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The MURDER of "Honey Girl"

"Aloha Honey Girl"

Last September we went cruising along the North Shore of Oahu and took pictures of the Endangered Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles or Honu (ho noo) at Laniakea Beach.

The "Ancients" of the ocean, the sea turtles, have roamed the seas for 200 milliion years and even survived the Ice Age. Six of the seven species are classified endangered or on the verge of extinction.

The Chinese believed that the sea turtle meant "wisdom" while the Hawaiian legend tells of a green sea turtle named Kauila (cow ih la) who watched over the children playing on the beach in Punaluu (poo na loo oo) on the Big Island of Hawaii.

"Honey Girl" was one of a group of 20 Honu that frequented this beach to bathe in the sun and swim in the surf at Laniakea...otherwise known as "TURTLE BEACH".

She was believed to be about 30 years old, 200 pounds and at the peak of her reproductive years.

She was literally slaughtered with her head and shell cut off, she was missing a flipper, her flesh removed and found partially buried in the sand.

We have respected and abided by the laws that protect our endangered species.....who would do such a thing?

Aloha "Honey Girl".

Malama Na Honu has a team of volunteers who go to Laniakea daily to educate the public and to erect barricades around the sea turtles that come on the beach to bask in the sun. Thank you to Malama Na Honu ...for watching over and taking care of our turtles at Laniakea.

** Violations of the Endangered Species Act can bring penalties of up to a year in jail and a $50,000 fine.

Posted by Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman HAWAII Relocations & Real Estate on 07/20/2008 09:51 PM

Comments (90)

endangered green sea turtle, hawaii endangered species, north shore, laniakea, turtle beach

Originally posted at: Hawaii Real Estate & Relocations : The MURDER of "Honey Girl"

This post has been included in Hawaii Information Honolulu County, HI Information
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90 Comments on The MURDER of "Honey Girl"

JUL

2008

Only a barbarian would do such a thing. These animals are majestic - sometimes human kind simple disappoints beyond explanation. One has to wonder who the smarter species is.

Kate: I agree wholeheartedly! I do believe they have got to be the smarter species....they enjoy life...until someone comes along and does this.

Sally, I am sickened with the animal cruelty I have seen just this week alone. I want to feel sorry for people who have had such an upbringing that an animal means nothing to them. What a terrible story.

Susan: When I saw this on the news last night I was sickened to my tummy. I couldn't believe someone would do something like this!

Hi Sally -- this saddens me. We have spent many a Fall and Winter in the Islands, and my father-in-law (who went to heaven earlier this year) lived in Mililani. Even in our trips to Oahu, I'm sure we visited Laniakea, but just never knew the history you provided. Aloha and God bless you!

Sally, there is a special place in Hell reserved for those purveyors of animal cruelty.

Terry: Thanks for stopping by...and thank you for your thoughts.

Gary: I do believe you may just be right about that....I know we're going elsewhere else so we don't have to meet up with them after life.

Sally, this is so sad! Poor Honey Girl!

Pat: It is...poor thing....I just can't believe someone has the ability to do this....KNOWING that it is an endangered species...knowing that they don't harm others.

I'm not a peace love and granola kind of guy. I don't mind hunting...if it's legal. This is all illegal poaching at best, but criminal and a felony at worst. People who did this need to be punished.....if it was intentional (how could it not?)

Larry: For sure intentional. Purpoe? who knows. They tried to bury her after so I really don't get it. I just really couldn't believe that someone would come along and kill off something that is endangered and not hunting material.

Sally I heard about this horrible thing on the news. What a sad story.

Georgina: It sure was...and is a sad and horrendous killing.

Oh my gosh, Sally, what a horrible story. What would the reason be? Is any of it worth anything? Not that that would be a good reason, I just don't understand how a human being could do something so vile and harsh.

How awful Sally, so said that some one would ( or even could ) do such a thing. It is sick to harm in any way something that so clearly has a right too be. The idea is so repulsive an dhow any normal person could do such a thing. It makes your heart hurt.

Outrageous! This makes me sad and very, very angry. Going out of one's way to inflict pain and create carnage is just so wrong. It makes me sick. Only a "human" would create this no sense destruction of life.

Hawaii has lost one of its most prized creatures. I sure hope that HPD will find the culprit and they will be put to justice.

I hope they catch them and make an example of them. When I came to Hawaii 26 years ago, we never saw sea turtles. Now I see them everywhere. Let's keep it that way.

