Posts by makoa

  • Hawaiian Kine- Stories from Hui Koa Kai O Hamakua


    Nah Brah, I like the trophy! Doesn't offend me at all. The only things that offend me are people exploiting local resources at locals' expense (no matter where in the world ), and showing disrespect toward people I care about. No worries. Thanks for asking.


    Aloha!

  • Hawaiian Kine- Stories from Hui Koa Kai O Hamakua


    Yeah I'm talking about Mark. Crazy story yeah?

  • Hawaiian Kine- Stories from Hui Koa Kai O Hamakua

    Thanks all for the props! Yes it's a lengthy thread but so was my layover! The tat is my cousins,mine is on my arm, lots of shark tooth and honu, sea turtle. The recount was in response to a local Kona diver who had a major run-in with a great white in shallow reef waters over Kona side. I love being in the water with the awesome hammerheads, and it's always amazing to see big tigers and oceanic white tips when diving spots on BI, but I absolutely despise the temperament of bull sharks!


    Aloha!

  • Hawaiian Kine- Stories from Hui Koa Kai O Hamakua

    Aloha! Just a recount of some shark encounters while I wait out a dry spell. I apologize in advance if I start talking "Da Kine" pigeon while sharing my thoughts, but it's only natural for an island boy to bus out da kine when talk story! Hope you enjoy. I share a little island thought regarding the Mano, or shark. For those not familiar with Hawaiian mythology, an Aumakua is a demigod many times associated with the protection of family members by past ancestors. That's why culling for sharks in Hawaii is not a popular thing. Traditional Hawaiin Kakau, or tatoo, has the triangular shark tooth design as worn by King Kamehameha's warriors and watermen invoking protection.



    Mano:My aumakua, or Jus' One Toothy Taxman?


    I apologize in advance, but I'm in San Diego on a layover, looking out on the pacific toward home, reminiscing about my own experiences with the Mano, the "toothy taxman." The recent news of Mark's encounter with a GWS over Kona side has prompted a lot of talk, speculation, and recollections of encounters many of us have experienced ourselves, or have heard about from others we know. Like most of you, the majority of my dives include one or more inquisitive Mano, or a hungry hunter trying to
    benefit from my efforts of killing fish. Most of the time I go about my business slinging steel while keeping a careful and cautious eye on the shark's behavior. When we consistently see certain patterns of behavior we begin to assume we know all there is to know. But just like some of my friends' wives, every once and a while they totally break all patterns of logic and go aggro, displaying behavior we've never witnessed or expected. I have two experiences that have me scratching my head, still trying to figure out the "why". To explain my thoughts on the Mano, I want to give some background on my development as a spearo...thus the apology. Skip it if you like. But before you feel like criticizing my theories or thoughts, you might want to read it...otherwise skip it.


    The great thing about being an airline captain is that it affords world wide travel and time off to indulge in my passion: spearfishing with my sons and friends, and sometimes, alone. While my home watahs always stay windward BI from first shallow reef-t'ree prong-Hana Buttah Days, poking manini and weke along Keaukaha's protected pools from Richardson's, For Miles (Fish Ponds), Onekahakaha, and "Private Beach " (only my Ohana and close friends call it that) , i have had the opportunity to spear in waters all over the world, so its no wonder that two of the strangest encounters I've had took place in Florida's waters 25- 30 nm west of Cedar Key, and not at home on BI. So before I relate these two events here is the background on me and my relationship with da Mano. Again, my apologies.


    Spring break back on BI always took us ovah Kona side for sunny week of camping at Spencer Beach Park and diving Kawaihae from Pu'ukohola Heiau to D'On's Beach (named aftah my wahine, again only my Ohana and good friends know this "secret" fertile cove). It was a tradition to hit the cove at the Heiau aftah dinner and wade into its shallow waters and feed the juvenile pups of Mano kihikihi, hammerhead pups, since this was a breeding ground for the hammerheads. Jumping off the moorings in Kawaihae harbor was also alot of fun but tense at the same time knowing that the bigger manos patrolled the deeper waters. We always swam the distance fast and anxious...climbing out with chicken skin, but relieved to have made the swim out to the moorings, successfully climbed the rusty hand holds, jumped and "suicide dove" into the deep and refreshing watah, and made the swim back to the abandoned dock! CHEEHO! All good fun.


