Magical Hawaiian Honu

Photo credit John Burns/NOAA

In lava’s embrace, Honu basks, Sun-kissed wisdom etched in scales.

Ancestral spirit, guardian of tides, Linking land, sea, and timeless tales.

–Author unknown

The Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle is known in Hawaiian culture as ‘Honu’ and can be seen year-round along Hawaii’s coasts. One can see them on Punalu’lu Beach on the Big Island of Hawaii basking in the sun peacefully. These Honu migrate thousands of miles from nesting grounds to lay their eggs on the beach. During the day, you can see them swimming in shallow waters close to shore. At night, they float offshore while searching for food.

Mythology

Honu have a mystical aura and are a symbol of Hawaiian culture representing strength, resilience, and good luck. Their presence in the ocean is believed to bring blessings and luck as they are carriers of Mana (spiritual energy).

In ancient Hawaiian mythology, sea turtles were revered as symbols of strength and bravery and thought to protect both land and sea gods. They were believed to be a connection between humans, the land (aaina), and the ocean.

Hawaiian Honu are ancestral spirits and several legends reflect their mystical aura. One legend has that Kailua, a giant sea turtle goddess inhabited the Punalu’u Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii. She would transform herself into a girl and watch over the young children at play on the shoreline. She was revered as a protector of the Keiki (children) and would keep a watchful eye over them.

Protection of Honu

Unfortunately, the Honu were hunted for their meat, and in the 1970s, their population dwindled to a mere 67 turtles. However, with state and federal legal protection and the cessation of hunting, the Hawaiian Sea turtle population has increased significantly and is making a comeback. However, even though they are making a come-back, they’re still vulnerable to boating accidents, climate-induced impacts, bycatch in shore-based fisheries, disease, boat strikes, coastal development, and pollution.