If you know me, you know I love turtles. When my mom started planning a family trip to Hawaii, my main goal was to see turtles. In the first week of October, my husband, mother, two brothers, and sister-in-law traveled to Hawaii for a family vacation.

Our trip was complete with movie tour, snorkeling, boat ride, luau, hiking to a waterfall, shopping, and eating amazing food.

We stayed on the island of Kauai. It’s nicknamed “the Garden Isle” thanks to the tropical rainforest covering much of its surface. The dramatic cliffs and pinnacles of its Na Pali Coast have served as a backdrop for major Holly Hollywood films, while 10-mile-long Waimea Canyon and the Nounou Trails traversing the Sleeping Giant mountain ridge are hiking destinations.

While on our first day’s movie tour of the island, visiting spots highlighted in major motion pictures, our guide mentioned how many turtles had been coming ashore each night on Poipu Beach.

That led to our next adventure to visit the turtles in the evening. In 2020, the closing of the beaches allowed the turtles to return to the beaches. They have noted as many as 100 turtles on this beach at one time. Spectators are legally required to remain 10 feet away in order not to disturb.

The Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles were majestic to watch in the evening as they gathered at night. However, we also visited two mornings to watch as they returned to the ocean.

Of the seven species of sea turtles, only green turtles emerge from the water to bask.