Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 8, 1 ʻAukake 1991 — Honu in Hawaiʻi [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Honu in Hawaiʻi

Most Hawai'i residI ents are familiar with the I sea turtles that frequent I Hawaiian waters. lf [ you've been lucky enough to observe them underwater , then you've experienced their gracefulness as thpi; nliHo thrnnnh tho

water with seemingly effortless strokes of their winglike flippers. Several types of sea turtles inhabit Hawaiian waters. The Hawksbill, OHve Riddley, Loggerhead and Giant Leatherback Turtles are occasionally sighted while the most eommon by far is the Pacific Green Sea Turtle known as Honu. The favorite nesting grounds for the green sea turtle are a tiny cluster of islands in the northwest Hawaiian ehain known as French Frigate Shoals. Eaeh summer the turtles eome here to feed, mate and bask in the sun. These uninhabited islands are an ideal refuge for the Honu, whieh are easily disturbed by humans or dogs, especially while on land. From May to August, the pregnant female turtles eome out of the water to lay their eggs in the sand during the night. An adult female may weigh over 300 pounds and lay over 100 eggs about the size of golf balls. After a eouple of months the eggs will hatch and the young turtles will emerge from their nest during the night and head for the sea. In many areas of the world, seabirds prey on the baby turtles before they reach the water. In Hawai'i this is not the case, however, many of the hatchlings are eaten by large sand crabs. Onee in the water turtles are vulnerable prey to fish, sharks and other marine animals. Large sharks even attack and kill full-grown turtles. TFie Honu was a favored food of the Hawaiian

people who also made use of their shells and eggs. Because adult Honu feed on algae, their meat is tinged with green. The name "green sea turtle" is attributed to the turtle's flesh color rather than its shell color whieh is usually brown. As domestic and commercial demand for the turtle meat and products increased, the sea turtle

population in Hawai'i decreased. As a result, the Honu is now listed as a threatened species. And, in recent years, sea turtles have been plagued with a virus that causes tumors. The tumors usually grow around their eyes and head and interfere with their ability to feed. The source of these tumors is not yet known.

Aaliirully Ilawaiiau

by Patrick Ching artist/environmentalist

u Field sketch of baby honu at Tern lsland.