Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle

Honu

Danny Baker's Photography

dannylbaker.com

Although my blogs are about my experiences while I'm out photographing nature or just being creative, I'm going to depart from the norm; and use this forum to educate the readers about a subject I often photograph when I'm in a slump.

One of my favorite locations to shoot is Laniakea Beach on the North shore of Oahu. Oahu is the third largest island of the Hawaiian Islands. Laniakea is a place I go to stimulate the creative artist in me.

On a daily basis the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle (Turtle means Honu in the Hawaiian language) come here to feed and rest. The turtles come here to feed on the abundant source of limu (Hawaiian for sea weed). The Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle is a threatened species and is protected under Hawaii state law, but they are relatively safe at Laniakea Beach. Malama na Honu (Protect the Turtles) is a non profit organization designed to educate the public and keep a watchful eye on the turtles. I gathered some of the factual information from their web site and I encourage you to visit it at http://malamanahonu.org .

The most important thing to remember is you can photograph and watch the turtles until your heart is content, but never touch or disturb the turtles. Just watching and observing these beautiful creatures or more appropriately called reptiles, is very enjoyable; but equally it is enjoyable to watch the reaction of people that have never seen sea turtles in their natural environment.

Although I'm not in a slump I will be visiting Laniakea Beach this weekend. Even though I've photographed the turtles many times, it just seems that I'm always able to get a different shot of the same subject. I hope I've sparked an interest and whereever you live I'm sure you will find some type of wild life equally enjoyable to you to.

So happy photographing and as always please make any comments or suggestions you have, but be kind and gentle.