October 14, 2007
Secret cove
Beaches in Hawaii are, for the most part, public. If you want a home on the beach you’ll probably have to buy an exisiting one because new beachfront developement is prohibited in most areas. When the old neighborhoods were being built it was necessasry to maintain public access to the beaches, so you’ll find little pathways between houses.
Some of them are narrow and pretty well hidden if you don’t know where to look. See the red shrub in the photo above? It’s easy to drive right by without discovering the secret it disguises. A narrow path of toe-stubbing coral thinly covered with sand leads to a quiet beach.
The beach bears no name on the maps I’ve seen. Locals call it by the name of a retired politician who owns one of the homes that front the beach. It’s only about fifty yards wide (if even that,) with coral ledges bordering each side and funneling the waves toward shore. I’ve swum here a few times, but the surf is usually a little too wild. Corals just below the surface only a few feet from shore are capable of slicing into flesh, and sea urchin spines can cause painful reactions when they penetrate flesh.
The coral is at several levels of elevation, with older, dead coral up above most of the action. Tidepools filled with urchins, shrimp, small fish and other life confirm that the water does wash over this upper platform on a regular basis. The landscape is eerie, almost lunar in appearance, with dried sea salt rimming pools that haven’t been refreshed for a while.
Around its margin the tidepools are permanent fixtures, regularly replenished at high tide. A few picturesque openings feed the larger tidepools where hand-sized fish can sometimes be found.
The lower coral ledge teems with life. Seaweed, fish and urchins are the most consistently visible. When the tide is just right, though, the table-like surface becomes an amusement park ride for honu (green sea turtles,) who allow incoming waves to tumble them, heal over tail, across the mossy-looking surface. They pause for a quick snack of coral before the next wave tumbles them back into the ocean, then swim back to their starting point and do it again.
This is the only beach I’m aware of on the Waianae Coast where honu routinely congregate in the water and where some come ashore to bask in the sun. I’ve seen as many as three at a time on the beach, but it’s more usual to see just one, as I did on the days I took these pictures. A keen eye will spot them in the water, though. I saw six or seven today and that’s about the norm, though I figure there’s probably several unseen for each one I spot.
I’ve never seen them move very far up the beach. They generally nap just a yard or so above the wave line, where the sand is wet and an occasional surge reaches out to remind them that home is nearby.
I rarely see other people when I go to the secret beach, but maybe I’ve never gone on a weekend before. When I went today there were two couples and a family each claiming a small section of beach. I spotted the scene above when I arrived, so I don’t know if honu or the tot got there first, but they both seemed perfectly contented with the arrangement. The little girl ignored the turtle. Honu opened one lazy eye a few times, but not with great enthusiasm. Perhaps that grand tradition, the Sunday afternoon nap, is a fixture in the turtle kingdom, too.
This post appears in the Carnival of Aloha published on November 5, 2007. Come! Share the Aloha!
[tags]beaches, green sea turtles, Hawaii, Hawaii beaches, Hawaii photos, honu, photos[/tags]
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October 15th, 2007 at 2:23 am, Corrin Says:
That is an absolutely fabulous place.
October 15th, 2007 at 3:23 am, Lisa Marie Mary Says:
Totally awesome post, Skeet! You did a wonderful job sharing that secret beach with us! I love, love, love the pic of Honu and the little girl - just magical. I stumbled you and I hope that will mean more people get to enjoy this post!!
October 15th, 2007 at 3:57 am, suni Says:
fantabulous. I am going to read it again! the pictures are great.
October 15th, 2007 at 4:37 am, Lee Says:
What a beautiful post! I wish I could be there to experience it first hand!
October 15th, 2007 at 7:47 am, Lynne Says:
Fabulous photos! I love the last one, my daughter would be thrilled to have a turtle share the beach with her anytime!
October 15th, 2007 at 8:14 am, jo Says:
Suddenly I hate Illinois…
October 15th, 2007 at 9:50 am, skeet Says:
It’s a very special place, Corrin. Its loaction is guarded by those who know, lest it end up in guidebooks and bring crowds to destroy its beauty.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:52 am, skeet Says:
I was charmed by the magic, too, Lisa, of a little girl who has no idea how special her playground is. Mahalo for the stumble. I never think to do that!
October 15th, 2007 at 9:55 am, skeet Says:
Mahalo, Suni. Our quiet little cove is indeed a little fantasy wonderland.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:59 am, skeet Says:
Lee, I’ll blindfold you and take you to this wonderful place when you get to Hawaii for a visit!
October 15th, 2007 at 10:01 am, skeet Says:
Isn’t it amazing, Lynne, that a child can be so accustomed to the company of honu that she plays so obliviously? I’m glad you enjoyed the post!
October 15th, 2007 at 10:03 am, skeet Says:
Aw. Jo! I’m sure there are places just as lovely near your home - well, almost!
Mahalo for stopping by!
October 15th, 2007 at 11:06 am, valmg Says:
Great pics, it looks absolutely beautiful Skeet!
Nice post too!
