“Hawaiian Reef Cleaning”

[rkim808]

Aloha Gang, just wanted to post a thread that has nothing to do with boating. More of a educational post on Invasive Species of fish here in Hawaii, and a idea I was able to turn into reality.

Last weekend I held my KIX-Kauai Invasive Xtermination Dive Tournament out in Ha’ena Kauai, Hawaii. I wanted to do something positive and help out a few causes at the same time.

One help out the Kauai YMCA Camp Nau’e on the Northshore of Kauai. They been closed for over a year, since the big rains of April 2018. The bridges and road was damaged by landslides, and it needed extensive repairs. The road was just recently reopened less than a month now, and Camp Nau’e is back in business.

Two help clean the Reefs of these Invasive Species of fish that were introduced to our waters in the 1950’s. The Roi(Peacock Grouper), Ta’ape(Bluestripe Snapper), And Toau(Blacktail Snapper). Since being introduced they’ve been over running the Reefs and are in direct competition with our local native species of fish. I like to consider myself a fisherman, and my favorite way of gathering is spearfishing. As a spear fisherman we are very selective and can target a specific species, so what better way to help clean our Reefs of these unwelcome fish and then in a friendly competition.

And three I wanted to KOKUA(Help) out a good friend, that has gone through some very trying times when his son Aidan was diagnosed with Acute Hemorrhagic Leukoencephalitis. Which is a rare autoimmune disease, they’ve been flying back and forth to Oahu for treatment over the last year and a half. Aidan has since been doing great in recovery, but the Ohana(family) has been hit hard financially. So I wanted to try and help offset some of this, by acquiring as many prize donations as I can get. And raffle them off with the proceeds going to the Gandigan Ohana.

We had a great turnout of 36 two man Teams, so 72 spear fisherman. The diving conditions wasn’t the greatest, water was a little murky and strong current. But the competitors were still able to get 195 Roi, 87 Ta’ape, and 67 Toau off our Reefs. We also made $2500 for the YMCA of Kauai Camp Nau’e, and $5720 for Aidan’s medical relief fund. Mahalo nui(Big thanks) to all the sponsors and participants, and also my Ohana and friends that help make this happen. And mahalo(thank you) for reading this thread and letting me share with you. Aloha

 

[rkim808]

Pics of the Luau after, Cheeeeehuu!

 

[swatski]

Rueben - that’s outstanding!
I’d love to partake in something like that, I might do a lionfish hunt down in FL, unless you run the Kauai tournament again.

Thanks for sharing!

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[Trevor Shipman]

Count me in @swatski if you put something together!

 

[Julian]

@rkim808 that is amazing! Not only did you put on the tournament, but it looks like you guys cooked up a storm, had entertainment and fun for the kids!!! Totally impressed!!!!

 

[rkim808]

Rueben - that’s outstanding!
I’d love to partake in something like that, I might do a lionfish hunt down in FL, unless you run the Kauai tournament again.

Thanks for sharing!

—

Aloha @swatski it went off so well and nothing but positive vibes that I’ve decided to do a second annual next summer. I’ll start planning it out, and I’ll keep in touch and would love for u and ur Ohana to make it out for it.

 

[rkim808]

@rkim808 that is amazing! Not only did you put on the tournament, but it looks like you guys cooked up a storm, had entertainment and fun for the kids!!! Totally impressed!!!!

Aloha @Julian I wanted it to be a Ohana event, I even invited Dr.s from the University of Hawaii to do there research on the Invasive Species taking out ear bones and gonads. But the Keiki had waterslide and bouncy castle and could learn how to Gutako(fish print). And yes was a big Luau feast, with the boys jamming some island music. Mahalo nui loa(Thank u very much)

 

[Gym]

Much better than a boating thread @rkim808. Thanks for posting and your service to nature.

 

[VaMarine]

Brother this is awesome... As a diver (one that requires an air tank) I've always wanted to do something like this. I may have to find a way to take out some of those nasty Lion Fish soon.

 

[rkim808]

Much better than a boating thread @rkim808. Thanks for posting and your service to nature.

Aloha and mahalo(thank u) @Gym

 

[rkim808]

Brother this is awesome... As a diver (one that requires an air tank) I've always wanted to do something like this. I may have to find a way to take out some of those nasty Lion Fish soon.

Aloha and mahalo @VaMarine I would love to get involved and Kokua(Help) u in anyway. Invasive Species r destructive to any and all ecosystem, no matter where in the World they r. Especially when they don’t have a predators to keep them in check, the balance of things is thrown way off. The Lion fish and Roi have that in common, nothing keeping them in check. Please feel free to contact me anytime.

