The Hawaiian Sea Turtle

Sea turtles have been around for more than 180 million years, which is long before the Hawaiian islands even existed. Christopher Columbus sailed through the Caribbean in 1503, and he saw so many sea turtles that he named three of the islands Las Tortugas. He stated that the sea turtles he saw were the most valuable reptiles in the world. Soon, as the exploration in the western hemisphere was increasing, the turtles were being hunted for their shells and their flesh.

There are three types of turtles native to the Hawaiian islands: the Hawkbill, Leatherback, and the Green turtles. The most common turtle is the Green turtle known as the Honu. It weighs about 400 pounds and is typically vegetarian. They eat algae and limu, which is Hawaiian seaweed, and they prefer to live near large areas of limu near the shores of the Hawaiian Islands.

There are very few Hawksbill turtles found near the islands of Hawaii and Molokai. That is where a few of the females have nested recently. The Hawksbills are small to medium sized and their home is in the coral reef. It uses its beak to get sponges and other invertebrates.

The Leatherback turtle does not nest nor even come close to the shores of Hawaii. It feeds on jellyfish and it is typically out in the open ocean, with nothing holding it back. It can weigh up to 1500 pounds and it is the "giant" out of the world's sea turtles. Suprisingly, the Leatherback species is the only species without a hard shell.

The isolation of Hawaii makes the nesting of the Hawaiian sea turtles safer than other places that are not so isolated. Since hunting of the turtles is banned, their population is growing more and more.

Even though hunting is banned, there is a disease called fibropapilloma. Fibropapilloma blinds and chokes turtles with tumors observed easily by divers and snorkelers. This disease, unfortunately, isn't very well understood. The Honu Project tags and tracks turtles in an attempt to understand the disease more in depth. To help with this project, volunteers often donate boats and time and Adventures West of Kauai takes enthusiats to see the turtles.

Sites Used

• http://www.islander-magazine.com/honu.html
• http://www.animationfactory.com/
• http://www.scubamaui.com/hawaiian.sea.turtles.htm

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