by the waves, which constantly shoved me back toward the shore. By the time I reached the coral peaks, I was breathing heavily through my snorkel and my body was aching. As I continued to bob along the surface, hovering just above the coral and taking care not to touch it, I realized that cold, wet droplets were pounding the back of my head. The rain had arrived after all, and my mood took a bit of a downturn. I began to wonder if any animals would come out of their hiding places in such conditions. But just as this negative thought crossed my mind, my eyes found black and white stripes. Swimming lazily in front of me was an angelfish. I gasped in delight, and all of a sudden I began to notice incredible fish in every direction I turned. My eyes had been opened. As the day progressed, Hanauma increased my understanding of O‘ahu’s animal and human inhabitants; the bay also illustrated the fact that conservation efforts can truly benefit both humankind and nature.

My snorkeling experience at Hanauma Bay empowered me with new knowledge and understanding of the various forms of wildlife that lived there. As I spied on the inhabitants of the coral reef, I quickly became aware of the extent to which all of Hanauma’s creatures—from sea turtle to eel--depended on the coral reef. For some animals, the reef provided shelter. As I swam along the coral, peering into its crevices, I was surprised to see little purple spines protruding from many of the holes in the coral. When I moved in close enough, I realized that the spines belonged to various sea urchins. To these prickly little animals, the reef served as a sort of marine apartment complex. I later learned, however, that the sea urchins were not the only animals that depended on the reef for shelter. During my exploration, I received a rather nasty surprise when an eel suddenly poked his head out of another hollow in the coral. Apparently, he too had made his home among the coral. As I continued to observe the reef’s inhabitants, I also noticed that many of them depended on the reef for feeding. I watched all sorts of colorful fish flit about the coral, nibbling on the algae that colored parts of the reef’s rough surface. To my utter amazement, a green sea turtle even drifted in to graze on these patches of algae. All of these observations reflected the interconnectedness of the coral reef and its inhabitants, and I soon realized that these creatures would struggle to survive without the reef. Hanauma Bay thus showed me the important role that coral reefs play in maintaining the balance of various marine ecosystems, and I began to understand why so many scientists and environmentalists are currently concerned about human destruction of coral reefs.



Photograph Courtesy of Reef Builders
Reef Builders. 6 May 2010.






The animals of Hanauma Bay also increased my understanding of Hawaii’s human residents. During my snorkeling adventure, I was surprised to find that the fish, turtles, and eels were remarkably easygoing. They were completely unruffled by the rain assaulting the surface of the ocean, and they did not appear to be bothered by my presence. Although these animals were by no means tame, they were very relaxed and seemed to have no problem with human visitors. As I observed this interesting behavior, I could not help but liken the animals’ amiable nature to the friendly, “hang loose” attitude that seems to be so typical of Hawaii’s human inhabitants. No sooner had I made this connection than I began to realize that the people of Hawaii were, in turn, much like the animals of Hanauma. I had already noticed that Hawaii’s residents displayed admirable patience and friendliness toward the numerous tourists who came to stay in O‘ahu. Like the creatures of Hanauma Bay, these native Hawaiians gracefully tolerate masses of visitors and always maintain a calm, approachable demeanor. My snorkeling experience at Hanauma thus helped me to understand that the people of Hawaii are truly gracious, always willing to let others experience the natural paradise that they call home. As a result of this realization, I became even more appreciative of Hawaii’s human inhabitants and developed even greater respect for them.

The wonderful experience that I had at Hanauma Bay served as a testament to the fact that conservation efforts can be very beneficial for humankind and nature, provided that the proper measures are taken to prevent those efforts from harming the environment that they aim to protect. As I swam through the waters of the bay, I was impressed by the apparently healthy state of the reef. Hanauma’s conservation staff had ensured this health by asking that visitors refrain from touching or feeding any of the animals, and I was pleased to see that practically all of my fellow visitors respected this rule. By enforcing these regulations, the Hanauma conservation staff preserved the bay as a safe, natural haven for wildlife, as well as an incredible attraction for human beings. The animals and environment thrived, protected from destructive human practices, and the human visitors were able to enjoy the experience of a lifetime. The Hanauma conservation effort was therefore beneficial for everyone involved, and it facilitated a deeper connection between humans and nature by giving people the chance to swim among O‘ahu’s beautiful marine wildlife.

My snorkeling experience at Hanauma Bay led me to a greater understanding of Hawaii’s inhabitants—both human and animal—and showed me the positive results of properly executed conservation efforts. As I swam among the creatures of Hanauma and learned more about them, I came to appreciate them more, and my love for marine wildlife grew. While I had already seen pictures and even videos of these animals, the experience of meeting them was far more powerful and enjoyable. Snorkeling at Hanauma also increased my understanding of the Hawaiian people, who calmly allow scores of people from around the world to meet Hawaii’s marine wildlife firsthand. I left Hanauma Bay with the firm belief that people in every part of the world should emulate the Hawaiians by giving visitors the opportunity to experience local wildlife. The only way that humans can provide such opportunities is by preserving that wildlife. In the end, Hanauma Bay helped me to understand the importance of conservation efforts, and I am sure that many of my fellow tourists left the bay with a similar attitude. If we can learn to preserve and freely share earth’s ecosystems, we will be doing a service to both mankind and nature.