Visitors to Sea Life Park enjoy watching the sea turtles and often ask about them. Here are some of the most frequent questions:

What sea turtles are found in Hawaii?

There are 3 species of sea turtles in Hawaii: Green (honu), Hawksbill (honu'ea) , and Leatherback. The Green sea turtle is the most common, and these are the turtles you may see in the ocean off Waimanalo. The Hawksbill is slightly smaller with a pointed, hawklike beak, and is rarely seen. The Leatherback is the largest of all sea turtles weighing as much as 2,000 pounds. It is seen only in the open ocean.

Are sea turtles in danger of becoming extinct?

Yes, all sea turtles are listed as endangered or threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. Following decades of over-exploitation, the population of Green sea turtles in Hawaii has shown some signs of recovery since receiving protection in 1978. There are now an estimated 1400 adult females. Hawksbill turtles are critically endangered with very few remaining. Turtle populations are threatened by hunting, habitat destruction, stealing of eggs, entanglement in nets, and ingestion of marine debris. Their main predators as adults are sharks and humans.

Why are they called Green Sea Turtles?

Though they appear brown, they are named for the color of their fat, which is green because their main food is seaweed or algae (limu) growing underwater on coral reefs and rocks close to shore.

Do they breathe air?

Yes, like all reptiles, they breathe air. When they are active, sea turtles surface to breathe every few minutes, but when they are resting, they can remain underwater for over 2 hours.

How can you tell males from females?

The tail of the male turtle is much longer than that of the female. But the lengthening of the male's tail only occurs when the turtle is very large and nearly a mature adult (150 pounds or more). Males and females weighing less than 150 pounds have the same size tail.

How long do they live? How can you tell their age?

The life span of sea turtles is unknown. Since it takes an average of 25 years for them to reach maturity, they probably live many more decades. There is no reliable way to tell the exact age of a turtle. We can only estimate age based on size and general appearance.

Where do they lay their eggs?

Green sea turtles migrate up to 800 miles from their feeding areas around the main islands to their nesting beaches in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Females are believed to return to lay eggs on the same beach where they hatched. The turtles at Sea Life Park nest on the sandy beach next to the turtle lagoon, and over 2,000 turtles have hatched there in recent years. Most have been tagged and released into Waimanalo waters. Some turtle releases are open to the public--so watch for upcoming announcements.

If you want to learn more about sea turtles, join us on June 15 at the Sheraton Waikiki for "Pacific Wanderers: A Honu Celebration Day." The morning will feature scientific research, entertainment, crafts, food, and fun. The afternoon of June 15 will feature the release of two adult green sea turtles at the beach across from Sea Life Park. Call SLP at 259-7933 for more information.