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....Has anyone gone to the tidepools at WaiOpae (not Champagne pond) lately? We went last week (1st time since April) and I notice the water is MUCH less clear, lots of HOT fresh water on top of the seawater and many fewer fish....
Perhaps Madame Pele is planning an in-person visit there.....
Here's to a full belly, a heavy purse....and a light heart.
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I haven't been in the several weeks, but have encountered such conditions in the past. Seems like things such as tide level, recent rainfall amounts, surf action, and even wind direction can have an effect on the clarity and temperature of the water at various levels. Hopefully this is just a temporary combination of factors that produced what you saw.
Cheers,
Jerry
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much less fish.. geez I wonder if all the poachers have anything to do with that? whole carloads of people down there at night.. nets, spears, and an attitude that makes saying anything in defense of the fish/ponds down right scary. and a call to dlnr.. or the police.. gets nothing in return. I suppose the whole concept of raping the land and sea is one that is generally accepted here abouts.
the warmer water.. is fresh water leaching out of the land.. geothermally heated.. less rain and calmer seas conspire to allow the warmed fresh water to stay longer before it is mixed into the ocean
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Maybe this link is related:
...EWWWWW!....no more Kapoho for us!
(j/k-hope it was as above: just a tidal thing....it was just such a change from all our other trips out there....)
cheers, chele
Here's to a full belly, a heavy purse....and a light heart.
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My husband & I have visited the tidepools two to three times a year for the last several years, usually at different times of the year. The clarity of the water varies but seems especially bad after heavy rainfall the night before (with the fresh water causing a weird cloudy effect when it mixes with the salt water). The biggest change we’ve noticed is the declining numbers of large fish, even far out near the reef break.
We’ve called the “Night Ranger” phone number on the sign at the tide pools to report folks spear fishing there in the middle of the night, but never saw anyone respond.
I wear a wet suit there now. I look stupid and inappropriate, but if I get scratched I don’t want to get infected. Sad to say. But the pools are still magical, the further out the better.
Whose brilliant idea was it to let yet another new house be built on the tide pool side of Wai’opae?
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Damon....to my knowledge, tour groups are no longer allowed at the tidepools in Vacationland and Beach Lots.
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Gee, I would be so sad if no tourists came down here..... (NOT)...
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Aloha,
My wife volunteers at the Discovery Center (NOAA) in Hilo. She's putting out the word looking for the best way to stop this from happening. Maybe they can help. It's worth a try.
Tuneman
