Tag Archives: Filefish

The Numbers Game #79

An alien cloud over the saddle between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.

The idea of The Numbers Game is to enter a number into the search bar of your computer and then post a selection of the photos that turn up. This week’s number is 200. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

A Hawaiian garden spider
Hawaiian Garden Spider
Tiny stick insect on a window screen.
A baby gecko on a computer screen
Tiny gecko on my computer screen!
Ohelo 'ai growing in the lava on the Big Island, Hawaii
Vaccinium reticulatum.
The sun shines behind clouds and a palm tree
A hallelujah moment.
A Scrawled Filefish catches the light just right.

The Numbers Game #43

A hula dancer at a King Kamehameha birthday celebration.

The idea of The Numbers Game is to enter a number into the search bar of your computer and then post a selection of the photos that turn up. This week’s number is 164. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

Soldierfishes in Hawaii
Soldierfishes catching the light.
A Scrawled FIlefish catching the light.
An early morning thunder cloud off the Kona Coast.
Earth moving equipment for kids
Earth moving equipment.
The L&L Hawaiian Barbecue restaurant in Kapaau at night
A night view of L&L Barbecue in Kapaau.
View of the 2020 eruption of Kilauea Volcano
A couple watches an eruption at Kilauea Volcano.

The Numbers Game #28

A view into Waipio Valley.

The idea of The Numbers Game is to enter a number into the search bar of your computer and then post a selection of the photos that turn up. This week’s number is 149. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.

A Scrawled Filefish swimming in the waters off Hawaii
Scrawled Filefish.
A Flowery Flounder swimming in the waters off Hawaii
Flowery Flounder.
A green turtle swimming in the waters off Hawaii
Green Turtle.
The Pride of America anchored off Kailua Kona.
Two Nenes confront a mongoose.
An old bomber which crashed in the Kohala Mountains. Original post here.

Scrawled Filefish

A Scrawled Filefish in the waters off Hawaii

When I first saw this Scrawled Filefish, I tried and failed to get any decent photos, so I carried on swimming. When I looked behind me a bit later, I saw the fish following me as they sometimes do, and I got this photo.

Scrawled Filefish are not just curious looking, they’re also curious fish. They will often trail swimmers, checking them out.

Scrawled Filefish

A scrawled filefish in the waters off Hawaii.

I used to see Scrawled Filefishes all the time at the place where I usually go snorkeling. For the past few years they’ve become occasional visitors, so I’m pleased when I run into them these days. This one had the good graces to not only stick around, but to do so in a spot where the light illuminated its wonderful markings.

Scrawled Filefish

A scrawled filefish in the waters off Hawaii

Following of from yesterday’s possibly arty post, today I offer a photo of a Scrawled Filefish. Not only is this fish odd to look at, with its protruding mouth and very long tail fin, but it’s also covered in abstract scrawls which are quite beautiful when the light catches them right. It’s a moving abstract painting, but whereas well known abstract artists go for millions, Scrawled Filefish probably go for $3.99 a pound.

Posted in response to this month’s Becky’s Squares challenge theme of ‘Odd.’ See more responses here.

Place of Refuge and Two Step

There’s a good variety of fish at Two Step including raccoon butterflyfishes, seen here mingling with goatfishes and yellow tangs.
A barred filefish swims by with a startled look on its face, which is just their usual look.
Ki’i at Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, better known as Place of Refuge.

This week’s Friendly Friday challenge theme is ‘Anniversaries.’ See more responses here.

Often, on our wedding anniversary, my wife and I go to Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden (formerly Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden). This year the garden was shut, and still is, probably until tourists return to the islands. So a different anniversary is my birthday, which is not marked with candles on a cake, since that would be prohibitively expensive, but usually by a trip somewhere and a meal out. This year we went down to snorkel at Two Step and then had a wander around Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, otherwise known as Place of Refuge, which is right next door.

Two Step is a very popular snorkeling spot on Honaunau Bay, south of Captain Cook. This is a marine reserve so no fishing is allowed and the fish tend to be more numerous and mellow because of this. It’s a popular spot to see and swim with dolphins, though I haven’t done either of those things there. Currently, it’s not nearly as busy since there are very few tourists on the island and those that are here are diligently following quarantine rules (I’m trying to keep a straight face writing this!).

After our swim we made the short walk to Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park. The park is on the south side of the bay and, at the moment, is fully open only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. However, on the other days, pretty much everything else is accessible, it’s just that the parking lot and visitor center are closed. What this means is that there’s basically nobody there so our visit was quiet and uncrowded. The park is an important place in Hawaiian history, and the location is beautiful. What’s not to like?

For more information about Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, visit https://www.nps.gov/puho/index.htm.

Palm trees reflect in one of the fishponds at Place of Refuge.