Sally.... Animal cruelty or not, that is just disgusting....it's beyond wrong, to anything.... animals, people, things... etc etc.... but on another level, especially to something that can't protect themself..... in any case, that does make me sick. My first thought, kids.... In any case.... I don't know what else to say.

jeff belonger

Sally- that is so sad that some one would do that! I can never understand those that treat animals (including humans!) poorly.

JUL

2008

Sally- Why would anyone even want to be so cruel. I never get it. 3 youth boys here killed a pet goose and now just got sentenced to some harch time in prison!

We don't see many that size ...i just saw a miniture sized one going across the road...they seem to get hit by too many cars. Terrible.

Sally,

This is very sad. It sounds like it was more than a killing done for food...with the things that were done to the body it sounds more like someone who is very cruel and enjoys torturing animals. I hope the authorities find this individual very quickly.....

Psychopaths are known for torturing animals .....it seems they start doing this when they are children and progress from there as they enter adulthood. A lack of empathy and a conscience enable a person to do anything. These individuals can never be re-habilitated (although perhaps some day with the advances in gene therapy, they'll be able to implant empathy and consciences!?!).

Jo

Morning Sally,

How sad it is that some people don't have regard for life of any kind. I will never understand the joy prople get out of killing animals of anykind.

Hi Sally,
So sad and what a terrible waste. We have sea turtle watch groups here that watch and protect the turtle's nests which are on the beach. There have been incidents of people destroying these nest and eggs. Why? I just don't get it.

Well that sucks WooHoo!! These big sea turtles are magnificent creatures. We have one of their breeding grounds on the east coast of Floirda. It's a shame someone felt the desire to kill this one just for a bowl of soup.

Oh Sally, this is just horrible. I can't imagine what kind of a monster would do such a thing. I'm glad you have people looking after these incredible creatures but am sorry this happened!

OMG! What kind of person would do such a thing???? Or maybe the question should be WHAT kind of monster is roaming Turtle Beach? DISGUSTING!! This makes me sick to my stomach Woo-hoo, as I'm sure it does you. It is impossible to comprehend that there are actually humans walking amoung us that are this cruel and heartless.

that is sick. Do you have any sort of game and fish commision (game wardens) that could investigate and maybe patrol that area to prevent any future deaths of these beautiful creatures?

Killing an endangered species is a serious federal offence.

I can't believe someone could be so cruel. They may never get caught but I hope the guilt stays with them a long time.

How awful. I can't imagine what kind of evil person would do something like this. :(

Good Morning All:

I watched the late news last night and they actually showed pictures... that was too graphic for me. I don't know why and I really doubt there could be any good reason for this.

THERE WILL NEVER BE A GOOD REASON FOR THIS, Woo-Hoo. Sick...sick...sick.

Kat: Yeah...sick.

Sally, unbelievable that someone could do such a horrible thing. "Honey Girl" had to give her life for some jerks sadistic way. Sad!

Sally--Oh this is soooo sad! Why would anyone ever do something so terrible? Thank you for sharing the story as education is the key to getting others involved in stopping such senseless activities.

The person who did this is one very sick individual.You should pray for them. Heck we all should pray for them. Because they know not what they do.

Aloha Sally,

Animal cruelty is a form of anti-social behavior and the act is symptomatic of our dysfunctional communities. When we live in a more cohesive society we are able to identify the potential for such behavior and make ho'oponopono before it results in a situation such as this.

Ancient Hawaiians practiced ho'oponopno (to make things right)as a way of making everyone responsible for everyone elses behavior, as surprising as that may sound to some of your readers, it made sure that no one in the community was left out or uncared for. Early signs of an individuals mental illness were addressed by the entire community not swept under the mat to be ignored. Creating a proactive response to mental illness instead of a reactionary one prevents acts of violence, cruelty, and vandalism before it happens. Thanks for the post.

Peace,

Sally there is no excuse for that kind of senseless kill. I hope that who ever did that is caught by the authorities.

I went to Lani's turtle beach that morning and saw the dead turtle in person, I got there with my wife and daughter at 10. The mood at the beach this morning was so somber we left after 20 minutes, we just didn't feel right relaxing and playing after what happened.. So incredibly lame that someone would do that, there is really no excuse. Really barbaric and ignorant whoever did it.

Kimo: No matter what the circumstances...this was uncalled for. I myself believe that this is not someone who may be from our community ...otherwise, there would be respect. Who knows though.... needless to say...this was a sad affair.

bottom line....

IT IS A FEDERAL AND STATE OFFENSE TO KILL ENDANGERED SPECIES.

