Turtles & You
Turtles & You
Hawaiian green sea turtles, or honu, live and feed around every main island. From Waikiki to Maui, here is where to meet them in the water and which turtle snorkeling tour fits your trip.
The Hawaiian green sea turtle is one of the most beloved animals in the islands. Once heavily hunted, the honu has made a remarkable comeback and is now a common and protected sight in the shallow reefs, bays, and feeding grounds around Hawaii. Watching one glide past you in clear water is a memory most visitors never forget.
Each island offers its own way to meet these gentle animals. Oahu has the calm boat reefs off Waikiki, Maui pairs Molokini Crater with the famous Turtle Town, and the Big Island and Kauai hold some of the clearest turtle water in the state. Pick your island below to see the tour and start planning your day on the water.
Our home island. Board a short boat ride off Waikiki to Turtle Canyon, where Hawaiian green sea turtles glide beneath the Diamond Head skyline. Free hotel trolley pickup, gear, snacks, and drinks are all included.
Sail from Kihei to the crescent walls of Molokini Crater, then swim with honu at Turtle Town. Two of Maui's best snorkel sites in one 3 hour morning, with gear, a sandwich, and drinks included.
Cruise from Kawaihae Harbor to a hand-picked site along the calm Kohala Coast. Swim with green sea turtles and reef fish, then watch for spinner dolphins and winter humpback whales. A 2 hour tour with gear, snacks, and drinks included.
Ride a super raft out of Eleele to the 4,000 foot sea cliffs of the Na Pali Coast, then spend a full hour snorkeling with honu and reef fish. A 4.5 hour afternoon trip with gear, snacks, and golden light on the cliffs.
Waikiki is not the only place on Oahu to meet a honu. Around the island there are rivers, bays, and quiet stretches of coast where green sea turtles rest, feed, and haul out in the sun. These tours take you to them.
Paddle a stand up board or a kayak up Oahu's longest river, where Hawaiian green sea turtles come in from the Pacific to rest. Ninety minutes of flat, sheltered water and jungle banks, with honu gliding under your board and basking on the shore. Built for beginners and all ages.
Sit down, steer an electric underwater scooter along the reef, and keep your head completely dry inside a clear air dome. No swimming ability and no diving experience needed, with a 50 foot catamaran cruise, snorkel time, and green sea turtles on the reef.
Wherever your island vacation takes you, a turtle snorkeling tour is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to see Hawaii's marine life up close. Choose your island above, and you will find the tour details, what is included, and how to book, all in one place.