Green Sea Turtle Hatchlings/PMRF

In the Hawaiian Islands, Green Sea Turtles have made a great comeback in the past few decades. On our Snorkel charters, it still amazes me to see the sheer number of animals we are blessed to swim with everyday. As a Marine Biologist, I am then overwhelmed that I have lived long enough to see female sea turtles come back to the major Hawaiian Islands to nest. Here on Kaua’i we can boast more turtle nests than anywhere in the state!
This fall season it has been recorded that 19 Kaua’i beaches (360 degrees around the island) have had successful sea turtle nests. Although the true tally of live turtle hatchlings has not been published, the 2011 estimate is 500-1,000!
This increase is very encouraging, yet only a few hatchlings per nest will survive to adulthood.

Photo: Courtesy of Smithsonian Institute

Turtle tracks-Polihale

Female often come ashore to nest, several times in a season, but will wait 2 or 3 years to nest again. Green Sea Turtles nest at night and dig a “body pit” with rear flippers She will deposit approximately 100 eggs into this flask shaped egg cavity. The female will cover the nest with sand and head back to the sea. That is the end of her parental involvement.

The incubation period is 2 months.

Turtles use a specialized egg-tooth called a caruncle to break free of their shell and then use teamwork to climb to the surface. The journey to the ocean is when the turtle hatchlings become affected by environmental hazards. Vehicle tracks and marine debris are some of the physical threats caused by humans, but by far the lights on a beach will disorient and misdirect the young turtles and prevent them from reaching the sea.  Predators, such as sea birds, octopus and  fish, will await the turtle luau. These surviving hatchlings truly learn to swim quickly and frantically into open ocean using amazing instincts and magnetic orientation!

False Killer Whales

Kauai Sea Riders is a charter for Kauai visitors who want a personal and unique experience in and on the Ocean.  Yet, few realize that a large portion of the use of our Navy Seal Zodiac “HOOKAHI” is for scientific purposes.

This type of boat is referred to as a RHIB, or rigid hull inflatable and is a documented small craft that can get into the inaccessible areas. Powered by twin 140hp. 4-stroke Suzuki motors, which are “Green” friendly, this craft is perfect for Hawaiian ocean conditions and Marine life Research. Kauai Reef Conservation was formed to be a non-profit service to Federal, State , Private and other Community Non-Profit Organizations. The goal is to promote education and awareness of the diverse and unusual habitat in Hawa’ii.

In the past we have been contracted to conduct field research with Coral Reef Monitoring, Fish Kill Studies, turtle tumor and turtle mortality and  retrieval, Marine Mammal entanglement, Seal de-hooking and the monitoring of the rare and endangered toothed whale species, such as the False Killer Whales. So when you support Kauai Sea Riders by coming out on a Kauai Snorkel Tour or Whale Watch Tour, you are also a partner in Kauai Reef Conservation.

Fieldwork is my expertise, so any legal (501 c-3) advice , marketing help, or future grant ideas are greatly needed and appreciated ! Mahalo!

Captain Tara Leota