World Turtle Day® is May 23rd each year and is celebrated throughout the world "as an annual observance to help people celebrate and protect turtles and tortoises and their disappearing habitats around the world."

We’re so lucky at Hale O' Honu'ea that honu (green sea turtles) love our beaches of Mauna Lani and Puako and in general can be seen all around the Island of Hawaii.

It's not unusual to be swimming in our waters and to see a honu. Our kids like to say that any day you swim with a honu is a good swim day!

When swimming, keep your arms by your side and stay at least 5 meters/15 feet away

My daughter and I love walking the shorelines looking for sea glass and shells (and occasionally unfortunate plastics, which we collect and throw out); my husband and son love walking the shoreline watching the surf (and wondering if they should grab their boards and head out). But we've all learned to be careful and look up for honu basking in the sun so that we don't disturb their rest:

Turtle tracks headed back into the ocean (photo taken with no honu in sight).

The hawksbill turtle, or "honu'ea" that our vacation rental is named after, is still endangered and we haven't yet personally seen them here on the Kohala Coast. They are known to nest in the Ka'u region on the Big Island, and we hope to see more of them all along our shorelines, thanks to groups like the Hawaii Island Hawksbill Turtle Recovery project. (Our 13 yo wants to learn how to drive on a manual transmission just so that she can intern with them when she's old enough!)

If you're planning to visit the Island of Hawaii we'll happily share with you our favorite beaches to look for honu. Feel free to check out our Houfy listing where you can contact us to book direct, and will not have to pay Airbnb or VRBO service fees:

Hale O' Honu'ea at the Fairways Mauna Lani - Puako

Townhome in Puako. Hale O' Honu'ea: Stay in this beautifully furnished 2 bedroom townhome, with polished granite and stainless steel gourmet kitchen, 2 1/2 baths and 1 car garage and relax in over 16...

https://www.houfy.com

For more information on Pacific sea turtles and conservation efforts, checkout the NOAA website here:

Sea Turtles in the Pacific | NOAA Fisheries

Science for Conservation We study sea turtle species that live in the North Pacific Ocean during one or more life stages, from hatchling to adult.

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov

For more information on World Turtle Day®, check out their website here:

World Turtle Day® | Home

World Turtle Day® is May 23rd each year and is celebrated throughout the world. It was started in 2000 by American Tortoise Rescue.

https://www.worldturtleday.org