​Visitors and locals alike are thrilled when they see beautiful Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles basking or grazing on the beaches of Hawaii.  In Hawaiian language, this incredible species is known as Honu and they are considered good luck.  Honu are a subspecies of the Pacific Green Sea Turtle which ranges from the East coasts of Africa to the West Coast of the Americas. 

Upon first seeing Honu, many visitors are surprised that they are not green! More of a dark grey color on top and a yellowish-orange on bottom.  The name comes from the layer of fat between the skin and the stomach which is typically a bright green because of the bright green algae they consume.  In fact, it is that algae which draws them to certain beaches here in Hawai’i.  Of course, there are other factors too. 

​December is the peak nesting month for Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles.  While they graze, bask, and migrate throughout the Hawaiian Islands, Honu generally breed and lay their eggs on the unpopulated beaches of French Frigate Shoals in the December and January period - that means that populations are much lower on the inhabited islands during this period.  Since not all Honu breed every year, there are always a few to be found on the inhabited islands -even during the breeding season.  You just need to know where to look.

Pacific Green Sea Turtles are the largest hard-shelled sea turtle in the world and the Hawaiian sub-species is magnificent!  In fact, the Honu is the only population in the world that pulls themselves up on the shore and will take naps while basking in the sun.  Honu are protected by law and touching or harassing them while they bask is a punishable offense, so please respect the turtles while you are here.  Take pictures, marvel at them, ooh and aah - but no touching!

​While Hawai’i does not have the Superbowl or the World Series, it is home to a sporting event like no other.  The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing takes place each winter on the North Shore of Oahu.  The greatest surfers in the world flock to Hawai’i in winter (and every other time of the year for that matter) to compete on the most famous waves in the world.  Three events for men and three events for women are the jewels in the Triple Crown of Surfing. 

The women’s events take place at Oahu’s Haleiwa Ali’i Beach Park, Oahu’s Sunset Beach, and Maui’s Honolua Bay.  The men’s events all happen on Oahu’s North Shore, a seven mile stretch of world famous beaches famous for winter swells that sometimes reach as high as 50-feet!

​It was in 1971 that the competitions which would form the Van’s Triple Crown of Surfing began when former World Champion Fred Hemmings set up a card table and a dozen chairs at the Banzai Pipeline and started a contest with $1000 in prize money.  Twelve years later in 1983, Hemmings set up the first Triple Crown of Surf.  Today it is an event which the world watches...both in Hawai’i and via the internet and television.  Surfing generates billions of dollars in revenue for associated businesses.  The surf industry generated more than $13 billion dollars in 2017 - much of that was directly connected to the surfers and contests on the North Shore of Oahu.

​The three men’s events are the Billabong Pipeline Masters at Banzai Pipeline, the O’Neill World Cup of Surfing at Sunset Beach, and the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa Ali’i Beach Park.  The events generally happen from November to December.  During this time, the surfers are at the North Shore, waiting to see what the surf will bring.  In addition to winning titles at each event, an overall winner is crowned for both men and women based on performance at each event.  There are few events on Planet Earth which are more exciting, dangerous, or fun to watch. ​

For additional details about this year's events, please visit the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing homepage.