This Dolphin Buck Millionaire.

The Ironman World Championship is held in Kona every October, and throughout the year triathletes can be seen training for each of the legs. The swim course remains “set up” throughout the year, which is to say there is a buoy with the ironman logo placed about 1.3 miles from the town pier. There are also a series of buoys that extend from the pier that serve as a swimming path of sorts, which is enjoyed by swimmers, snorkelers, and paddleboarders. After a week of swimming all over this coast, our guests, the Celestial Queens, are ready to take on the challenge.

Conditions this morning could not have been much better: very little wind, almost no swell, and a light current. I swam with Queens Kathy and Katie following Ryan’s lead on the SUP, and we made quick work of the course. Not long after rounding the Ironman buoy, we crossed paths with Heather, Kekau, Jenny, Nancy, Tenley, and Kay, a young woman who asked to tag along with us. 

There’s a cruise ship anchored offshore today, and tenders were bringing cruisers to the pier in a steady stream as I finished the course with the first group. There’s a small beach at the base of the pier, and the swim course has some amazing coral, really healthy stuff, which is surprising in such an urban environment. Equally as surprising was the pod of 15 or so dolphins that appeared after we had showered. Kathy, Katie and I jumped back in and swam 100 yards out along the course to get a better look, taking care not to chase them, which is illegal. The pod surrounded us, swimming over and under and around us, just inches away in only 10 feet of water, just a hundred yards from the busiest part of town. 

I looked out along the course and saw that the rest of the Queens, along with Heather, Ryan, and Kekau, were in the path of the circling pod, and they got the same treatment that we did. I’ve swum with dolphins dozens of times, and it’s still an incredible experience to be in the water with such strong, intelligent creatures. 

In Hawaii, there's a concept called Dolphin Bucks. When you pick up trash from the water or the beach, you earn a dolphin buck. The more bucks you have, the more likely you are to see dolphins. Our guest Jenny lives on the shores of Lake Michigan, and one of her hobbies is picking up trash from the beach. Some of it she throws in the trash, but she recycles other items, like bricks for lining her garden. She has a collection of seaglass and fishing lures, as well. This all goes to say that Jenny is a dolphin bucks millionaire, and it shows when she’s on SwimVacation.  

After lunch and shave ice in town, back tot the house, where Heather held a photo session in a choppy Waialea Bay. Heather takes the time to do a photo shoot in the water with each guest for a swimmer portrait they can cherish. Today, the Celestial Queens requested a group photo session - a testament to how close this group of five women have become. 

I made cocktails with the remainder of the ingredients we had: mai tais, green flashes, and raspberry hibiscus vodka infusion. Clare brought Ti leaves and plumeria flowers and held a lei making session. Heather held her famous slide show early, as Jenny had to get to the airport to make her flight home. We miss her already. Dan served slow poached Ono, with pavlova for dessert - meringue with berries and whipped cream. Perfect.

Tomorrow morning we'll have a splash, but basically this trip is winding down, and with more than a touch of sadness. This group formed a tight bond, and swam their hearts out.  Mahalo, Celestial Queens! Until we swim again.

Hopper

Do you have a minute and a half to watch dolphins? 🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬🌋❤️ (Thank you Kekau and Ryan for contributing to today’s video wrap up! XO)