Lots of Green Sea Turtles in Maui

I was reminded a lot on my recent trip to Maui that nothing is more exciting for a snorkeler than an encounter with a green sea turtle. And it's becoming easier and easier to admire how graceful, peaceful and gentle these Hawaiian creatures are thanks to decades of conservation efforts.

The species has been protected since 1978 under the Endangered Species Act. While its population has increased significantly since then, it is still only at a fraction of its historic level. Meanwhile nesting sites on the biggest Hawaiian islands are still rare.

Green sea turtles are mostly not afraid of the humans that swim so close to them, gliding right by you as you're exploring a reef. Sadly, they're oblivious to the harm that mankind is capable of wielding. Turtles are easily entangled in the lines and nets of fishermen, in addition to the garbage increasingly filling the ocean. And run-ins with boats and their motors' propellers can harm or kill one of these large reptiles.

Fibropapillomatosis, a disease in the herpes family, is yet another modern threat. First observed in the 1930's in Florida and since then reaching Hawaii, it causes cauliflower-like tumors to grow on a turtle's flesh including its heads and flippers. These growths can inhibit a turtle's normal eating, swimming and breathing.

A healthy green sea turtle can grow as large as four feet in length and can sometimes live to a hundred years old. It's no wonder the animal symbolizes both endurance and long life in Hawaiian culture. More and more frequently, a person can spot one with its head breaking the water's surface for a breath of air or maybe others resting out of the water on a sandy beach.

But the honu, as the turtle is called in the Hawaiian language, is also a sign of good luck. You're most likely to encounter one underwater, frequently on a reef as the turtle's beak scrapes for a meal on the coral or rocks. This harvesting of seaweed actually helps limit the spread of invasive algaes, contributing to a healthy balance in the ecosystem. That's not only a lucky shot for the snorkeler and his camera, but it's also good fortune for lots of other life on the reef.