Ocean Watch

It seems reasonable that a marine science columnist, who skippers a sailboat named Honu and has glass, metal, wood, rubber, ceramic, cloth, paper, and plastic turtles practically swimming out her office door, does something special for Hawaii's turtles.

That something special arrived last week in the form of an e-mail attachment from federal turtle biologist George Balazs.

"Help the Honu -- Malama Na Honu" began his flier.

"Seeking congenial people who would enjoy talking to beachgoers and watching over turtles as volunteers at Laniakea on the North Shore."

Laniakea is a small beach near Haleiwa that over the last few years has become a favorite hangout for dozens of Hawaii's green sea turtles. Some cruise the shoreline waters grazing on seaweed; others snooze in the warm white sand.

This visiting of wild turtles to a peopled Oahu beach is the result of a successful conservation program, lead tirelessly by George, for the last 30 years. Those big turtles sleeping unperturbed on the beach while surrounded by talking, picture-taking people tell their own story: Protection and good management of endangered species works.

Now, as more people celebrate the survival of these magnificent creatures by going to see them, we have new issues to address. What's the best way for people and turtles to meet? How will people learn what's important for turtles' continued existence? Who will deal with traffic congestion and parking problems at the site?

George, a positive thinker, has come up with a constructive campaign called "Show Turtles Aloha."

In it, volunteers with training educate and inform, with aloha, residents and visitors about respectful turtle viewing. Such friendly teaching occurs outside a red rope laid on the sand six feet around any sleeping turtle. Small signs in the sand say, "Please stay behind the red rope."

As for the traffic problem: Highway officials should accept the fact that this is a popular stopping place and act accordingly. When other streets on our island become unsafe due to a popular new attraction, crosswalks get installed and parking lots are improved. Laniakea's residents, turtles and turtle admirers deserve at least as much consideration as a store or movie complex.

A few North Shore residents already volunteer in the "Show Turtles Aloha" program, but they need more helpers. I will soon be one of them. Please join me.

I know. I'm busy, too, and it's a long drive to the North Shore. But our dear, gentle honu have learned to trust people now, and it's up to Hawaii residents to safeguard that trust.

Some reactions to crowds at Laniakea have been negative, but banning visitors from the area is neither practical nor constructive. To save turtles, people must love them, and to love them, people must know them. What better way to know sea turtles than to meet a few?

To volunteer, call George Balazs at 983-5733 or e-mail him at: gbalazs@honlab.nmfs.hawaii.edu.