Ha’ano

Our first stop in Ha’apai was the island of Ha’ano, the northern most island in the eastern island group. The sun was still pretty low in the sky when we arrived, and turning into the anchorage it was right in our eyes, so we dropped anchor a little far out, had some breakfast and a rest and then when the sun was higher we moved in a little closer among the coral heads. The island very much reminded me of any heavily palmed motu in the Tuamotus, and we had good protection from wind and swell, which was a nice break after two nights in the rolly southern anchorages in Vava’u and then the overnight sail.

The anchorage was beautiful. It was littered with coral and decorated with a single mushroom-shaped rock. Tim and I enjoyed paddle boarding and we also explored some of the beaches and found the way up to the main trail that runs the length of the island. This trail became my running track for the few days we were there, and while I never ran to the village, I did often encounter children playing along the path and they always looked at me like I was a little insane. Oh, and the cows. I shudder at the thought.

While paddle boarding along, from behind me Tims says, “there’s a big fish chasing you.” First, I think, “Yeah, right, whatever,” and then I think, “Oh no, maybe it’s a shark.” Then Tim clarifies that it was a huge TUNA, near shore, chasing me, in shallow water. So, of course, as soon as we were back at the boat, Tim was suited up and in the water with his spear gun. When he came back, he had a tale of a huge fish he shot in the face but got away (read the next post to find out what became of that fish).