26th Annual ‘Turtle’ Independence Day

For 26 years, the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows has provided baby honu, brought in from Sea Life Park on Oahu, with a salt water pond home at the hotel.

Every year on July 4, once the honu have grown to an appropriate size, community members and honu caretakers gather to release them into the ocean.

Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows courtesy photo.

Beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Honu Ponds, the turtles will be paraded to the beachfront for their release.

The ceremony brings together community members and those familiar with the honu to provide public education about the Hawaiian green sea turtle.

Live entertainment, educational displays about Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles, and food and beverages for purchase will round out the Independence Day event.