Resting Honu: Photograph by Will Tenney

Resting Honu

This green sea turtle, or honu in Hawaiian, has pulled itself out of a tide pool to rest in the warming rays of the morning sun. Listed as an endangered species, one has to be careful not to get too close. While it is easier to keep one’s distance on land, keeping the proper distance while swimming is much more difficult. We were snorkeling in very shallow water with little room for maneuvering when we found that we were almost face-to-face with a honu. Exciting to be sure, but it paid us very little mind as it continued to munch on algae it was pulling off the rocks.