October 15th, 2007 at 11:37 am, pussreboots Says:
I love the pictures of the sea turtle. Reminds me of a BookCrossing pal who died recently. She would always send books from Hawaii “on da sea-turtle” and decorate her packages with stickers of turtles and other Hawaiian creatures and flowers.
October 15th, 2007 at 11:28 pm, Laura Says:
I live near the coast and we have many beaches but that one is fantastic. Beautiful.
October 16th, 2007 at 12:24 am, frenz Says:
Nice place and I wish could be there someday..
October 16th, 2007 at 5:18 pm, pelf Says:
Is this a “private beach” of any kind? The green turtle went up to the beach to nest, right? So what happens to those eggs deposited?
Are the eggs dug up? Sold? Consumed? Or are the nests left alone for incubation?
October 16th, 2007 at 5:19 pm, Whim Says:
How beautiful! Thanks for sharing it with us Skeet.
October 16th, 2007 at 7:31 pm, skeet Says:
There aren’t many places quite as special as our little secret beac, Laura. I’m very forutunate to even know about, as it’s location is not divulged to many people.
October 16th, 2007 at 7:32 pm, skeet Says:
Wishes are good, frenz! Keep on hoping asnd you may make it here some day!
October 16th, 2007 at 7:34 pm, skeet Says:
It’s not private, Pelf, but not many folks know how to find it. It’s better that way - for the beauty of the location and for the turtles. They don’t lay eggs here, I think. They just come ashore for a while to bask in the sun. Green sea turtles are protected, so it would be illegal to disturb the eggs if they did nest here.
October 16th, 2007 at 7:36 pm, skeet Says:
Whim, I”ll take you there when you get your butt over here for a visit - after you sign in blood that you won’t tell anyone where it is!
October 18th, 2007 at 9:44 am, Marisa Says:
We visit one that’s hidden away like that on Kauai, mostly to find really pretty shells. Homeowners have roped off the path area to keep out tourists but we know that we have a right to get to the beach so we just walk under the rope.
There’s also another “secret” beach that’s much more difficult to access; it’s unofficially “clothing optional.”
October 22nd, 2007 at 6:58 am, Shannon Says:
What a wonderful spot! In my neck of the woods, beaches are non-existant, so it’s really fun to see “real” pictures taken by a real person! And, the sea turtles were a special treat! How I would love to visit Hawaii someday! Thank you so much for taking the time to show us this treat!
October 29th, 2007 at 3:20 am, Tess Says:
That is stunning! If we end up moving there, you are so showing me where this is.
November 5th, 2007 at 5:56 am, The Carnival of Aloha Takes a Magical Hawaiian Safari! Says:
[…] brings us some secret beauty at Secret cove posted at skeet’s stuff. Man that looks familiar. I’m sure I know that place. Once […]
November 5th, 2007 at 11:33 am, L.P. "NEENZ" FALEAFINE Says:
Whoa beauty at its best. Looks familiar, recognize the bush…but all I can do is smile!
November 5th, 2007 at 12:18 pm, INFINITY. ยป CARNIVAL OF ALOHA: It's Safari Time! Says:
[…] After all of that wouldn’t you love to find this “Secret Cove?” […]
November 5th, 2007 at 10:50 pm, skeet Says:
I don’t have any problem with sharing the “secret” location with local folks, Neeze, but didn’t want to post it and encourage busloads of tourists, kwim? It’s not the kind of place that needs lots of traffic.
November 7th, 2007 at 1:17 pm, Bobbie Says:
Hi Skeet -
You’ve done a wonderful job with this post. Great photos, too. And I agree with you about not being overly detailed in describing exactly where the beach is, even though it’s technically ‘public.’ ;-}
P.S. Thanks for your message, too.
November 7th, 2007 at 9:40 pm, techie Says:
My family and I will be stopping by next week. Woopee!! It’s things like this that make me miss living in Hawaii a lot.
November 7th, 2007 at 11:44 pm, skeet Says:
Mahalo for your kind word, Bobbie. I’ve been meaning to write about this hidden treasure for a while. Your post last month about your own honu encounters reminded and inspired me.
November 7th, 2007 at 11:44 pm, skeet Says:
Yes, you will Techie and I’m looking forward to it!
November 12th, 2007 at 12:26 am, HawaiiVacationGifts Says:
Thanks for sharing your special secret place. My uncle lives in Waianae on Hakimo Road.
Also thanks for visiting my blog via the Carnival of Aloha that we are both in:)
February 1st, 2008 at 3:09 am, Postie Carnival | My Thoughts, Ideas, and Ramblings Says:
[…] presents Secret cove posted at skeet’s […]
February 1st, 2008 at 6:29 am, corrin Says:
This post gets even better when I look at it from 8 inches of snow!
February 1st, 2008 at 8:43 am, skeet Says:
I have to drive by the entrance to that community to get to an inspection today, Corrin. Maybe I should take a little side trip. Just to break up the monotony of work day, ya think?
February 2nd, 2008 at 7:41 am, Lori Says:
Just beautiful! I actually remember this post cause of the pictures:)