On my first real weekend in quite a while we drove out to Kualoa Beach Park.  The park is one of our regular stopping points whenever we are taking guests on a tour of the island.  The view of the mountains on one side and the handsome peak of Mokoli’i Island (aka Chinaman’s Hat) on the other make for some great photos.

Despite our many visits to the park, we had never been out to the island.  This time we dusted off the inflatable boat and paddled out.  The surf was small and the wind was calm so we took a leisurely circuit of the whole island before pulling ashore on a gentle, rocky slope.  We explored the small trails that wind around and up and down the island before eating lunch near the tiny beach on the seaward side.

I rigged up a light tackle rod and had some bites and follows from several needle fish and a big Christmas Wrasse.  We relocated and I started working the surf zone, hoping for a papio.  Instead, Tara spotted some silvery torpedo shapes cruising near the bottom of the low, rocky cliffs.  I changed my strategy a bit and was able to hook one – a nice little moi!

Moi, commonly known as Threadfin, are a nearshore fish.  They were highly prized for eating by the Native Hawaiians and have been a popular species for modern aquaculture.  Good “moi holes” are often a closely guarded secret.  I caught a couple more fish but threw them back.  Maybe we’ll come again when they get bigger…