Honu (green sea turtles)

     I have found myself enamored with the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle. We have been able to enjoy watching them on several occasions as we ramble about the hawaiian coast line. The best turtle watching was at Kalako-Hanokahoa Historical National Historical Park, which is only a 5 minute drive from where we are staying. I have been to the park several times enjoying the coast line and wading with turtles swimming and sun bathing.We also got blessed and got to watch 2 eating veggitation off some rocks and swishing with the surf, while we were snorkling at Hapana Bay State   Park.
     The hawaiian green turtle is endangered and protected. You are not allowed to harassass them, get to close or touch them (we were told it is a $10,000 fine to touch one!) Hawaiians used to hunt them for food, and use the shell for tools and ornamentation.  The sailors through out the Pacific hunted them to extinction or near extinction all around the Pacific.
     Honu (hawaiian for green sea turtle) and the 4 other native turtles are the islands only naturally occurring reptiles. There were no land reptiles, until the modern sea faring era. The most common turtle in Hawaii. the common name, green sea turtle comes from the green fatty layer inside, not the color of its shell.,

can you see it floating in the water?

Taking a nice sun bath

Turtle in the waves

1. 90% of the Hawaiian turtles breed and lay there eggs in the French Frigate Shoals protected area. These shoals are about 600 miles NorthWest of the Hawaiian chain. They are an atoll area with extensive reefs and very little land (67 acres), left over from a long ago volcano. It takes a turtle about 20 years to reach 200 lbs and breeding size. Then every 3 to 4 years they return to the beach they were hatched at to lay a new batch of eggs. They lay 2 to 3  clutches of about 100+ eggs. Only a small percentage surive to adulthood. They can live for 80 years and become 350 lbs!!