About Hawai’i’s Sea Turtles
Hawai’i is the home to five species of sea turtles. Olive ridleys, loggerheads and leatherbacks are usually only encountered in deep offshore waters. But it’s common for snorkelers and divers on all the islands to see the honu(green sea turtle) in near shore waters. Green sea turtles, however, nests in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, a remote, protected area where they thrive.
To some, the Hawaiian name for hawksbill sea turtles is ‘ea, but for others they are known as honu’ea. Hawaiian hawksbill turtles nest on the main Hawaiian islands, predominately on the Big Island of Hawai‘i. However, a few hawksbills and green sea turtles also nest on Maui each year. Due to their rarity, hawksbills are watched over very carefully and are a primary subject for Hawaii Wildlife Fund’s research projects.