Around 800 people flocked to The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows for its annual July 4, “Turtle Independence Day”. For 22 years the Big Island resort has hosted this special celebration that honors the Honu and educates the public about this threatened species. Mauna Lani receives baby Honu from Oahu’s Sea Life Park when they are 3-5 months old and raises them in the resort’s saltwater ponds. The Honu are cared for until they grow to a size and weight that is deemed appropriate for release into the ocean, which is typically 2-3 years or until they grow to a minimum shell length of 35 cm.

Five Honu were released today making it 215 green sea turtles that Mauna Lani has released over the years.
The five Honu released were:

1. Kana’i: Meaning smooth, calm of the sea
2. Ku lua: Meaning Fourth day of the old lunar month, which is today’s Hawaiian moon phase for July 4, 2011
3. ‘Olino: Meaning bright, brilliant, dazzling
4. Pilialoha: Meaning close friendship, beloved companion, to have a loving or tender relationship
5. Wai puna: Meaning spring water (also used as a figure of speech for a sweetheart)
Images can be found at this link: https://rcpt.yousendit.com/1163606403/2b360b0055143fd06b2dfe5f79edbaec
Mary Freeman celebrated her 16th Birthday today while releasing a turtle
2 day newlyweds (who got married at Mauna Lani), Christen Moynihan and Leigh Hunter released turtle, Pilialoha
If you would like more information, please contact Bree Dallwitz at 808-238-2084.
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How’d that turn out?