I don't get to go to the beach and hang with the honu on the north shore like I used to when we first arrived. I miss it. I try to put myself on the calendar for at least one or two shifts a month. I miss my weekly contact on the beach. This week, I had the Saturday morning shift. This is the opening shift where the volunteer unpacks the signs, sets up the banner, the umbrella, the pamplets and such. I like this shift because it is the calm before the tourist storm sweeps in. I hobbled on my still healing ankle to set up and the visitors started to arrive. Within an hour, three turtles were teasing everyone on the waveline by the shore, eating their breakfast and showing shell. Brutus was the first to haul up, so so so slow at 10:30.
Brutus is the most frequent basker at Laniakea. It is not unusual to talk to a visitor that has been to see the honu many times before and state that they have seen Brutus.
Kuhina and Olivia Dawn were swimming around on the shore line, but while I stood there dispensing honu trivia, they did not haul up. My shift was coming to a close and I thought I was not going to see anymore honu that day. Someone yelled they saw another turtle (so common) and at first I did not see it. Our regular baskers are hundreds of pounds, huge boulders struggling to get dry on the sand. But close to the protection of some natural rocks, there it was, this comparably small honu, couldnt be more than 50 lbs, not just caught in the waves while eating, but coming up to bask. I was feeling the excitement that the onlookers felt. It was our new juvenile basker, Kekoa. My first viewing.
This young honu, probably not more than 10 years old, began to come up on shore and bask in March of this year. It has been photographed with two of our female honu, Olivia Dawn and Sapphire. This morning it appeared as if it swam close to Mana Girl and scooting onto the sand. Although she is a frequent visitor, she does not bask. It has been labeled L-26 to represent our last noted basker. Since it has been up several times, Malama na Honu asked for name suggestions and there was a vote. Kekoa was selected, meaning Brave One.
It has a very clean shell and all it's limbs. It's right limb is tucked under the body and didnt show in this photograph.
The marking on it's face are so clear and defined.
Side shot with tucked in flipper.
E komo mai, Kekoa.
3 comments:
Very cool that you got to see her. She never did show herself on the beach while I was still there, but I heard about her. Nice shots to show her off.
Maybe I'll catch a glimpse next winter. Hope your foot is getting better.
This reminds me so much of home, I grew up on the North Shore and moved away for love. So glad I found you blog! More pictures of Hawaii, please
Kugo: Please keep checking back. I post lots of photos of things around the island and plan on doing a circle island drive on Sunday. Glad you enjoyed the honu. Always posting for them. Mahalo for reading.
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