Nā Holoholona: The Wildlife Sanctuary

The Honu: Sacred Basking Ground

The most famous residents of Punaluʻu are the honu. These Hawaiian green sea turtles visit here with amazing frequency. While most sea turtle species worldwide only come ashore to nest, Hawaii's honu are special. They deliberately crawl onto beaches to rest. This basking behavior is rare. Punaluʻu is one of the best places in the islands to see it.

There are scientific reasons for this behavior. As cold-blooded reptiles, basking helps them control their body temperature. The jet-black sand absorbs lots of solar heat. This creates a warm surface that lets turtles raise their core body temperature after time in cooler ocean water.

The bay itself is perfect habitat. It offers a safe place to rest and plenty of food. Honu are mostly plant eaters. Their diet gives their body fat a greenish color. That's where their common name comes from. In Punaluʻu's shallow waters, they graze on marine algae called limu. They especially like the red seaweed that grows on underwater lava rocks.

The Honuʻea: A Critical Nesting Site

While basking green turtles get the most attention, Punaluʻu has even greater importance for their rarer cousins. The honuʻea, or hawksbill sea turtle, is critically endangered. Scientists consider it the rarest sea turtle in the Pacific Ocean.

Fewer than 100 females nest annually in all of Hawaii. Most of that activity happens on secluded beaches of Hawaii Island. Many are along the Kaʻū coast. Punaluʻu is one of these vital nesting grounds.

Unlike basking green turtles, hawksbills come ashore almost only at night to nest. During nesting season from May through December, females crawl up the beach. They often seek cover under native naupaka bushes. There, they use their flippers to dig nest holes. They deposit 125 to 180 leathery eggs before covering them with sand and returning to sea.

The eggs take about 60 to 65 days to hatch. The tiny babies usually emerge at night. They make a dangerous dash for the ocean. This critical life event puts Punaluʻu in a tough spot. Its fame and easy access make it very popular. This draws large crowds daily. But this popularity creates the biggest threat to nesting hawksbills.

Baby turtles rely on natural moonlight over the ocean to find their way to sea. Artificial lights lead them in wrong directions. This often has deadly results. This conflict between human recreation and fragile wildlife is the main challenge at Punaluʻu. That's why you might see fenced-off beach areas. Volunteers and conservation groups work hard to protect nesting sites.

A Visitor's Kuleana: Respectful Turtle Viewing

Watching turtles at Punaluʻu is a privilege that comes with serious responsibility. Both federal and state laws protect these animals. The Endangered Species Act has strict guidelines to ensure their well-being.

This distance rule isn't random. Getting too close causes turtles serious stress. It interrupts vital resting or feeding behaviors. Touching turtles is strictly banned. Human bacteria and oils can harm their protective shell and immune system. Feeding turtles is also illegal and harmful. It can make them sick and create unhealthy dependence on humans.

Other Punaluʻu Inhabitants

While turtles are the main attraction, Punaluʻu hosts other native and endangered species that make this coastline their home.

The deeper bay waters are part of a larger marine highway where ocean life travels between feeding and resting areas. Each species plays an important role in maintaining the health of this marine ecosystem.