POSTCARD BLUE WATER & GIANT SEA TURTLES
POSTCARD BLUE WATER & GIANT SEA TURTLES
My Visit to Laniākea Beach on Oʻahu
By Teresa Davis | Travel & Lifestyle Explorer
The blue Pacific, waves and mountains made my first view of Laniākea Beach look like a postcard.
The water looked like a postcard.
That's one of the first things I remember when I think about my visit to Laniākea Beach during my 2024 trip to Hawaii.
I was visiting a friend in Hawaii, and we decided to take a drive out to Laniākea Beach on Oʻahu's North Shore.
Once we arrived, we parked across the road, crossed the narrow street and carefully made our way down the rocky, uneven terrain toward the beach.
It wasn't a long walk. But once we reached the water, it was beautiful.
Picture-Postcard Blue
The picture-postcard blue water that immediately caught my attention.
The water was the kind of blue you picture when someone says Hawaii — clear blue-green near the shoreline, deeper blue farther out, with mountains in the distance and waves rolling onto the sand.
I remember looking at it and thinking it looked like something from a postcard.
But then I noticed what was in the water.
I Couldn't Believe How Big the Turtles Were
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Still frames from my videos of the Hawaiian green sea turtles swimming close to shore.
There were these huge sea turtles swimming close to shore. And when I say huge, I mean huge.
The best comparison I can make is that some of them looked about the size of a small coffee table.
Seeing Hawaiian green sea turtles — honu — this close in their natural environment was completely different. I started taking pictures and video because I couldn't believe how big they were.
Give the Turtles Their Space
The clear water near shore, where visitors could watch the turtles while giving them room.
There was someone there monitoring the turtles because people kept trying to get closer. He was reminding everyone to back up and give the turtles room.
And really, there was no reason to crowd them. If you stayed back, you could still see them swimming right there near the shoreline. Sometimes it seemed like if you simply stood still and gave them space, they would come closer on their own. But when people moved too close, the turtles would move away.
NOAA Fisheries recommends staying at least 10 feet (3 meters) away from sea turtles in Hawaiʻi, on land and in the water. View NOAA’s Hawaii wildlife-viewing guidance.
A Hawaii Moment I Didn't Expect
Enjoying a beautiful afternoon at Laniākea Beach during my 2024 Hawaii trip.
This wasn't something that required a big tour or an elaborate plan. It was simply a drive to the beach with my friend.
We parked, crossed the road, made our way down to the water — and there I was, standing in front of this gorgeous blue Pacific with enormous sea turtles swimming just a short distance away.
Those are sometimes the travel experiences I remember the most. The unexpected ones.
Teresa's Take
What caught my attention first: The picture-postcard blue water. |
Biggest surprise: The size of the turtles. Some looked as big as a small coffee table. |
What made it memorable: Watching the turtles swimming in their natural environment. |
One thing visitors should remember: Give the turtles their space. You do not have to crowd them to enjoy the experience. |
Would I go back? Absolutely. |
Continue Exploring Hawaii
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About Teresa
Hi, I'm Teresa Davis, a Florida travel and lifestyle writer sharing memorable destinations, food experiences and discoveries from my travels.
Every destination has a story. Thanks for exploring this one with me.
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