Honu swimming in clear ocean water, Tunnels Beach, Kauai

Howdy do, honu?

Depending who you ask and where you go, you'll hear different names for our hard-backed buddy here: Known to most English speakers as the green or black sea turtle, the species is traditionally called 'honu' here in Hawaii. With their affinity for sleeping in the sand and swimming close to shore, honu are the most commonly seen of the five sea turtle species living in the state. No matter which island you visit (our photo shows the jagged coast of Kaua'i), you're very likely to encounter these gentle reptiles on a Hawaiian vacation—but if you see one, give it plenty of personal space. It's illegal in Hawaii to touch any type of sea turtle, and keeping at least 10 feet of distance is recommended.