Thus, now seems like an appropriate time to appreciate these gentle, floating mega fauna.Ī honu proudly shows off a healed war wound at Portlock, Oahu. There is currently a movement to take green sea turtles off the threatened list. Much like searching for the best sunset spots in Kauai or sipping Mai Tai cocktails on the beach, they have become a staple of Hawaiian tourism and a symbol of the successes of proper management. Today it is imperative to keep a lookout at the bow of a small boat moving through Kaneohe Bay lest a turtle pop up for a breath. Over the next few years, they multiplied. Turtles were hunted to near extirpation until the state and federal governments put a stop to collecting and even harassment of such animals in 1978. As happens all too frequently, the human population in Hawaii exploded to the detriment of the local wildlife. Early explorers described seeing so many turtles that they were navigation hazards. Sea turtles have had a roller coaster relationship with Hawaii. One of Hawaii’s most symbolic and photogenic creatures has made a lifestyle out of similar passions.
Of course, these activities aren’t solely for people seeking a tan. And between the gluttonous cramming and food-induced beach comas, they will sometimes even procreate. At some point hunger drove them away from the beach toward a buffet of tropical edibles. Their motives were mostly similar: lie on a beach, soak up some sun, and go for a swim. While a few flew in for work, most of the guests were here on vacation. More than six hundred thousand tourists flocked to Hawaii in April this year.