    Several people I've met over the years harvest the white tip reef shark for food.During the day they "chillax" under ledges and in holes, making them an easy target. I remember when I started diving deeper and using guns instead of slings I would hit Ke Kahakai Beach (the old state beach north of Keahole Airport), still one of my favorite places to dive, swimming out to the lane. On one dive, before swimming out past the reef, i came across a resting adult white tip under a ledge where i was checking for one uhu i saw swim under. Thinking about the juicy steaks I've tasted in the past, I breathed up, dropped back down and pulled the trigger, sticking em right through the gill slits. He erupted out from under the ledge and tried to shake the shaft out thrashing and swimming in tight circles. As I watched this mano in distress all of a sudden I began to feel extreme remorse. It was the weirdest thing. I've never felt bad about putting an end to life to my food. Was it the stories by good aunties and uncles about the mano being aumakua of many Hawaiians? Was it My hanai brother's full blooded Hawaiian reverence for this mythical hunter? What evah it wuz, it hit me hard...you all know, like when you violate the inner code of ethics you live by. While watching this Mano in distress I realized that if I could get the shaft out he would be ok since he didn't seem to be mortally wounded. I saw that he would not be able to bend toward his tail to bite me because of the shaft sticking through his body. So I disconnected my shooting line from my reel line's pigtail swivel, eventually grabbing the white tip by the tail, and while pulling him backwards thru the water I grabbed the barbed end of the shaft and pulled as fast as I could while letting go of the tail. The mano took off as soon as he felt the shaft pull out, and I watched as my shooting line slid through his body and fell free of tension. *The mano takes off for deeper water and I realize I'm done...cooked...pau hana...heart rate through the roof. But I felt liberated for what I did. Karma? Pay it forward?


    Years later my Florida dive crew and I were out in 70-80' of mostly clear Gulf water, diving a spot called xxxxxxxxx. Always get plenty fish!...and bull sharks too. *The vis is about 50', not the top to bottom vis we like when hitting xxxxxx. We have two dive pairs, Brent and Grant, Jared and me. Brent quietly slips in the water with Grant close behind. As he is breathing up he cautions us that there are more bull sharks on the structure than normal. We proceed. Jared enters the water with me close behind. *Just as I load the bands on my gun we hear the unmistakable sound of Brent's Australian made cannon go off. He surfaces and yells for us to get back in the boat as "hundreds" of bull sharks are coming off the structure. When he dropped he saw a nice Cobia (normally run with the sharks) and took the shot. As soon as he hit the cobe the bulls came off the structure (which was obscured due to vis/thermal cline) and stole the Cobia, the shaft, and started for Brent. By now I'm the only one with a loaded gun and I'm starting to see the bulls swimming in aggressive patterns all around us. Every one swims back to the boat while I'm swimming last keeping my gun pointed at every set of jaws that comes close. At one point a very girthy bull swims at me chest level so I do what has always worked in the past and extended my gun and swam aggressively at the mano while growling as loud as I could. He just pressed on...so I stop and swim backward toward the boat while facing this guy and getting ready to pull trigger when my buddies grab me from behind under the arms and throw me in the boat. Scared s#%~less, I drop my gun and let it sink as I'm being pulled in the boat...let the float line keep it. We have never seen that many bulls on one structure, never had them get so aggressive right off the bat. We've dove this spot regularly in every season before this experience and since. Nevah witnessed anything like it. There were so many bull sharks that we couldn't count them...literally hundreds it seemed . What was it? Some breeding ritual thing? Off season currents? Feeding event where there normally are only 2-5 bulls at the most except for this time? Still a mystery. Brent is Fla born and raised and one of the absolute most gifted and gentlemanly spearos i have met. He has seen it all...or so he thought. We still search for an explanation. These are his waters and this was the first and only time he's ever witnessed this.


    Story 2:
    Diving White xxxxx with my bruddah Jared. He brought along a friend who wanted to learn the ropes of free diving. So he's working with his friend and I'm off by myself dropping and shooting fish. I drop down to the main structure at 70' and nail a giant kahala. I let the reel spool as I hit the surface where I put the brakes on. *As I work the buggah, I'm enjoying the fight as well as the satisfaction that I've just poked my largest kahala. I finally get him up and straddle him and sink my knife into the top of his head. As I'm doing this I feel Jared ram into my right shoulder as he came over to help me subdue my fish...only it wasn't Jared. What I saw made me stop what I was doing and start kicking for the boat with quivering Kahala in my hands. I had just been "bumped" by an adult mako. A mako? What the heck was a mako doing in Gulf of Mexico this far in? 20-30 miles off shore it's only 60-80'. I warned Jared and his friend to be careful. Even they had a hard time believing it was a mako. But I know what I saw. It was a close up profile view just below the surface. I searched data bases just to compare what i saw with published photos . This Mano definitely was a mako. The amazing thing about this experience is that it has left an almost spiritual effect on me. I had a struggling fish in a bear hug. I was fighting a fish that was putting out "fish in distress" signals for more than 10 mins at least. I was surrounded by a cloud of fish blood and oil when the mano came calling. Why no bite? This day was not the clearest. Maybe 20-30' vis at the most. What is also amazing is that he didn't leave after bumping me. After I swam directly to the boat in that all too familiar backward swim with gun extended in one hand and death grip on the forked tail of my PB kahala technique, I got in the boat to ice my fish and take inventory of my right shoulder....still there, but my wetsuit looked liked it had been sanded by some heavy duty grit sandpaper. When it was apparent the shark was gone I got back in the water along with Jared as my safety diver and worked the bottom for grouper. On one descent I felt my fins bump together. Thinking that was odd, I looked up behind me and saw the same mako swimming away as if he was bored with me. When I surfaced Jared was big eyed and convinced it was a mako. Jared and I later made a drop together where I hammered my personal best grouper.


