American comics: I am full of martial virtues and I love to be kind to others.

“Ten o’clock, okay, we’ll be there on time,” Lynn confirmed.

After hanging up the phone, Lynn began packing his travel essentials. He chose a relaxed casual outfit: a light blue short-sleeved shirt, khaki shorts, and comfortable boat shoes. Although it was a vacation look, he still habitually brought some basic gear, including a waterproof watch, sunglasses, and a small backpack.

Emily, on the other hand, was much more prepared. She wore a white sun-protective shirt and light green shorts, a wide-brimmed hat, and also brought sunscreen, a water bottle, a camera, and a brochure about Hawaiian marine life.

“You look like a professional marine biologist,” Lynn joked.

“I am indeed very interested in marine life,” Emily replied earnestly. “The waters around Lanai are said to have many unique coral reefs and fish, and I would like to observe them closely.”

At 9:30, they met in the hotel lobby and then took a taxi to Maui Port. The port was busier than expected, with various ships coming and going, including cargo ships, fishing boats, yachts, and several vessels that were clearly belonging to government departments.

“That should be the patrol boat we’re going to take,” Lynn said, pointing to a white, medium-sized vessel on the dock.

The patrol boat is about 15 meters long, with a clean and professional appearance, and is marked with the logo of "Maui Police Department Maritime Division". It has a small cockpit, an open deck area, and is equipped with various specialized equipment.

Officer Nakamura was already waiting at the pier. She was dressed in civilian clothes today, but still maintained a professional demeanor.

“Good morning,” Officer Nakamura greeted them. “Welcome aboard. The weather is excellent today, perfect for sailing.”

“Thank you for the arrangements,” Emily said. “This ship looks very professional.”

“Yes, this is our newest patrol boat, equipped with state-of-the-art navigation and safety equipment,” Officer Nakamura proudly introduced. “The captain is our veteran crew member, Tom, who has twenty years of experience at sea.”

Captain Tom, a local man in his fifties, had a tanned complexion from the sea breeze and sun, and a firm yet friendly gaze. He gave Lynn and Emily a brief introduction to the ship's safety facilities and precautions.

“It will take about an hour and a half to get to Lanai,” Tom said. “The sea conditions are good today; it should be a pleasant voyage.”

At 10:00 sharp, the patrol boat set sail on time. After leaving the harbor, the ship gradually accelerated, and the sea breeze blew in their faces, carrying the salty smell of the ocean. Lynn and Emily stood on the deck, admiring the Maui coastline gradually receding into the distance.

“Maui looks so beautiful from this angle,” Emily exclaimed. “Surrounded by mountains and with winding beaches, it’s like a natural painting.”

“Yes,” Lynn agreed, “and from the sea, you can better appreciate the grandeur of the islands and the power of nature.”

As the boat sailed further and further from the shore, the surrounding scenery constantly changed. The deep blue water stretched to the horizon, occasionally punctuated by flying fish leaping out of the water, shimmering in the sunlight. On the distant horizon, several other Hawaiian islands appeared and disappeared, like green jewels floating on the sea.

“Look over there,” Officer Nakamura pointed to the distant sea, “there’s a pod of dolphins!”

Sure enough, about two hundred meters from the ship, a dozen dolphins were leaping and playing on the surface of the water. Their graceful figures and joyful movements attracted everyone's attention.

"Amazing!" Emily exclaimed excitedly, taking out her camera to take pictures. "I've never seen so many dolphins in the wild before!"

Captain Tom slightly adjusted the course, bringing the boat closer to the dolphins while maintaining a safe distance so as not to disturb them. The dolphins didn't seem afraid of the boat; several even swam to the side and curiously watched the people on board.

“Dolphins are very intelligent animals,” Officer Nakamura explained. “They are frequently seen in these waters and are generally very friendly towards humans.”

“This is more spectacular than any show in an aquarium,” Lynn exclaimed. “Observing them in their natural environment is a completely different experience.”

Emily took photos while recording the details she observed. "Look how complex their social behavior is; there's clear group collaboration and communication."

