The Body Glove Hawaii Blog

Hawaiʻi Island artist, Eric Franke captures clean, earnest photographs of Hawaiian landscapes and uniquely expressive portraitures. A Kona native, Franke’s work is inspired by his experiences growing up in Hawaiʻi and incorporates his love of adventure and beauty into his artwork. On Friday, March 29 from 6 pm to 8 pm, Body Glove Cruises will…

The Island of Hawaiʻi is known for its gorgeous sunsets, pristine waters, beautiful landscapes and friendly people. There’s nothing like a perfect holiday in paradise to relax, re-energize and enjoy life to its fullest. However, while it’s important to pack your sunscreen and bikini, it’s also good to remind yourself that occasionally plans can go array. The Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaiʻi Island, also known as VASH, is here to assist visitors to the island who experience adversity. VASH recognizes that even during the fun and relaxation of vacations, unfortunate events can happen. And when far from home, visitors do not usually have access to their own support systems and resources. VASH shares the aloha spirit with visitors affected by adversity. They also stress the following safety tips, to ensure your vacation is filled with positive, tropical memories. Ocean…

There’s nothing quite like a Hawaiian vacation. Snorkeling, whale watching and cruising the beautiful Kona Coast, is a paradise lover’s dream come true. Yet, while our pristine warm waters and tropical marine life is second to none, Kona is also known for its delicious above ground treasure. Kona’s world-famous “coffee belt” is only about a…

Coral bleaching–it’s a real concern. But sometimes a lot of the technical jargon can create a barrier for people like me who struggle to understand. That’s why I’ve created this article for you. We’ll chat about what exactly is coral bleaching, how they become bleached, and the very real impact it has on all aspects of life. And I’ll explain it to you in the most simplest way I can. Let’s get started. What is Coral Bleaching? Coral are marine vertebrates which typically reside in compact, closely-grouped colonies. They are living organisms found rooted to the ocean’s floor like plants attached to soil. Typically, coral polyps are coated with an algae-like substance known as zooxanthellae, responsible for the pale-pink pigmentation of coral. This algae provides 90% of coral’s energy source and is vital for the health of both individual polyps coral and reef as…

One of the most wondrous living things on earth is coral. Humans view its diversity and hues as a gorgeous, underwater decoration. But, it is a living organism that supports the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of species in the underwater ecosystem. Man may appreciate its wonder, but our destructive tendencies are harming this vital member of the oceans and seas. Here’s what you need to know about the grave threats facing coral reefs. If we don’t act soon, we may destroy these beautiful pieces of the earth. What Exactly Is Coral? Corals are relatives of the sea anemone. They are all made of the same simple structure: the polyp. The polyp resembles a tin can open at one end: the open end has a mouth surrounded by tentacles. The tentacles have stingers called nematocysts, that let the coral…

Author Robert Swan said the greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it. When it comes to our oceans and waters, that threat is becoming all too real. Plastics are putting marine animals and other sea life in real danger and environmentalists are sounding the alarm to the rest…

There’s no better family vacation destination than Hawaii, but sometimes choosing one activity that everyone agrees upon can be challenging. Body Glove Hawaii has just made this decision much easier! The Kanoa II, Body Glove’s award-winning, multi-million-dollar catamaran now offers a new SCUBA option on their popular Dolphin and Snorkel Adventure Cruise. Certified Divers can now enjoy SCUBA diving in Kona’s crystal-clear waters and marine preserves, while snorkelers of all experience levels can explore the island’s pristine underwater sanctuary. Derrick Troch, an experienced dive instructor, has worked for Body Glove for nearly five years and is now leading the SCUBA dives. “We want to cater to the entire family,” said Troch. “It’s not your typical dive boat that is strictly diving. This trip is designed with families in mind, so if you have father and son who scuba dive, but…

On May 23, our Body Glove family said good-bye to one of our own. Denver Leaman worked as a naturalist for Body Glove Cruises for the past 25 years, sharing his extensive knowledge during the winter months for our Whale Watching excursions. His unparalleled talents were like no other. For our guests who knew Denver, and for those who didn’t, we would like to share with you a bit about this exceptional man who will be so greatly missed. Denver was incredibly intelligent and passionate. His dedication, wisdom and contributions to the scientific community were immeasurable. He received numerous recognitions for his work, yet what he will be most remembered for is his generous spirit and kind heart. The Body Glove crew had a game they would play with Denver and the passengers they called, “Stump the Naturalist.” The guests…

  Hawaiʻi Island is famous for its pristine waters and gorgeous, underwater sanctuaries, making it one of the most popular snorkeling destinations on earth. With its colorful array of sea creatures, it’s no wonder people from all over the world descend upon Kailua-Kona every year to get up-close-and-personal with some of Mother Nature’s most magnificent marine life. One of the most beloved fish in the sea is Hawaiʻi’s official state fish—the humuhumunukunukuapuaʻa, or humu for short. This little creature, with a not so little name, became the state fish in 1985, after being chosen by a popular statewide vote. The colorful species, also known by their scientific classification, Rhinecanthus rectangulus, or “trigger fish,” can even be found in popular Hawaiian songs such as Don Ho’s “Little Grass Shack.” It’s not uncommon to run into these brightly colored fish while snorkeling…

Maggie Brown, Owner Body Glove Cruises Maritime history is rich with legendary tales of cantankerous, heroic seamen. Taking to the sea is primarily thought of as a male dominated career and past time, however women have always been a part of this rich history. In fact, there are many places where women are moving beyond traditional gender stereotypes and taking the lead in owning and operating boating businesses. Kailua-Kona, Hawaii is one such place. Kailua-Kona on the Island of Hawaii, is a hot spot for tourists who wish to venture out into the deep blue. Water activities such as snorkeling, whale watching, and dinner cruises are just a few of the offerings boating businesses provide. For too long, boating has been a male-dominated industry, however in this small town, women make up a significant percentage of boating business owners. Maggie…

It doesn’t take much arm twisting to talk someone into visiting Hawaiʻi, but the winter holidays are an especially nice time in paradise. While most people on the Mainland are digging out snow boots and shovels and heading to the mall for holiday shopping, why not give yourself and your family the gift of a Hawaiian vacation? Head to Kona on the Big Island (aka Hawaiʻi Island), where the daily temperature averages a perfect 82 degrees. If lounging on the beach with a Mai Tai sounds like your kind of holiday magic, here are a few more reasons to consider celebrating winter festivities in the land of aloha. A White Christmas In many Mainland states, getting snow on Christmas is a hit or miss experience.  Unless you live in the Rocky Mountains, one of the northern states…or Hawaiʻi. Mauna Kea…

Corals and the reefs they build are truly an amazing aspect of the natural world. Corals are not only living things they are actually animals, although they may look like plants. While they are beautiful and incredible to behold, they also serve a variety of invaluable purposes. Coral reefs provide value to both humans and the environment.   What Is a Coral, Exactly? A coral is an animal that is classified as a cnidarian (meaning that is completely symmetrical from every angle). A coral resembles a sac with tentacles, and it has a hole in part of its body that acts as a mouth. The tentacles sting potential food that swims past the coral, grabbing onto the food and transferring it to the coral’s mouth. During the coral’s mating season, coral polyps release sperm and eggs in the water, and ultimately, those sperm…