The Princeville Moʻolelo free lecture series will continue on Tuesday, August 11th as we welcome Dr. Lisa Harrington and Dora Samson, representatives of Mālama i nā Honu. As an indigenous species in Hawai‘i, sea turtles play an important role in Hawaiian cultural traditions and mo‘olelo. Honu (green turtles) and honu‘ea (hawksbill turtles) are mentioned in the fourth verse of the Kumulipo, the Hawaiian creation chant, and some families continue to revere sea turtles as their ‘aumākua, or spiritual guardian.

Traditionally, sea turtles were incorporated into native practices, religious ceremonies and diet. Shells, bones and oil were used to make fishhooks, tools, medicine and jewelry. Harvest was tightly regulated by traditional management practices of the kapu system (cultural rules, code of conduct) enacted by Chiefs or Ali‘i. Historically, honu were abundant and nested throughout the entire Hawaiian Archipelago. However, after European colonization the kapu prohibition broke down and, by the 20th century, harvesting had become commercialized, causing the honu’s numbers to fall precipitously.

Today, the honu is listed as a "Threatened Species," under the Federal Endangered Species Act. Since receiving protection in 1978, they have made a marvelous comeback. Their protection while peacefully basking on the beach and spreading the word to the public of the continuing need for preservation efforts on their behalf is the mission of Mālama i nā honu.

Mālama i nā Honu has expanded its volunteer and education program to the Island of Kauaʻi at Poʻipu Beach. Honu Guardian volunteers are on the beach every day of the year to offer educational outreach about this protected species. This helps avoid intentional and inadvertent harassment and assures the honu’s peaceful coexistence with humans on our beaches.

Our free talk story event will be held on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, from 5:00 to 6:30pm in the Princeville Community Center. For more information, visit www.kauairefuges.org/princeville-moolelo.

About the Series: Friends of Kauaʻi Wildlife Refuges is pleased to partner with the Princeville at Hanalei Community Association Events Committee to present this engaging series. Together, they are presenting free informative “talk story” events monthly in the Princeville Community Center to share the work and stories of conservation partners, Hawaiian cultural practitioners and more.

About Friends of Kauaʻi Wildlife Refuges: Kīlauea Point Natural History Association, now doing business as “Friends of Kauaʻi Wildlife Refuges,” serves as a 501(c)(3) non-profit Friends Group that supports the wildlife conservation, education, and historic preservation work of the Kauaʻi National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which includes Kīlauea Point, Hanalei and Hulēʻia NWRs.  With donations, plus proceeds from Nature Store operations, the organization supports visitor education, provides rehabilitative care for sick or injured native Hawaiian birds, volunteer training, special events, equipment for wildlife habitat maintenance and restoration, free bussing for school field trips to a refuge, awards annual scholarships for college students pursuing environmental studies and more. For additional information, visit www.kauairefuges.org and follow on social media at @fkwrkauai.

Contact: Thomas Daubert, 808.828.0384 ext. 1, thomas@kilaueapoint.org