The voyage continued, and the scenery on the sea constantly changed. Sometimes it was a calm, mirror-like deep blue sea, and sometimes a slightly rippling emerald green expanse. Sunlight danced on the water, creating countless shimmering spots of light.

“Lanai Island is just ahead,” Captain Tom said, pointing to the gradually clearer outline of the land in the distance.

Lanai Island appears from the sea as a giant green hill, surrounded by white sand beaches and clear waters. The island is lush with vegetation and has several distinct bays and small harbors.

“Where do we land?” Emily asked.

“Hulopoi Bay,” Officer Nakamura replied, “has a small pier and a beautiful beach, perfect for swimming and snorkeling.”

As the patrol boat slowly entered Huloboy Bay, Lynn and Emily were awestruck by the breathtaking scenery before them. It was a relatively secluded bay, surrounded by mountains on three sides, with the seawater displaying a gradient of colors from light blue to deep green. The sandy beach was pure white, fine as powder, and stretched for about a kilometer.

“This is simply paradise,” Emily exclaimed. “It’s even more beautiful than the pictures in the travel brochures.”

“And it’s very quiet,” Lynn noticed, adding that they were the only boat in the bay. “It feels like a private beach.”

Captain Tom skillfully moored the patrol boat beside a simple wooden dock. The dock, though small, was sturdy and clearly frequently used by boats.

“We plan to stay here for four hours,” Officer Nakamura said, “that will give you enough time to explore the bay and the surrounding area.”

"Four hours? Isn't that too long?" Lynn asked, somewhat worried. "We don't want to take up too much of your time."

“It’s alright,” Captain Tom said with a smile. “We were already planning a routine patrol in this area today anyway, so it can be combined with this.”

After disembarking, Lynn and Emily first strolled along the beach, feeling the fine sand beneath their feet. The seawater was crystal clear, and they could see colorful little fish swimming around in the shallows.

“The water temperature is just right,” Emily said, taking off her shoes and letting the waves gently caress her ankles. “Not too hot, not too cold, just perfect.”

“The water here is even clearer than near the main island of Maui,” Lynn observed. “It’s probably because there’s less human activity.”

They walked along the beach for about ten minutes and discovered a special area. The water here was a darker color, and large coral reefs could be seen underwater.

“This should be a great spot for snorkeling,” Emily said excitedly. “Did we bring snorkeling gear?” “Yes, we do,” Officer Nakamura’s voice came from behind them. She was following them. “We have snorkeling masks and snorkels ready if you’d like to try.”

"Great!" Emily almost jumped for joy. "Let's go snorkeling!"

Lynn was also very interested in the suggestion. Although they had already tried diving the day before yesterday, snorkeling was a different experience, more relaxed and free.

After returning to the boat to retrieve their snorkeling gear, they changed into their swimsuits and prepared to go into the water. Officer Nakamura, though accompanying them, was clearly also a marine sports enthusiast; she had also prepared her gear and was ready to snorkel with them.

“Be careful,” Captain Tom cautioned. “Although the sea conditions are good here, still be careful not to stray too far from shore. I will be watching your position from the ship.”

Lynn was immediately awestruck by the underwater scenery the first time she put on a snorkeling mask and entered the waters around Lanai. Unlike her diving experience in Maui the day before, the underwater world here had a unique charm.

The coral reefs were much more diverse, with giant brain corals, elegant fan corals, and many other strangely shaped corals he had never seen before. The colors were also much richer, ranging from deep red to bright yellow, from orange to purple, creating a true underwater garden.

Emily swam beside him, occasionally pointing to some particular sea creature. Her scientific background allowed her to identify many species of fish and corals, and she would surface from time to time to share her discoveries with Lynn.

“There’s a green sea turtle over there!” Emily exclaimed excitedly. “It’s resting on the coral!”

Lynn looked in the direction she pointed and indeed saw a huge green sea turtle leisurely lying on a flat piece of coral. This sea turtle was at least a meter long, and its shell was covered with exquisite patterns, making it look very ancient and wise.

