David & Fawn's Getaways: Hawaii Adventure - Day 8

7:30 am - Today was our anniversary! (We had taken our motion sickness pills for yesterday's adventure and were grateful that they worked so well. We were hoping for the same thing today.) We arrived for check-in at our dolphin swim. The boat was smaller, so it was just on a trailer in the harbor boat parking area. We waited to board at the bottom of the boat ramp.

Ohana Nui O Nai'a - Sunlight on Water

8 am - The tour was titled ‘Sunlight on Water’ and the captain was called China Mike. His father was Chinese and his mother Hawaiian. He was raised in Hawaii so he knew the language. Once we were out of the harbor, he stopped to perform a traditional Hawaiian morning ritual of blowing his handmade bamboo ‘horn’ in each of the four directions and saying a short prayer. It was a great way to start the morning. On our way, the crew came around with muffins and fruit for us.

8:30 am - We arrived at our first site much faster that most of us thought we would. Fawn and I both got in with our snorkel gear—this time with her holding my hand. It helped her have more confidence and maintain her balance in the water more. She also had on an inflatable snorkeling vest. We were so fortunate because there were Hawaiian spinner dolphins all around us just playing and having fun in the water. When we put our faces in the water we could also hear them talking to each other. Some were jumping out and spinning in the air. It was exciting and awe-inspiring at the same time. After a while, Fawn got tired again so we headed back to the boat. I rested a bit then went out again with the other underwater camera.

These photos show how close we got to the dolphins and how many there were:

9:30 am - We all got back in the boat to travel to our next site.

Looking out toward the stern.

All the seats were along the sides of the boat from bow to stern. A lot of the gear was stowed overhead or in a couple of bins near the bow.

10:15 am - As we arrived at our new site China Mike told us there was a manta ray right below us. He told us to just stay on top of the water and observe. This is where the mantas come for a ‘cleaning station.’ The smaller fish eat the algae and other things that collect on the manta rays’ backs. We all got in our gear quickly. I took the camera again and got some pretty good shots of the manta.

There were also plenty of dolphins in the area.

During this last swim, I realized I had got in the water without any floatation device at all. It was easy to float on and watch without feeling like I would sink. It was also easier to get my fins under me if I needed to blow a little water out of my breathing tube. I felt pretty proud of myself for graduating to the next level.

11 am - We all came back to the boat for our trip back to the harbor. This time Fawn and I stayed in a shady part of the boat and I helped her keep her shoulders covered. China Mike promised at least one stop for a ‘dolphin swim by.’ When the time came, some of the passengers got their gear on and waited in the back of the boat. China Mike took the boat ahead of the dolphins he could see swimming along together, then stopped, and everybody got in to wait for the dolphins to swim by them. I didn’t get in, but had a chance to get some good above water photos. (At least I thought they pretty good until our final stop near the harbor.)

Dolphins in the distance.

11:45 am - After everyone got back in the boat, we stopped one last time for above water photos.

I also took a short video of the dolphins swimming along beside the boat.

Click here to watch the dolphins swim by our boat. If the link doesn't work, copy and paste this into your browser: http://youtu.be/LZR6fME_EbU

I'm also including here some photos taken by the Sunlight on Water photographer.

This girl knew that oranges are a good way
to get rid of the salt water taste.

After 40 years - still happily married.

Dolphins up close with a much better camera.

The manta is a beautiful creature.

5 pm - After coming back to the condo, showering and taking a nap, we both got ready for our anniversary dinner. We decided to go to an Italian restaurant not too far away called Boston Basil’s.

This is a view from our table to the sidewalk outside.
We loved these open-air restaurants!

The server was about 19 years old and fun to be around. We ordered calamari for an appetizer and Fawn ordered eggplant parmesan while I ordered Macnut Mahi Mahi. The entrees each came with a pretty flower as garnish. Here are the photos of the dishes: