We ♥ Hawaii - Kona Style

The Ghunnies went to Kona on the Big Island at the end of December for our friends Dan and Aili’s wedding. Highlights of the trip include the island style wedding, and trips to Kilauea crater (the active volcano on the islands), Punalu’u bake shop (billed as the southernmost bakery in the United States – their Hawaiian sweetbread is da kine!) and Black Sand Beach (known for both its black sand and also for its sea turtle viewing). A real milestone was our going on a night manta ray dive! This is one of those experiences that you have to see to believe. The set up is that manta rays feed on plankton (e.g., brine shrimp) and plankton are attracted to light. We slide off of the boat into the water and are directed by the divemaster to stay on the bottom and form a circle with the other divers. We are each given an underwater flashlight, which we hold directed upwards. At first we see nothing (hey! It’s night time and we’re sitting at the bottom of the ocean). Then, after several very quiet minutes – here they come. One after another. They are awesome. The average wing span of the mantas is 8-10 feet. They silently glide, pivot and somersault as they funnel the plankton into their mouths. Even though we are requested to not reach and touch the mantas, it is not uncommon that they brush against you, as they glide in between the divers and pass barely inches over your head.