Turtle Talk
The Blog

Do sea turtles bite? Yes, but they almost never bite people. Learn how a honu's beak works, when a bite could happen, and how to snorkel safely with sea turtles in Hawaii.

Sea turtle vs tortoise: what is the real difference? Learn how to tell these shelled cousins apart by their habitat, flippers, shell shape, and diet, with the honu explained.

Do sea turtles get cold? Hawaiian honu are cold blooded reptiles that warm up by basking, soaking sun, and living in Hawaii's warm water all year. Here is how.

Can sea turtles hear? Hawaiian honu have no visible ears, but they pick up low sounds with a hidden inner ear. Here is how sea turtle hearing works and why it matters.

Waikiki is famous for its golden sand and surf, but just offshore lies one of the most reliable places in all of Hawaii to swim with wild sea turtles. The Hawaiian green sea turtle, known as the honu, gathers in the calm reefs off the Waikiki coast all year long, and you do not need to be an expert swimmer to share the water with them. This complete 2026 guide covers everything you need to know, from where the turtles actually hang out and the best time to go, to what a snorkel trip looks like, what to pack, and the simple rules that keep both you and the honu safe. Whether you are planning your first trip to Oahu or you just want to finally see a turtle up close, here is how to make it happen the right way.

Sea turtles do not have ears you can see, and their eyes are built mostly for underwater life, so it is easy to assume they move through the ocean half blind and half deaf. The truth is that a Hawaiian green sea turtle carries one of the most powerful senses in the reptile world, and it is hidden right behind that famous beak. Sea turtles can smell, and they smell remarkably well, both in the water and in the air. That single sense helps them find food on the reef, dodge danger, and even pinpoint the beach where they were born after years away. This post takes a friendly, clear look at how a honu smells, why it matters so much, and what it means for snorkelers sharing the water at Turtle Canyon.