Honeymoon to Hawaii

[CaliforniaCrisp]

So I got married on the 14th and took off for 9 days to Honolulu. Let me say it was amazing!

I did all the normal things. Snorkeling, aquarium, swim with dolphins. Not to mention all the food!!

So I did my research and got everything I needed to collect zoas...LEGALLY. It was a challenge to find them when snorkeling. I shouldn't say challenge. I found plenty. But they were ok a reserved reef or just ugly.

On my last day I found a really nice colony of people eaters. Never seen them before. I like to call them honeymooner people eaters. The colony I found had a ton flapping in the current. So they were easily to be harvested. I brought them to my hotel where I set up a tank. Had LEDs, filter and all. (No clue what room service thought of it)

Once I returned home they were totally happy. I got back on the 26th and have 5 new polyps from them already. So cool I can look back at my tank and see them and remember my honeymoon.

Here are some photos from the entire trip. Along with a horrible photo of the ones I brought back. I will be posting more later along with video. Enjoy.

 

[CaliforniaCrisp]

Here is a phot I found online from a supplier of what look like I brought back. It did not have the name shown. But if anyone knows it please let me know. They will always be called honeymooner people eaters in my book.

 

[tupes]

First off congratulations!! Now a couple questions.
1. Do you always travel with leds, a tub, and powerhead? Lol
2. What did you ned to do in order to collect the zoas (paperwork)?
3. What camera did you use underwater?
4. Did you ship them home or travel with them.
5. Do you have a picture of them in you tank now?


Sent from my Note II

 

[CaliforniaCrisp]

First off congratulations!! Now a couple questions.
1. Do you always travel with leds, a tub, and powerhead? Lol
2. What did you ned to do in order to collect the zoas (paperwork)?
3. What camera did you use underwater?
4. Did you ship them home or travel with them.
5. Do you have a picture of them in you tank now?


Sent from my Note II

Thank you very much! Haha.

1. I do not... But! Now I think I will after seeing how successful it was. Even if it's just to SoCal for a weekend.

2. I had my "personal aquarium permit" which wasn't really needed. This just aloud me to collect fish with a net. (My wife doesn't allow me to have wild caught fish...) really you can take zoas because they are a soft coral. You just can't have any rubble attached. I figured that would be the hard part. But once you find a colony, they are grown out so much that they are just growing ontop of each other. I contacted a lot of people to see how to get them back. Fish stores and a few others told me I needed a permit to ship back. But I have 3 emails from Hawaii.gov stating I can fly back as long as I declare everything in my under luggage.

3. I used a GoPro Hero3 Black along with an Olympus Stylus 1030SW. The Olympus was way better until water got in it and the screen went dead. (It is a waterproof camera so they are replacing it) I haven't grabbed photos off it yet though. The photos underwater above are from my GoPro. The video is so much better! I hope to find time this week to edit some. I have footage of mantis shrimp crawling across my hand!

4. They went in my under bags.

5. I will have a photoshoot as soon as my lights come on today.

 

[tupes]

Thank you very much! Haha.

1. I do not... But! Now I think I will after seeing how successful it was. Even if it's just to SoCal for a weekend.

2. I had my "personal aquarium permit" which wasn't really needed. This just aloud me to collect fish with a net. (My wife doesn't allow me to have wild caught fish...) really you can take zoas because they are a soft coral. You just can't have any rubble attached. I figured that would be the hard part. But once you find a colony, they are grown out so much that they are just growing ontop of each other. I contacted a lot of people to see how to get them back. Fish stores and a few others told me I needed a permit to ship back. But I have 3 emails from Hawaii.gov stating I can fly back as long as I declare everything in my under luggage.

3. I used a GoPro Hero3 Black along with an Olympus Stylus 1030SW. The Olympus was way better until water got in it and the screen went dead. (It is a waterproof camera so they are replacing it) I haven't grabbed photos off it yet though. The photos underwater above are from my GoPro. The video is so much better! I hope to find time this week to edit some. I have footage of mantis shrimp crawling across my hand!

4. They went in my under bags.

5. I will have a photoshoot as soon as my lights come on today.

1-2. Thanks
3.im getting married in april and going to Jamaica and im getting the black gopro also. Do you recommend getting the led display or extra batteries or anything else?
4-5. cool thanks.

Sent from my Note II

 

[CaliforniaCrisp]

1-2. Thanks
3.im getting married in april and going to Jamaica and im getting the black gopro also. Do you recommend getting the led display or extra batteries or anything else?
4-5. cool thanks.

Sent from my Note II

Congrats!!!

I had bought extra battery's on amaOn for $16 a piece. Always nice to have.

The led isn't needed. I didn't because then I would of been more focused on that then everything else.

I do recommend the red filter (it enhances the video of bluer water) and some kind of strap for your arm. I used rubber bands because I forgot...

 

[tupes]

Thanks for the advise.

Sent from my Note II

 

[CaliforniaCrisp]

Here is a shot from my tank today.

Best I can do with my phone.

 

[StevenBell]

1-CONGRATS!!!!2-EPIC STASH BRO!!!!3-score on the zoas!

 

[darrend]

I used to live in maui. Beautiful there!

 

[CaliforniaCrisp]

1-CONGRATS!!!!2-EPIC STASH BRO!!!!3-score on the zoas!

Haha! Thanks man!

 

[bigcapct]

Congrats!! Can't wait to go away! lol

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Congrats and looks like you had a blast!

 

[ShippD]

Epic story one for the grand kids and something to show them

 

[skyline377]

Congrats!! It's cool to brag to your friends that I collect it those myself!!

 

[Singlefin]

Nice score. Did you find them in Waikiki?

 

[Martyd]

(My wife doesn't allow me to have wild caught fish...)

Really?

 

[lazypeeter]

First of all Congrats to you too getting married. Second, thats a very cool piece of Zoa and the colony looks healthy. I am going to keep this in mind in the future whenever I get married or travel.

 

[TarHeelReefer22]

Awesome story let us know when you are ready to frag some

 

[spspirate]

Great honeymoon!