Without a doubt Hanamoenoa Bay is a special place. A "white" sand beach, crystal clear water, I can see the bottom in 30+ feet, also generally sunny and amazing sunsets. Little to no swell or surge and a pretty constant 6 to 15 KT wind so the boat doesn't swing all over.

Manta rays, tropical fish, and I saw a black tipped shark swimming down near the bottom in 30 feet below the boat.

The beach is our usual tan sand, but apparently this is the only "white" sand beach in the Marquesas. I'm guessing, because all the other beaches are "volcanic" black sand.

There's no spinner dolphins here though, they're in the first bay I anchored in about 3 miles south of here, definitely worth spending a day there watching the dolphins.

Yep, even with the delays, added expenses, and the few frustrating episodes with weather and trying to get things shipped to Mexico, I wouldn't trade any of it, and the fact that I'm sitting in this beautiful place is worth everything it took to get here.

I forgot to mention the stars are incredible. The only thing that messes up the night sky is the anchor lights on the other boats in the anchorage, otherwise it's completely dark at night, no town lights or glow off in the distance.