    So, i ask, aumakua or toothy taxman looking for a bite? All humble respect for Hawaiian mythology aside, when it comes down to who takes home dinner, I will make sure I am the one leaving the water instead of becoming a Mano menu item.


    However, since that experience with the white tip years ago, I personally chose to respect the Hawaiian mythology about the Mano and to never target them for trophy or food. I dont judge those who do. But that's just me and my choice. Equally, I have no problem ending the life of this apex hunter if me, my sons, my buddies, or any other human is in danger of being hurt or killed.


    So based on my experiences witnessing this weird, unexplained behavior by sharks, I can fully believe Mark and his Great White encounter.


    As far as the Aumakua thing, I wish I could find the article I read by a BI diver at pohoiki years ago. Brian Ayau, or one of the Lai's?...but it Was about an encounter with a tiger at pohoiki that displayed familiar characteristics and a benevolent demeanor leading him to ask if this was kupuna that was there as protection...or something like that. Respond with the source if you know it. I've been searching.


    Just to go on record, I do not demean nor disrespect any one who chooses to hunt or shoot sharks. I have good friends that I respect and admire who choose differently than me. *That's cool. My opinion is just that; an opinion. So if my buddies stay reading this post, Plz bruddahs...no take offense! Jus label me lolo for my belief and lets get on with the Ho'olaule'a called life with friends! K'den...I pau going all Portagee!



    Mahalo for allowing me to bore you with my thoughts. My layover is almost over!


    Aloha

  • Crimping Spectra

    Quote from LunkerBuster

    Is that a crimp on some spectra?


    Yeah. Had to do a quick rigging job in Mexico last week ( so not a pretty job ) when we were going deep to hit pargo. Viz was so bad at 75' I couldn't see past my trigger mech let alone the bottom. I always remove the mono line ( I use 400 lb on all my guns ) and use my reel line as shooting line when hunting big fish that like to take your gear into the rocks and reef holes. The mono cuts so easily but I've never lost one with the Kevlar/Spectra line as it is more durable. The jinko sleeves hold great. I learned this technique from some BI shooters as well as some guys in Cali.

  • Distance of tabs from the mech and each other

    Maybe the reason for the spacing between tabs is to give a wider degree of power options. I usually stack all my bands on the tab closets to my trigger mech for max penetration and range when hunting blue water, or bottom if not on or in a massive reef area where I'll be targeting smaller fish and shooting my shaft into reef. With open sand, caves, or hunting bigger fish that hang out away from shaft dulling structure I will power up. As mentioned, when I don't need the power or range and when I don't want to burry my shaft continuously into the reef, I'll load just one band on the second tab from the mech. That's the only reason I can think of: a greater difference in power loading. Otherwise all a shaft would need is one tab for a typical 3band gun, or two closely positioned tabs for a big blue water tuna gun of 4-6 bands. Especially with the thinner Kevlar/dyneema wishbones!


    And how about those obnoxious band notches so common on euro shafts?!! They weaken the shaft AND do damage to dyneema wishbones! I go with the mini shark fin tabs for my rail guns!