 

[zipper]

Pretty awesome event Rueben. I have liked your posts on Facebook about this. Very well done sir, keep up the good work. Mahalo nui loa. Now if we could find a way to eradicate my lake of zebra mussels.

 

[rkim808]

Pretty awesome event Rueben. I have liked your posts on Facebook about this. Very well done sir, keep up the good work. Mahalo nui loa. Now if we could find a way to eradicate my lake of zebra mussels.

Aloha and mahalo @zipper what r zebra mussels? And they grow in a lake, wow. I need to come and visit and see what they r lol. Great excuse to come that way, and maybe u take me on a sailing trip on the Panana.

 

[zipper]

Aloha Rueben, zebra mussels are a small mussel that grow on everything underwater. I had them all over my jetpump nozzles, steering fins and trim tabs last year after wet slipping for the summer. They do not grow on anti fouling painted surfaces like the bottom of the sailboat, but will grow on the prop shaft, prop and zincs.





They came here a couple of decades ago on others' boats from the Great Lakes that were infested by large commercial vessels from abroad. Invasive Species in Lake Champlain . Back in the 80's it was eurasian watermilfoil and the sea lamprey eel. The dive shop I was with used to have hunts for the lamprey and I have killed my share in the past. But nothing as large as your event. The lamprey were ruining the sport fishing industry on the lake. They are parasites that attach to salmon and lake trout and slowly kill the fish. Back then you would reel in a fish and 1 to 2 lamprey would drop off that fish and onto your boat. Now they use lampreycide in the tributaries to kill them in the larvae stage. Nobody has found a solution for the zebra mussels that coat everything stationary under the water.

If you ever make it to this part of the world when it is not frozen, we would be very pleased to take you out on Panana and show you around. Mahalo for your interest in iradicating invasive species. Keep up the good work.

 

[rkim808]

Aloha Rueben, zebra mussels are a small mussel that grow on everything underwater. I had then all over my jetpump nozzles, steering fins and trim tabs last year after wet slipping for the summer. They do not grow on anti fouling painted surfaces like the bottom of the sailboat, but will grow on the prop shaft, prop and zincs.
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They came here a couple of decades ago on others' boats from the Great Lakes that were infested by large commercial vessels from abroad. Invasive Species in Lake Champlain . Back in the 80's it was eurasian watermilfoil and the sea lamprey eel. The dive shop I was with used to have hunts for the lamprey and I have killed my share in the past. But nothing as large as your event. The lamprey were ruining the sport fishing industry on the lake. They are parasites that attach to salmon and lake trout and slowly kill the fish. Back then you would reel in a fish and 1 to 2 lamprey would drop off that fish and onto your boat. Now they use lampreycide in the tributaries to kill them in the larvae stage. Nobody has found a solution for the zebra mussels that coat everything stationary under the water.

If you ever make it to this part of the world when it is not frozen, we would be very pleased to take you out on Panana and show you around. Mahalo for your interest in iradicating invasive species. Keep up the good work.

Aloha kakou @zipper WOW that’s so crazy looking the zebra mussels. And the lampreys parasites sounds nuts too. Some years back they were rumors of lamprey in the Wailua River, but nothing ever came of it just rumors. I’m glad cause they sound nasty. Now we’re having a Black Chin Talapia Invasive Species alert on the Northshore of Kauai too. When we had those big rains last year they were wash out of a ditch system in Kekaha Westside of the Island. Now they r moving up and around the Napali Coast. DLNR and the community r working together to try and catch them before they can start breeding and taking over the shorelines. I’m already thinking what I can do to help in this effort. The sad part about our Invasive Species of fish in Hawaii, is that they were all INTRODUCED on purpose. By people not THINKING about the impact it would have on the ecosystem, and/or not even caring.

 

[seanmclean]

Man, what an awesome event! I might have to time our eventual vacation to Hawaii for this if you can show me a thing or two about spearfishing! Are the blue/blackstripe snapper good eating like their red cousins?

Zebra mussels suck. I'm glad they haven't made their way into our waters but I suspect its only a matter of time, those bastards are razor sharp too.

 

[rkim808]

Man, what an awesome event! I might have to time our eventual vacation to Hawaii for this if you can show me a thing or two about spearfishing! Are the blue/blackstripe snapper good eating like their red cousins?

Zebra mussels suck. I'm glad they haven't made their way into our waters but I suspect its only a matter of time, those bastards are razor sharp too.

Aloha @seanmclean i’ll be happy to Show u thing or two about spearfishing. And yes the Ta’ape and Toau snappers r good eating. And I’m glad we don’t have any Zebra mussels here in Hawaii. They look nasty.