These crucial questions all need to be answered to ensure survival of the Hawaiian hawksbill population.
![polynesian seaturtle polynesian seaturtle](https://mauioceancenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/SSP0982-scaled.jpg)
We want to know where these areas are located, how many hawksbill sea turtles use them, and what threats may exist. Although we have identified several important nesting and feeding areas around the archipelago, evidence suggests that additional nesting and foraging areas have yet to be discovered. There is still a lot to learn about Hawaiian hawksbills. Later generations likely ventured out of Hawaiʻi to establish nesting colonies in the eastern Pacific. Hawksbills likely migrated out of the western Pacific to establish a nesting colony on Hawaiʻi. Hawaiʻi may have also acted as a “stepping stone” during the evolution of Hawksbill nesting populations across the Pacific. However, some of the turtles from the Hawaiian nesting colony may migrate to other feeding habitats in the western Pacific. It appears Hawaiian hawksbills are largely a closed population. It is important to protect the species throughout the archipelago and learn more about their conservation needs.Īn adult hawksbill turtle nesting on Hawaiʻi Island. However, being strictly local to Hawaiʻi, hawksbills may be particularly vulnerable to local threats. This can be good news for wildlife managers because conserving species that migrate across international borders can be complicated. These findings suggest that most hawksbills in Hawaiʻi spend their entire lives around the archipelago, making them true Hawaiʻi locals. They found that the overwhelming majority of hawksbills in Hawaiian waters originated from nesting beaches around Hawaiʻi. The scientists then examined whether hawksbills in feeding habitats around the Hawaiian Islands came from different nesting beaches across the Pacific. Genetic results indicated that the Hawaiian hawksbill nesting population is different from hawksbill nesting populations in other parts of the world. The study first compared the hawksbill nesting colony in Hawaiʻi with several nesting colonies in the western and eastern Pacific. Genetic Characterization of Hawksbills in Hawaiʻiįor the first time, NOAA scientists and collaborators published a genetic study of hawksbill turtles around Hawaiʻi.
![polynesian seaturtle polynesian seaturtle](https://i.pinimg.com/474x/01/49/65/01496505e35cd66757bcff7380b2b224--small-tattoos-tiny-turtle-tattoos.jpg)
The Hawaiian hawksbill nesting population is, however, the largest in the U.S. In fact, this may be one of the smallest nesting sea turtle populations in the world. We see fewer than 15 females nesting annually across the entire archipelago. Needless to say, seeing a hawksbill turtle is as much a privilege as it is a wonder. Hawksbills are very rare in Hawaiʻi compared to the green sea turtle (or “Honu” in Hawaiian), which outnumber hawksbills by about 100 to one. They particularly like areas of healthy coral reefs, where their narrow beaks enable them to access sponges-one of their favorite food items. The endangered hawksbill sea turtle, or “Honuʻea” in Hawaiian, lives and feeds in the nearshore waters around the Hawaiian Archipelago.
![polynesian seaturtle polynesian seaturtle](https://pixfeeds.com/images/reptiles/turtles/1280-504711171-hawaiian-green-sea-turtle.jpg)
A juvenile hawksbill turtle glides over the top of coral reef habitat.