Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – With the peak of sea turtle nesting season in Hawaiʻi now underway (August through November), authorities are asking beachgoers to help ensure hatchlings make it safely to the sea. The Hawaiʻi green sea turtle (honu), a threatened species, has shown increasing nesting activity every year since 2020, a positive sign that brings an increased responsibility for the public to help in their survival.
Adult female sea turtles return to Hawaiʻi’s sandy beaches each summer to lay their eggs. The nests typically take about 60 days to hatch, though the incubation period can vary with temperature. Once the hatchlings emerge, they use the brightness of the stars and moonlight to navigate from the beach to the open ocean. This crucial journey can be disrupted by human activities, such as driving on the beach or artificial lights.
How You Can Help Protect Hatchlings:
- Give turtles and nests plenty of space: If you see a nesting sea turtle or a marked nest, stay back at least 10 feet and observe quietly. Sea turtles are protected under federal law. Never pick up hatchlings and place them in the ocean; the crawl through the sand is vital for their development. If you see hatchlings, call the NOAA hotline so researchers can follow up.
- No driving on beaches: Vehicles can compact the sand, which may trap hatchlings or crush unseen nests. Driving on the beach is also illegal.
- Turn off beach-facing lights: Artificial lighting, such as from nearby homes, can disorient hatchlings and cause them to crawl away from the ocean. If you live near the shore, turn off lights visible from the beach during nesting and hatching season.
- Use red lights at night: If you must be on the beach after dark, use red-filtered flashlights only, as white lights can confuse the hatchlings.
- No campfires on the beach: Campfires are illegal on Hawaiʻi beaches and have been known to disorient hatchlings, leading them into the fire pits where they have died.
Each hatchling faces long odds of survival, with only about one in a thousand reaching adulthood. Public awareness and small changes in behavior can significantly improve their chances.
Reporting and Resources:
- Report injured, dead or hatching turtles: Call the NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline at 888-256-9840.
- Report violations: Call 911 for illegal beach driving or 808-643-3567 for DLNR Enforcement.
- For more information on sea turtles and volunteering opportunities, visit the DLNR website at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/species/sea-turtles/.
On Oʻahu, a volunteer-based nonprofit, Mālama i nā Honu, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service work together to protect sea turtles by monitoring nesting sites, conducting nest watches, and marking and safeguarding nests.