June 27, 2007
More from the Waianae Boat Harbor
When I visited the harbor last week I found the wrecked plane and blogged about it. There was more to see at the harbor, though, that I’m only just getting around to sharing. It’s a small boat harbor, too shallow for the big tour boats, cruise ships and commercial shipping that keep Honolulu Harbor buzzing. Most of the boats here belong to local fishermen, dive boat operators and a few smaller tour operators. Sail boats are berthed here, too.
This young man had not had a catch yet when we spoke, but said he catches fish here most days. He was on the next dock over when I first noticed him. I think it was my picture-taking rather than a search for a sweet spot to drop a hook that drew him nearer.
One of life’s simple pleasures - watching the water shush in and out of a mini coral cave at the harbor’s edge. I’m not a good enough photographer to capture the small fish and crabs that slid in and out of the opening and scrambled on the rocks with each wave. Kind of like Six Flags for sea creatures.
I watched this fellow for half an hour and took about twenty shots before I finally caught him in shallow enough water to get his picture. He lives in the calm waters of the harbor, so his shell does not get scoured by the ocean surf and is covered with algae. He’s a Green Sea Turtle, called honu in Hawaiian.
[tags]boats, fishing, harbor, Hawaii, honu, photos, Waianae Boat Harbor[/tags]
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June 28th, 2007 at 3:23 am, pelf Says:
With due respect, I have strong feelings that it’s a hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) instead of a green turtle (Chelonia mydas). Hawksbill turtles are named after their beak which looks like a hawk’s bill, and they feed on sponges. Did you see it bite off sponges? Green turtles feed on seagrasses and seaweeds
And yeah, Hawaiians call turtles “honu”
June 28th, 2007 at 7:43 am, Leigh Says:
Can I come live with you, Skeet?
June 28th, 2007 at 8:49 am, skeet Says:
Pelf, I’m going to do another post with a different turtle photo from the same day so we can solve the mystery!
June 28th, 2007 at 8:52 am, skeet Says:
Yes, Leigh, you may come live with me if you bring the puppy!
June 28th, 2007 at 9:18 am, Whim Says:
Great turtle pic Skeet!
June 28th, 2007 at 11:10 am, skeet’s stuff » Honu or honu’ea? Says:
[…] « Previous Main […]
June 28th, 2007 at 5:55 pm, pelf-ism is contagious » Blog Archive » How to differentiate a green and a hawksbill turtle Says:
[…] friend of mine, Skeet, who stays in Hawaii, recently posted a picture of a sea turtle which she referred to as a green turtle (Chelonia mydas) though I swear it looked like a hawksbill […]
June 29th, 2007 at 3:51 am, Diana Says:
Dang! gorgeous pics! I would love to live there!
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:34 pm, John (Loves boats) Alford Says:
It’s a good thing it’s too shallow for tour boats and cruise ships as it would spoil what looks to be an exquisite bit of heaven.
You might not think you’re a good enough photographer but you’re writing filled in the gaps well so I could imagine what you were tying to describe.
It sounds like you had a wonderful time. I envy you as I SO need a holiday round about now.
Thanks for sharing.
take care…