Just in: Scientists say the reason for the number of shark attacks is due to the growing population of the green sea turtle. Really?
From a young age I was always told by my father that too much of one thing is no good. There needs to be balance in everything.
My question is this: Since when did we need scientists, specialists or professionals from the Mainland to tell us about the sea turtle? Why do they feel it's so necessary to poke, probe, tag and always gotta touch these animals?
So, now let's look where we are with this animal. If you holoholo in or around the ocean, as I do, it doesn't take a scientist to tell you there are mad numbers of turtles everywhere you go.
For years, fishermen and our kupuna - past and present - have shared how the turtles attract the shark or how they eat limu that prevent certain schools of fish from coming in to shore.
We tattoo it on our bodies, make jewelry, clothing and idolize it, when, in fact, it was a part of the Hawaiian diet at one time.
It's real simple, return the turtle to the list of animals from the ocean that can be caught, use conservation practices the Hawaiians used to maintain balance in the ocean. Or do we need a scientist for that too?
Mike K. Kahula
Wailuku
