close
close

Mondor Festival

News with a Local Lens

PHOTO TEST: What’s underneath? An underwater pumpkin carving competition
minsta

PHOTO TEST: What’s underneath? An underwater pumpkin carving competition

It might have looked like a Halloween slasher movie, but these divers were competing for prizes.

Carving a pumpkin usually creates a mess on the kitchen table. But take a giant water bottle 35 feet underwater and new challenges arise.

Clayton Bush carves his pumpkin during an Island Divers Hawaii underwater pumpkin carving competition, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Honolulu. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)Clayton Bush carves his pumpkin during an Island Divers Hawaii underwater pumpkin carving competition, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Honolulu. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)
Trapping a pumpkin with his legs to prevent it from rising to the surface, Clayton Bush begins carving it with a plunge knife Saturday. Some divers used store-bought pumpkin carving tools. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)

This annual tradition at Island Divers Hawaii was started almost a decade ago by then-Hawaii Kai business owner Matt Zimmerman. “It’s a great outing to build relationships in our community; Club divers get to know staff members in a fun, relaxed atmosphere,” said new owner Brady Thomas. “I wanted to continue the tradition.”

Island Divers Hawaii is hosting an underwater pumpkin carving competition for certified divers on Saturday, October 26, 2024 in Honolulu. This annual Halloween tradition began almost ten years ago. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)Island Divers Hawaii is hosting an underwater pumpkin carving competition for certified divers on Saturday, October 26, 2024 in Honolulu. This annual Halloween tradition began almost ten years ago. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)
With little to no current, competitors descend 35 feet to the sea floor at the Koko Crater dive site, beneath the boat. The diving company uses this site for the competition due to its sandy bottom to avoid damage to reefs, corals and other flora and fauna. It’s about a 10-minute boat ride from the Hawaii Kai dive shop storefront and dock. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)
A diver follows the contours of his jack-o'-lantern during an Island Divers Hawaii underwater pumpkin carving competition, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Honolulu. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)A diver follows the contours of his jack-o'-lantern during an Island Divers Hawaii underwater pumpkin carving competition, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Honolulu. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)
A diver follows the contours of a jack-o-lantern using store-bought tools. Knives, saws and picks are tied to prevent them from floating. Divers could describe their cuts before going into the water. One of the rules of the competition, which is rarely enforced, is that cutting and carving are prohibited above water. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)
Emily Boutain, left, and Gem Eastep carve their pumpkins during an Island Divers Hawaii underwater pumpkin carving competition, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Honolulu. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)Emily Boutain, left, and Gem Eastep carve their pumpkins during an Island Divers Hawaii underwater pumpkin carving competition, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Honolulu. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)
Emily Boutain, left, presses her pumpkin against the sandy ground to keep it from wriggling as she pushes her carving tool into the gourd. The constant buoyancy interrupts Gem Eastep’s progress. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)
Pumpkin seeds and pulp float during the Island Divers Hawaii underwater pumpkin carving competition, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Honolulu. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)Pumpkin seeds and pulp float during the Island Divers Hawaii underwater pumpkin carving competition, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Honolulu. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)
Pumpkin seeds and pulp float around the group. Costumes were strongly encouraged. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)
Fish surround Sophie Bulatovic for a holiday treat during an Island Divers Hawaii underwater pumpkin carving competition, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Honolulu. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)Fish surround Sophie Bulatovic for a holiday treat during an Island Divers Hawaii underwater pumpkin carving competition, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Honolulu. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)
Sophie Bulatovic sports cat ears. Fish surround her to feast while she cleans her pumpkin. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)
Island Divers Hawaii dive masters Julie Furletti, left, and Adrian Fouts carve their pumpkins into portable jack-o-lanterns during the underwater pumpkin carving competition Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Honolulu. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)Island Divers Hawaii dive masters Julie Furletti, left, and Adrian Fouts carve their pumpkins into portable jack-o-lanterns during the underwater pumpkin carving competition Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Honolulu. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)
Island Divers Hawaii dive masters Julie Furletti, left, and Adrian Fouts carved their pumpkins into wearable headgear. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)
Island Divers Hawaii divemaster Julia Furletti swims with her jack-o'-lantern during their underwater pumpkin carving competition Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Honolulu. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)Island Divers Hawaii divemaster Julia Furletti swims with her jack-o'-lantern during their underwater pumpkin carving competition Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Honolulu. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)
Furletti’s jack-o’-lantern helmet is lit up as she brings divers to the surface. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)
Javier Martinez of Ewa Beach slowly surfaces with his dive light inside the jack-o'-lantern he carved during the Island Divers Hawaii Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Honolulu . Martinez's pumpkin won first prize in a two-tank dive during one of the dive shop's boat tours. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)Javier Martinez of Ewa Beach slowly surfaces with his dive light inside the jack-o-lantern he carved during the Island Divers Hawaii Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Honolulu . Martinez's pumpkin won first prize in a two-tank dive during one of the dive shop's boat tours. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)
Javier Martinez of Ewa Beach slowly surfaces with his dive light inside his jack-o-lantern. He won first prize in a two-tank dive on one of the dive shop’s charters. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)