They carefully swam closer to observe, and the sea turtle seemed unperturbed by their presence, continuing to rest quietly. This experience of getting up close to a wild sea turtle filled Lynn and Emily with immense excitement.

“It may have lived for decades, even centuries,” Emily said softly. “It’s so lucky to have seen it.”

The snorkeling lasted about an hour, during which they saw countless beautiful sights: schools of tropical fish, elegant rays, colorful corals, and all sorts of unique marine life.

Back on the beach, they spread towels on the sand and enjoyed sunbathing. The sea breeze gently carried away the saltiness from their clothes, leaving behind a warm and comfortable feeling.

“This is a perfect day,” Emily said, lying on a towel and looking at the clear blue sky. “I’ve never felt so relaxed.”

“Yes,” Lynn agreed, “after so much stressful work, this tranquility makes me feel refreshed and revitalized.”

Officer Nakamura was also resting nearby, clearly enjoying the relaxing time. "You know, this bay is very special to us locals. I used to come here often for vacations with my family when I was a child."

“Then you must have many wonderful memories,” Emily said.

“Yes, these places hold our culture and history,” Officer Nakamura said. “That’s why protecting them is so important. Like yesterday’s statue case, it’s not just about the value of the object itself, but also about it being part of our cultural heritage.”

These words made Lynn think about the importance of cultural preservation. As an FBI agent, he frequently dealt with various criminal cases, but rarely had the opportunity to delve into the cultural significance behind them.

"How do you locals view the impact of tourism on traditional culture?" he asked.

Officer Nakamura pondered for a moment, "This is a complex issue. Tourism brings us economic benefits and allows more people to learn about Hawaiian culture. However, excessive commercialization could also harm our traditional way of life."

“Balance is indeed very important,” Emily agreed. “Finding a balance between development and conservation is a challenge faced in many places.”

During the conversation, Captain Tom called out from the ship, "Lunchtime! We've prepared some local specialties!"

When they returned to the ship, they found that Captain Tom had prepared a sumptuous lunch: fresh sashimi, grilled pineapple, coconut rice, and local specialty grilled fish.

“This is too much,” Lynn said in surprise. “You’ve prepared so much.”

“That’s Hawaiian hospitality,” Captain Tom said with a laugh. “And the food tastes even better when dining at sea, with such a view.”

Indeed, dining in a tranquil bay, surrounded by beautiful scenery, is an unprecedented experience. The fresh sea breeze carries the aroma of food, sunlight dances on the water, and distant mountains resemble a painting—everything seems perfect.

“This sashimi is so fresh,” Emily said, savoring it. “It’s better than any sashimi I’ve ever had on land.”

“Because it was caught this morning,” Captain Tom explained, “we stopped by the fishing grounds on our way to pick you up.”

After lunch, they decided to explore the inland parts of Lanai. Following a path, they headed towards the hills in the center of the island. Although Lanai is small, its terrain is diverse, ranging from dense tropical rainforests and open meadows to ancient rock formations.

“The vegetation here is a bit different from that on Maui,” Emily observed the plants along the way. “It’s probably because the islands have different geological and climatic conditions.”

“Yes, each island has its own unique ecosystem,” Officer Nakamura explained. “Lanai Island is relatively small and arid, so its vegetation differs from that of other islands.”

After walking for about twenty minutes, they arrived at a viewpoint. From here, they could overlook the entire Huloboi Bay, as well as Maui and other islands in the distance.

“This view is spectacular,” Lynn exclaimed. “You can see the entire outline of the archipelago.”

“The Hawaiian Islands are like pearls scattered in the Pacific Ocean,” Emily said poetically, “each one unique and beautiful.”

While resting at the viewpoint, Officer Nakamura pointed to a small island in the distance and said, "That's Molokai. If you have the chance, you should go see it. They maintain the most traditional Hawaiian way of life there."

“That sounds interesting,” Lynn said, “but we might not make it in time for this trip.”

“You can arrange it next time you come to Hawaii,” Officer Nakamura suggested. “Hawaii has so much to explore; a few days can only give you a small part of it.” (End of Chapter)