Visiting Hawaii in Nov

[Crit21]

I'll be spending a week in Hawaii (the big island) in Nov. I want to bring back a bunch of frags, but I'm having trouble finding listings for LFSs. There are about 75 major LFS suppliers there, according to the Net. I can't seem to find any on the west coast. Any ideas?

 

[Crit21]

Unfortuantely, Indo-Pacific Sea Farms in Kailua-Kona (5 miles from where I'll be staying) doesn't give tours or sell "over the gate". You have to wonder why they're so secretive. I suppose I could ask around when I get there. I'd prefer to collect my own and ship it back, but I'm sure there's a licensing requirement for that.

 

[tkeracer619]

I think it is illegal to take corals from hawaii. Not sure though.

Have lots of fun. Sounds like its going to be really nice.

 

[reefkoi]

yeah I thought coral collection in HI was illegal? I think only fish and "other" inverts can be removed?

 

[Leopard Wrasse]

I believe that it's illegal to keep corals in Hawaii unless you are
a public aquarium or research facility.

 

[murfman]

Hawaii irradiates everything when you go through the airport as you leave.

 

[Crit21]

Wonderful. I wonder how the shippers get around the radiation treatment. I guess I'll have to ask a lot of questions when I get there. The airline and LFS people should know.

 

[Crit21]

Who said I was going to take frags from the reefs? I was talking about buying them from a LFS (hence the statement about finding listings for LFSs) and bringing them back with me.

 

[Leopard Wrasse]

Dan,

I think the point people are trying to make is LFS in Hawaii
don't sell corals, it's illegal there.

 

[Crit21]

That may be. Indo-Pacific Sea Farms doesn't list anything but snails, small clams, pods, algae, etc. I have found a recent mention of restrictions on harvesting black coral (vice a ban).
I did find one aquaculture center open to the public: Ocean Rider, Inc. (www.seahorse.com). It's in the same area as Indo-Pacific. They seem to specialize in seahorses.

 

[Crit21]

This demonstrates the lengths people will go: http://www.cdnn.info/eco/e030202/e030202.html