[Amber's Arches, 75 fsw., Photo © 1995, A. Kimo Morris.]

The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas, "honu") and all other turtle species in Hawaii are protected by law. These threatened species have made a dramatic come-back due to largely to the Endangered Species Act in the 1970s. Anyone caught harrassing a turtle can be fined $10,000. Turtles are air-breathing reptiles and must lay their eggs on the land. On rare occasions, these graceful animals have been seen laying eggs on some of the main Hawaiian Islands, however it is more common for turtles to travel to the Northern Hawaiian Islands to lay eggs. Mature animals can weigh up to 400 lbs. They have been timed to hold their beath for up to four and a half hours.