Halemano -- I'd almost be sorry for how you have been so abused and mistreated by at least one mod -- almost. But since you write about how you have been so misunderstood and abused -- not to mention how you write that your primary purpose of writing is to make sure TRUTH WILL OUT (especially when it comes to Maui) -- a few responses:
a. I started diving in Maui in the late 60's (prior to your birth?) -- and I can tell you that MY LYING EYES prove to me there are fewer reef fish. OK, not a study.
b. You wrote:
I posted an example of a moderator posting as a user, where the moderator made a statement "as fact" that is not a fact. I immediately (next post) asked for the supporting data for the moderators statement of fact. This was not an issue of someone's opinion; this was about anyone claiming their opinion was backed up by "studies" when in fact there is no study that backs up that opinion. The only studies actually point to the opposite of the stated opinion.
This non-response is, apparently, the object of your ire and your prime example of abuse.
BUT, you also wrote:
It's sad . . . five years ago, when I first dove Molokini crater, it was like being in the bottom of God's kaleidoscope. Each year we have gone, there seem to be fewer fish and more dead coral, and now we no longer bother to go out there. The shore diving is just as good, and far less expensive. Oh, and BTW, it's not me getting jaded. There are studies of reef fish off Maui that show exactly what I am talking about.[quoting that poor abusing Mod]
This is, you go on to write, "The Big Lie" pushed by the abusing mod on the poor Maui instructor who stands (and writes) for TRUTH on SB.
OK, let's take a look at what that poor Mod wrote:
a. First statement is that of the Mod's observation that in five years, the number of fish seen at Molokini Crater is declining. This IS a statement of fact -- the Moderator is stating seeing fewer fish over a five year period at the Crater.
b. Second statement is that there are studies of reef fish off of Maui showing declining populations. Note -- there is no specific reference to Molokini in this statement.
Now, HM, for another quote from ONE WHO WRITES ONLY THE TRUTH:
near shore reefs have declining coral coverage and near shore reefs have declining fish numbers
Hmmm, is there, perhaps, some problem with Halemano's ability to comprehend a post? (And did I mention the Mod wrote about the study AFTER a sentence referring to shore diving off Maui?)
Oh, and here is some more food for thought:
The end result of reef degradation is evident at Maalaea Bay. In 1972, Maalaea coral reefs were described as being ‘striking in their diversity and in the presence of rare corals species’. As late as 1993, estimated coral cover was 50- 75% close to the site where cover is now 8%.
Therefore, in just a few decades, the Maalaea reef has transformed from a healthy and diverse ecosystem into a badly degraded habitat overgrown by algae and with little surviving coral.
One consequence of severe loss of living coral is that degrading reefs change from being actively-growing and structurally-complex habitats, into eroding and relatively flat areas which do not support abundant marine life. That process is well advanced at Maalaea, where fish stocks are now in very poor condition, being dominated by small wrasse, triggerfish and puffers.
Given that the Maalaea reef is now a poor habitat for most grazing fishes, and that existing blooms of algae will continue to inhibit new coral growth, even in the best of circumstances (without water quality or fishing impacts), recovery of Maalaea would likely take many years.
Status of Maui's Coral Reefs
In 1999, The Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) in partnership with the Coral Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program began annual surveys of coral condition at nine reef areas in Maui County...
So, what do we really have here from Halemano:
a. An inability to comprehend the English language.
b. An arrogance of belief that only HE "Knows The Truth" and can spread The Word on SB.
c. A lack of knowledge of the subject matter at hand.
d. A general lack of charm -- and who knows what else.
HM -- feel free to put me on ignore as I am NOT a mod. Me, I tend to at least glance through your posts (at least on threads of general interest to me) if for no other reason than to see what BS you are spewing next!
