"The honu is a powerful metaphor of the connection between people, land, and ocean. Hawaiian legend holds that the hero Aiai created honu by drawing marks upon a rock near the water turning it into a turtle. Because it is part earth, the creatures must
return to land to lay their eggs. The honu has a place in myth and legend as a messen- ger, a monster sent to attack enemies, a living canoe that transports lovers to each other, and even as the foundation of some
of the islands. A famous hula imitates the thrashing and digging motions of a turtle laying her eggs. Turtle imagery appears in rock art, tapa patterns, and in string games. Encounters with the creature are counted as the highlight of many visitor’s trip to the park. The ancient connection between land
and sea that the honu represents is still strong today. "
- an excerpt from E Malama I Na Honu.
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