Laniakea Beach aka Turtle Beach
Haleiwa, HI 96778
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
3 reviews for Laniakea Beach aka Turtle Beach
Freaken AMAZING. Possibly the highlight from my trip.
Thanks to the book, "Oahu Revealed" from Wizard Publications, I was able to find this little gem. After a trek to North Shore for Shrimp Trucks, we wanted to explore the different beaches... so the guidebook led us here with hopes of seeing a turtle if we had any luck.
Well apparently at around 12:30pm we had a LOT of luck because all the turtles came out to play. We saw one already resting on shore, another eating some algae on the rock and one more swimming toward the shore.
You can't really "play" with the turtles. They are protected by the state and technically you are supposed to stay within 25 feet. But how can you when these friendly creatures try to swim up to you and want some human company? Well, there is a crazy turtle lady that does her best to keep all the tourists back whenever a sea turtle wanted to go on shore and sun bathe. She ropes them off so that they have enough space and privacy and for the most part the Humans listen.
But anyway, the water is warm, but the bottom of the ocean floor is rockier than other beaches and there are some tidepools. Parking is across the highway and during the hour we went, there were shady areas near the rocks and trees. But this is certainly one of the most unique beaches I've discovered and a must in my book.
So freaking amazing. I bought a $8 snorkel set at Longs and was able to see so many fish and of course, sea turtles! Water shoes make it easier to navigate the shallow waters. There are lots of people here but the area is large enough to accomodate everyone. If you're in Kona, definitely check this place out.
Evidently I can't write a positive review if my life depended on it. Perhaps I lose that helpful, comedic value that Yelpers look for in a good review. Well, too freaking bad. This place invoked some sincere feelings. Feelings that you just have to experience yourself.. Oh just grit your teeth and read.
At first I was positive I was looking at a well sculpted statue of a green sea turtle. There was no way that this reptile could be staying so still, so motionless.
"Is he alive?" I inquired, sounding somewhat dumbfounded.. Okay, sounding a lot dumbfounded. Luckily, our docent also happened to be a lifelong family friend.
"Nope, SHE is just sunbathing." Jim shared as he motioned towards another turtle further in, towards some large lava rocks.
"Wow. She's beautiful." In unison my father, D and myself gazed in awe as this majestic reptile basked in the Hawaiian sun.
I approached slowly, as to not disturb her daily dose of rays. I perched myself on a rock and started taking pictures of her as the sun began its decent. A graceful, peaceful decent that can only be truly captured by ones eyes and not their camera lens. I tried though. My shutter clicked slowly as the golden sun bounced rays of deep scarlets, crimson, purples and blood orange into the surrounding clouds and crashing waves.
Her silhouette captured, her magnificence personified, not by my photography but the soft caramel sand she chose to rest on, the lava rocks and crooked palm trees that served as her backdrop.
I snapped away. Kept snapping away. Trying to capture every moment, secretly hoping to take this moment in time with me. Forever.
Eventually I put the camera down and just sat. A few feet away was this 40-year-old turtle. A warrior of the ocean. A survivor. A reminder that no matter what and no matter who you are, you always fight. She may of had a hard shell, but she had scars to prove her tough existence. She had a long scar, like me, perhaps battling some unforeseen challenger - something she had no control over, but won.
The sun set, the time had come. We had to leave this small yet spectacular beach. Correction, our bodies left this beach, yet part of me stayed. It's not something I fully understand, but if a part of my soul was to stay at any one place, it stayed there, on Laniakea Beach.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++
(BTW: It is quite possible that this beach is listed under the wrong city. I am unsure of how to remedy this.)
Ok, now you can all gag and skip this horribly happy review.
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