Green Sea Turtles, a protected species, are gentle giants growing to enormous proportions by eating algae and sea grasses. They remind us that gentle strength and grace can coexist in one body. Many Hawaiians believe their Aumakua (spirit self), or that of their ancestors, reaches out to them in the form of the turtle. Other native peoples see the turtle as a powerful symbol for mother earth. Perhaps you have been lucky enough to see the honu basking on our beaches. This is a behavior unique to the turtles in Hawai‘i, earning them the nickname Hawaiian Basking Turtles.