    Does that help


    Aloha

  • Hobie Odyssey - Kayak Fun

    Don't know, but no need. The wetsuits fit most sizes and shapes. A smaller sized open cell will still fit a bigger build by stretching, but it will thin out the thickness and will not be as warm. A larger open cell with good tight wrist and ankle bands will still fit a smaller diver, but won't be as adhering to the body. My twelve year old wears an open cell two piece that's slightly big on him and handles the long water time along with me and his brothers just fine. I'm 6'2" and 200 lbs and I've fit in that same wetsuit...tight squeez but did it just fine. I like my skin to fit tight, so I wear a L or XL but could actually wear an 2XL, or a Medium! I know it sounds crazy but the open cell adheres to your skin like SKIN, so it's just a matter of how you like the overall wetsuit to fit. Of course I think this is more true for two piece wetsuits. I've surfed plenty in one piece Billabongs and felt totally choked by tight or snug zipper wetsuits! A huge key to longer breath holds is to keep warm and keep the shivering down, and by not feeling constrained or choked around the neck. You could buy a good open cell used on eBay or the forum, but with the way Speardiver has priced their wetsuits, I would recommend buying one new from them. Seriously, search for Omer 3 mil cammo and you'll spend more on just the bottoms/farmer johns than you will on the entire two piece wetsuits at spearfishing.store. The only thing I would change about mine is if they would make their 3 mil bottoms in a Farmer John style like my Riffe so I can wear just the bottoms with a rash guard instead of the upper when I'm diving really warm waters and don't want to wear a 3 mil top with hood. Other than that I have become a huge fan after using my new wet suit last week in Mex!


    I have worn both the Spetton on my 12 year old Kainoa, and the Riffe on my 17 year old Kawika!
    Aloha

  • Hobie Odyssey - Kayak Fun

    :)I have several open cell 3mil. I just bought a 3mil from Freedivestore and absolutely love it. The grey black cammo pattern is perfect for the big ulua caves and lava rock reef out here, and the feel of it is great. The price was even better! Thanks Speardiver for a great suit, excellent affordable price, AND shipping it to AZ in time for our trip to Mexico.


    Nothing moves with your body or keeps water from cycling through as well as open cell.

  • Hobie Odyssey - Kayak Fun

    PS:
    This pic is not here to show the size of this fish but because of the significance of it. I was full on "bumped" by an adult mako shark while sinking my knife into this fish's brain. Will never know why my shoulder wasn't consumed by this amazing shark but I will never forget the experience of having this shark hit me then shadow me as I swam this Kahala (Amber jack) to the boat. Even this experience was a "spiritual" one gleaned from being a fellow hunter. He must not have been hungry at the moment cause after several minutes of distressed fish signals and plenty of fish blood and oil in the water from subduing my fish he only hit me in passing! I fear man's props and speeding boats more!

  • Hobie Odyssey - Kayak Fun

    Don't you just love the feeling of the moving ocean every time you close your eyes at the end of a long water sesh as you try to drift off to sleep? Everything moving in a rhythmic motion? Or the totally fatigued state of the body after leaving it all out in the water? And how about the water logged feel of your skin as you climb out of the salt? And of course looking at your catch regardless of how filled your stringer is or the size of your catch and realizing that very few people could ever do what you just did? Yeah, you paid for your meal...but not with man's paper money. And the satisfaction of your accomplishment is your table tip to yourself paid at 100% ! And people wonder why you and I and every free diving hunter out there would go without breathing for an accumulative time of hours in a day just to get food for the table?! Welcome to the waterman's way of life! It's not about the money, the cars, the cool gear, the house, our status or position in society. It's about LIVING! While my sons friends are wasting their lives on stupid things I'm wearing my sons out in the water and they are stoked to the soul for doing it! There's been times we've had long swims back to a rocky shore in moderate seas and against ripping currents with an empty stringer, drinking salt water all the way from the huge ground swells and breaking wind waves (a staple here on the Big Island) and when finally climbing out onto the black lava rock boulders and feeling totally spent, we look at each other with giant grins and just yell with that primal feeling of triumph, giving thanks for another amazing experience in the ocean! Maika'i ka hana a me mahalo i akua..good work well done and thanks to God!


    Thanks for sharing! Look forward to seeing how your diving evolves in the future. I have shared hunting grounds with various species of sharks, always with two to three bulls out in the Gulf, and would rather compete with them for my catch than with boats like you have there in So Fl! Man is stupid. The Mano, shark, is a skilled and amazing hunter to behold and to me not the threat stupid humans with a boat and ego are! Be careful out there. Glad you have a skilled dive partner to hunt with.


    Congrats.


    Aloha!
    Makoa

  • Hobie Odyssey - Kayak Fun

    Parrot fish, or Uhu, are a highly sought after fish due to the high culinary value of their moist, tender meat. The females (rust colored) are the most tender. Uhu are very hard to land in the islands because they have been hunted for generations. Most fish in Hawaii are what we call Akamai...smart, wise. You have to be a great fish charmer to bring them close enough for a shot. In Bahamas and Mexico the Uhus swim right up to your shaft and basically jump on your shaft. B.A.D. Guns are made by Bobby Abril in Kona, on the Big Island. You can google and find his stuff.


    Reefchief you're correct on the Hawaiian and Tahitian floppers.


    Look forward to hearing how your hunt goes.


    Aloha