Hawaii’s green sea turtles have rebounded dramatically, but federal protections still ban Native Hawaiian harvesting despite the species’ recovery to sustainable levels.

Native Hawaiians argue the blanket ban violates their cultural rights, even as academics retain exemptions to study the turtles under federal law.

Not all Hawaiians support resuming traditional hunts; younger generations born after the 1978 ban increasingly oppose the practice, creating community division.

Mac Poepoe grew up diving in the waters off Molokai to spear honu — Hawaii’s distinct species of green sea turtle — that helped feed his family. He often saw other fishermen hunt honu for profit, selling its prized meat to shops and restaurants across the channel on Maui.

Those widespread commercial killings helped p

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