The Hawaiian green sea turtle (honu) is one of the Earth's most ancient creatures, with a fossil record going back 150 million years. Some estimates suggest that they first appeared as much as 230 million years ago, making them 224 million years older than humans! Most marine turtles live approximately 15 to 20 years, but may live to be 80 years old, reaching up to 400 pounds in the process.

In Hawaii, all sea turtles are now protected by state and federal laws, but they're still threatened with destruction of nesting beaches, ocean pollution, oil spills, and entanglement in fishing and shrimp nets. We really need to start taking better care of our Earth and her distinguished denizens of the deep!