Please grant the turtles living here your aloha and safe passage. They are loved.
47K JPG
During the summer of 1998, we laid down underwater plaques commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the French Frigate Shoals tagging programme and our 10th summer at the Honokowai Turtle House.
The plaques read:
CELEBRATING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE
FRENCH FRIGATE SHOALS
SEA TURTLE TAGGING PROGRAM
PLEASE GRANT THE TURTLES LIVING HERE
YOUR ALOHA AND SAFE PASSAGE
THEY ARE LOVED
MALAMA NA HONU
(PROTECT THE TURTLE)
MAHALO
SUMMER 1998
The first plaque bears the initials GHB, honouring the pioneer researcher of the Hawaiian green sea turtle.
Please grant the turtles living here your aloha and safe passage. They are loved. 47K JPG |
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The second plaque is marked with N36, and pays homage to the World War II vintage airplane that first flew George to the French Frigate Shoals on June 1st, 1973. An FAA DC3, it bore the registration N36 and is remembered fondly by those who flew in her. We share this photo of the "N36" plaque laid down at a place we call "East House" at our dive site. It's a favourite place where the honu can scratch their backs and hang out together.
| The second plaque is marked with N36. 55K JPG |
In January, 1999, George Balazs and his research team visited Honokowai to dive with the honu. Marc Rice of the Hawaii Preparatory Academy brought an underwater video camera and taped George cleaning the plaque laid down in his honour.
George Balazs cleans the plaque laid down in his honour. 44K JPG | 
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Although these plaques were not intended to be permanent, we hope they will be there for a few more summers, reminding anyone who sees them that we hope they grant all Honokowai honu "safe passage."
French Frigate Shoals--25th Anniversary
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