Monday, June 21, 1999
Special time shared
with an octopus
One of the best things about being near the ocean is
that sometimes, when you least expect it, a remarkable event occurs. I
had such a moment recently while working aboard my sailboat in the Ala
Wai Boat Harbor.
I know a man I'll call Dan who lives outdoors
somewhere around Diamond Head. This intelligent man takes great pains to
keep clean and is usually quite sociable.
Sometimes Dan believes that people are trying to hurt
or harass him. Thus, encounters with Dan are unpredictable. You never
know if you will be considered friend or foe.
So last week, when I heard this man calling my name,
I wasn't sure what to do. I was below deck. Should I respond or hide?
Would I be cursed or commended?
Hesitantly, I peeked out through a hatch and flashed
my biggest smile. "Hello?"
"Come quick," Dan said, clearly excited.
"There's something here you should see."
As I scrambled from the boat, Dan was hurrying to the
next finger pier. There, he pointed to the clear water, just a few feet
deep.
AT first I couldn't see any thing. Then, like one of
those posters containing hidden pictures, an image suddenly became
clear. There, perched on a rock for all the world to see, was a big,
beautiful day octopus, a he'e mauli.
The creature had its arms, and the webs between them,
spread wide, reminding me of a "Star Wars" creature in a fancy
skirt. As Dan and I crouched down to watch, the animals' bulging eyes
peered up at us. Since the water was so clear and shallow, I imagined
the creature could see us as well.
Octopus eyes, strikingly similar to those of fish,
are highly developed. At three feet away, an octopus can see an object
as small as 1/4 inch. Such sharp eyesight is a distinct advantage in
catching prey -- and checking out people.
Unperturbed, our octopus leisurely began moving along
the rocks of the harbor, feeling its way with its eight arms, also
called tentacles. Octopus tentacles are lined with suckers, each
individually controlled by muscles and nerves. Working together, these
suckers can provide a powerful grip or enable the animal to crawl
gracefully over nearly any surface.
AS the rocky background changed behind our octopus,
so did the octopus. It was amazing to stand on the harbor sidewalk and
watch this creature perform some of nature's best magic. As it moved,
the octopus instantly altered both its color and surface texture to
match the rocks beneath it.
We watched the octopus explore the reef for at least
20 minutes, marveling at the animal's total transformations. Finally,
the creature dropped into deep water and disappeared.
"It was nice sharing this with someone who
appreciates it," Dan said, staring thoughtfully into the water.
"It was," I agreed. "Thanks for coming
to get me. You really made my day."
"No," Dan said. "It was the octopus
that made the day."
