Turtles + Traffic
Timeline
A summary of events documenting the relationship between turtle harassment, traffic problems, and shoreline erosion at Laniakea. For a more detailed history, visit our News page.
Turtles
Traffic
Erosion
1990’s
Green Sea Turtles start to bask at Laniakea.
No traffic.
1999
Over 42 turtles are observed near shore at Laniakea in one day. Turtle harassment is reported.
2005
60 to 80 turtles are documented in the water, and up to 1,000 people on the beach per day.
Numerous turtle harassment complaints are reported.
NOAA’s Show Turtles Aloha campaign is started, informing visitors not to “crowd, handle, feed, or tease” turtles.
Traffic backs up almost everyday because of turtle viewers.
North Shore Neighborhood Board forms a Traffic and Transportation Committee to solve increasing traffic problems at Laniakea.
An environmental assessment outlines impacts of erosion on the highway and sea turtle habitat at Laniakea.
2007
Non-profit Malama na Honu, funded by Hawaii Tourism Authority, is created to succeed Show Turtles Aloha.
Legislature funds $1.2 million for Laniakea traffic study.
2012
Responding to pictures of tourists touching a turtle at Laniakea, NOAA reminds public of the laws.
Community demands relief to Turtle Traffic.
Laniakea Task Force is formed to solve shoreline erosion of the highway.
2013
Malama na Honu tracks more than 20 turtles, hands out educational brochures in 5 languages, and counts 600,000 visitors at Laniakea throughout the year.
100 tour buses stop at Laniakea per day.
Neighborhood Board votes for the placement of barriers to block parking at Laniakea as a short-term solution.
State DOT installs barriers.
2014
Save Laniakea Coalition sues the state for restricting access to the beach with the barriers.
Laniakea Task Force discusses highway realignment options estimating $20-40M.
Barriers stay up the whole year and the majority of the community thinks the barriers improved traffic flow.
Scientist warns that Laniakea beach could be washed away in 20 to 30 years.
2015
.
Barriers are removed and instead “No Parking” signs are put up. However, the “No Parking” signs cannot be enforced by HPD because of the lawsuit.
Traffic worsens.
Erosion worsens.
2019
More than 10 million tourists visit Hawaii. Malama na Honu reports an average of 1,725 to 2,000 people per day stopping at Laniakea to view turtles.
A 10 yr. old boy from California is hospitalized after being hit by a car crossing the highway at Laniakea to view turtles.
Laniakea is recognized to be disappearing at an alarming rate due to Climate Change.
2020
Less people visit Laniakea due to Covid restrictions.
A record 58 turtle nesting sites are documented on Oahu (never more than 10 sites were documented between 2016-2019). None are documented at Turtle Beach.
State DOT proposes a $65M highway realignment plan. The focus of the plan shifts from shoreline erosion to pedestrian safety.
2021
Bellows, a popular camping beach for locals, is closed for 4 months for anticipated turtle nesting sites.
NOAA reminds public to keep a distance of 10ft. from turtles.
A surge in tourism leads to an increase in turtle harassment. Documentation of visitors’ behavior causes uproar on social media.
NOAA reports 0-4 basking turtles at Laniakea per day, and a total of 35 individual basking turtles since 1999.
Residents report the worst traffic yet.
State DOT proposes a $12M project to move the highway inland.
Scientist suggests that too many people walking on the beach is one of the causes of erosion at Laniakea.