AC-k3v

was it this guy you got it from? lol http://archives.starbulletin.com/2003/02/01/news/story3.html

Look into www.shiptohawaii.com or DHX ocean freight. I think DHX has a port in Seattle. Ocean freight will take 7 days.

Food for thought... I had my tank built in CA and shipped to Hawaii. Total cost with shipping included was cheaper than any estimate I got locally. This is Hawaii. EVERYTHING costs more.

I suggest shipping the tank as well. The LFS on Maui are pretty much non-existent. All your livestock will come from Oahu. I can help you with that though.

Maui!? Well, if you ever crave nightlife or excitement you are welcome on my couch for the weekend. Maui is beautiful! If i ever moved there, upcountry is my spot. Makawao area. Aloha! Kevin

This bill is an all out ban on this industry.

I may of misunderstood his post then. If i did i apologize. This is a very emotional topic for my family and many friends' families. Kevin

You're saying that aquarium collectors and no one else is the reason for the yellow tangs decline? I find that comical. The study you posted is finger pointing the collectors as i assumed your comment to do. I refuse to believe the fish collectors in this state is solely responsible for the decline of the yellow tang or any other fish for that matter. And me bias, of course i am... I'll be the first to admit it. I'm not going to let one person take the roof over my head and the clothes off my daughters back. We are getting of the point of this thread. This is a ban, this is not work toward any kind of conservation or sustainability efforts.

Understood. It's not just hotels... Hurricanes have destroyed more reefs in this state than anything else. In 2006, 40 Million gallons of raw sewage spilled off of Waikiki. The recent floods we had a month ago had washed trash from the landfill in our oceans and closed all beaches on the west side of Oahu. Kaneohe Bay, home of the largest barrier reef in the US is under study now about water quality due to sedimentation from run off. Reefs on the same bay are being smothered by invasive "gorilla ogo". Introduced by the marine biologists on coconut island years ago. (oops) There is a problem with the Roi, or peacock grouper, killing our reef fishes. For some reason someone thought it would be a good idea to bring the invasive Roi in to make spear fishing more fun. Who is the weakest of the bunch? Who out of all parties doesn't have millions to defend themselves? The aquarium trade. Thanks snorkel bob. Kevin

Hawaii has 806 miles of protein skimmer.

Bills don't cost anything to write up... I'm in the process of writing a bill to ban snorkel tours on Hawaii Reefs. The impact on the reef from snorkel tours is devastating. Leaky oil from outboard motors, tourists sitting and standing on the reefs, tourists taking pieces home as souvenirs, chemical polution from suntan oil, etc... It's a real problem here in Hawaii.

Aloha, Just shoot me an email: kevin(at)alohacorals(dot)com

I will not take offense to your post. I actually appreciate your opinion. Thank you. Minimize collecting... Fine. All out Ban, NO thank you. This just the beginning. If a bill like this passes, i predict a domino effect. The outcome, who knows... but its not going to be good. Do you know that snorkel bob compared you to a pedophile? (I'm assuming you have a tank) http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/editorial-070814-1.html Is that the guy you want to be heading up this fight of conservation? The guy that makes his living on these fish? Not me... I'll take Bill Walsh instead in a heart beat! At least he has a PHD. Aloha and Mahalo again for your post. Kevin

Please don't take my comments the wrong way. The marine conservation areas in my eyes are a good thing. They work! Banning fish like Hawaiian Cleaner wrasse and morish idol collection. Fine. I like to read articles like this: http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20101223_Study_finds_reserves_replenish_fish_widely.html# What i'm against is an all out ban, propaganda, and personal vendettas.

Uhg... Bill Walsh. of course. lol Have you read Ret Talbots latest article on Hawaii? He touches a bit on Mr. Walsh's data and has the same thoughts as i on it. Take a look: (Worrisome Data) http://coralmagazine.coverleaf.com/coral/20110102?sub_id=BM5ZGjld2Z4dt#pg82 Kevin

IMO... No, harvesting of fish is not out of control. Are there people out here that give us a bad name, yes. There is a lot of politics here in this industry. You could call it self regulation. Un-Written rules that if they are broken, you will never be able to do business here again. As with island culture, you don't burn bridges. The older divers teach the young. We think about tomorrow. We think about our kids we plan to hand this down to. You see fly-by-nighters come here looking to make a quick buck. You also see them disappear real quick if they over step their boundaries and break these un-written rules. Please take a look here: http://hawaiitropicalsaltwateraquariumfish.com/ As far as controls/ permit process for harvesting... There are permits needed and catch reports to fill out monthly. Even if you don't fish you have to tell them you didn't. If not or your report is late, you get fined. There are no bag limits in place. There are marine reserve areas that are not allowed to be fished in. I have not met a person in this industry that is not conscious about sustainability and conservation. We make our living this way, the last thing we want is for it to go away. Especially from our own doing. There have been no hard evidence or research done to prove aquarium industry fishing is depleting our fish population. If there was, i doubt anyone in this industry would not take the proper steps to change it. Snorkel Bob likes to quote numbers, but has yet to produce where he gets them. Kevin

There is a blurb to the effect of letting people collect for personal aquarium use: Now, in actuality... They will never provide these permits. The have the same processes in place for hard and non-local coral aquaculture in place. Though when asked about I am told that even though the workflow is in place, the DLNR has never produced/approved a permit. Lets say that they do give aquarium permits. Good for me and my aquarium, but you guys get nothing. You can enjoy my pictures though. DOH! There will be hundreds of families effected by this bill! Kevin

Mahalo! Your help is greatly appreciated! Kevin

There are 5 more bills on the horizon. [sarcasm] 2011 is going to be a fun year. [/sarcasm]

This is what will happen if my daughter catches a minnow at the tide pools: (1) For a first offense, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or thirty days imprisonment, or both; (2) For a second offense within five years of a previous violation, shall be fined not more than $2,000 or sixty days imprisonment, or both; and (3) For a third or subsequent violation within five years of a previous violation, shall be fined not more than $3,000 or ninety days imprisonment, or both.

I'm just going to copy and paste what i posted on my local forum... --------------------------------- Aloha, I just received word that Senate Bill 580 will be heard this coming Thursday. This bill is, plain and simple, a complete statewide ban on the aquarium industry. The hearing will be at 1:15 PM, at the state capitol (room 225). Here is the hearing notice: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessio..._02-03-11_.HTM Here is a copy of the bill: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessio...lls/SB580_.htm It's critically important that we attack this bill as hard as we can right now. If it passes out of this committee it'll give our opposition time to publicize the issue and make our lives that much harder. Everybody NEEDS to come to this hearing! Also, everybody needs to: - Call the office of Senator Dela Cruz and say that you're opposed to SB580. The phone number is 808-586-6090. Do this right away! - Prepare written testimony against the bill. The deadline is 24 hours before the hearing, so this needs to be done by Wednesday afternoon. However, attending the hearing in person is far more important than written testimony and carries much more weight. - Get everybody you know (friends, family etc.) to do the same thing! The more the better. I'll update as things go along. Just to let you know there are 5 more bills to be presented in the very near future. We need everyone's help. Thanks, Kevin ---------------------------------

RVPE (too short)

That's pretty cool! nice. I'm way lazy when it comes to top off. I use tap, so i'm going to Tee off the water feed on my fridge. Normally closed solenoid and a float switch and i'll never have to fill anything again! w00t!