Found out last night that the waves would be too small to be worth surfing today.
My #1 dive buddy was wiped out from diving all yesterday, and had some chores he wanted to do instead of PWC diving Kaena Pt. He doesn't like the current there.
Dive buddy #2 said he would rather play soccer than deal with the Kaena current.
Dive buddy #3 was passed out after hunting goats all day yesterday and non-responsive.
4th person I texted jumped on the offer.
I give you CJ, AKA FisherBoy25 from the Hawaii Skindiver Forum. He's rockin' the loaner lifejacket pretty good too. 8)
With minimal coaching, CJ was hitting new personal bests almost right off the bat, and picking up nice fish.
We ran into Team Hammerhead out there, and they stopped by the PWC to rest for a spell. 20 minutes after they left, I saw an ulua swimming by in 60+ of water, alerted CJ, gave chase but lost sight of it. Bummed, I made a drop anyways to take a look around at 75'. Didn't see anything, but on my way up, I looked closer at a crack and saw uluas in it. I alerted CJ to it. He quickly grabbed the PWC and started kicking so that we would not be swept down current/wind and lose the hole. He tells me to go for it. What a guy. 8)
I had a hard time trying to figure out/remember which crack it was, and made a blind drop. At 50', I pause and scan. Nothing.
ARGH. Just when I'm about to go back up for air, I catch sight of three uluas cruising back and forth in a hole up current. Kicking fast and hard, I power upcurrent, peer over into the crack and stone one of them from above. 74 feet. First thing across my mind was "Oh crap! It's almost a papio."
Other uluas barely noticed so I left the stoned ulua in there with my gun and swim back up, hoping CJ can follow my line/gun down to it and pick up one for himself.
I grab the pwc and tell him to try for one. This is deeper than he's ever dived though, so confidence isn't high, but hey, it wouldn't hurt to try. I power up and drag the PWC upcurrent while CJ cruises and breathes up. He drops and misses the hole due to the current by quite a bit. It's too far up current from him so he comes back up. Says he didn't see any uluas other than mine which floats out of the hole.
I go down and grab it.
The obligatory pose shot.
It was a bit small, but extremely thick. Sizewise, 25 lbs, but thick-wise and after picking it up, 35-40# This picture gives you an idea.
Another pose.
My boat:
Seriously could not have done it without CJ's help.
Strapped down for the ride back.
Happy faces:
-Paul
Damn, Almost Papio Sized... Spearfishing Kaena Pt, Oahu 
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