OMG! That's both sad and disgusting. What kind of sick person would do something like that, and why?

Sally, I am horrified to read this, I can't imagine what type of person would do something like that....turtles are revered in China for many reasons and are ALL animals are very special creatures......I'm so sorry to read this.

Sally, that is some horrible story about Honey Girl.What sadistic idiot would do this?

JUL

2008

Aloha Sally,

So sad, yet glad to see there is such a strong group of volunteers.

A few years ago while snorkeling in your beautiful state I saw so many of these wonderful creatures. One man/tourist while snorkeling and swimming around kept trying to grab one and hange on like he was riding. I can't tell you how much that bothered me. Then all of a sudden a (apparently) local woman shouted for him to stop what he was doing. She very emphatically said, "they are endangered species it's a $500 (I think) fine for what you are doing. That was the end of that! \

Lynda: A few months ago a tourist who was here took a video of irritating the monk seals....and he was arrested after putting it up on YouTube. Real not cool.

Sally- I saw this on the news....not as much detail. Stuff like this pisses me off....when you and I went to Turtle Beach I was impressed with the efforts to educate. But in this case no amount of education would have helped......as this was either an act of cruelty, a senseless act, or whatever but no matter what excuse someone will come up with for this murderous act it is just plain wrong. Just pisses me off that some people are so self-l centered they do not care about the laws and mores of the area.

Sally, we have turtle barricades in NC near our beach house. They are located near one of the NC aquariums. Sometimes the turtles will come farther down the beaches where more people are. I have to say most people are very resepectful of the turtles. I am so sad for Honey Girl. I hope they find who did this to her. They are living creatures and a gift from God and should be treated as such.

JUL

2008

Well if the flesh was taken someone inteded to eat the flesh.

I would start looking at somone from whatever kinds of

demographics eat turtle.

I just heard this story on CNN and cried. I couldn't help but ask outloud 'Why are people so evil and cruel?'

I too just heard about this on CNN. What kind of sick individual would do this ? Hopefully the locals will find out who did this and take care if it

I just read this story. This slaughter was totally senseless. I hope that we can all finally understand that if we destroy these creatures, they will not miraculously return. Slaughter of endangered species occurs worldwide, and needs to be addressed by any human that wants these miracles to exist for our children.

My heart goes out to the peolpe of Oahu and all of Hawaii for this senseless act - my husband and I wept at this news after spending time with the beautiful Honus on Tunnels Beach, Kauai last year.

I will wear my 'Uncle Junie' Honu to honor Honey Girl and tell everyone what happened in hopes that it will bring awareness to preserving these beautiful creatures.....

JUL

2008

Thank you all for your sincere comments of caring.

My God! This whole situation is truly incomprehensible. SOMEBODY out there knows who perpetrated this stupid. callous, unnecessary, heinous act of MURDER! I hope he or she will come forward and name the culprit. Charges need to be brought against this person, and the MAXIMUM penalty should be applied as punishment. I live in Texas, and I've seen similar situations involving horses and dogs. This type of behavior is intolerable!

Sally,

I love turtles...one of my favorite animals...the fine for intentionally doing something like this needs to be stiffened as well as the prison time!!! Thanks, Fran

My mom heard about this on the news and told me about it. I guess there had been some sort of memorial set up for Honey Girl with flowers and pictures in remembrance. A male turtle came and laid his head on one of the pictures for hours. When my mom told me this she was crying, and soon after, I was too. I have never seen such a gut-wrenching example of animal cruelty. I think I am more saddened by this event than I would be if a human being suffered the same fate. The beauty and innocence of animals outweigh any quality held by mankind, and it disgusts me that my own species is responsible for the death and, furthermore, extinction of so many beautiful creatures.

JUL

2008

Sally - How sad, so many do not have the proper respect for life.

It is indeed sad that some people do not respect all life forms on this planet! We have loggerhead turtles coming to lay their eggs on our beaches and the beach patrols watch the sites and mark them off to keep the eggs safe.

Hi Sally - wow, how sad to think that someone would stoop to that level. Hopefully they'll catch the law-breakers before they do that to another one.

Ann

Sally, I am featuring this well written piece of yours in our Positve Attitude for the Weary Soul Group because it touched so many of us and raised a high level of awareness to animal cruelty.

JUL

2008

Sally

Like you I am an animal lover- it breaks my heart when the brutality of human nature kills defenseless creatures. I agree with Gary we need to raise the level of awareness regarding animal cruelty. So that they may be around for the generations to come.

Hi Sally I just wrote my sad post on lost sheep last night and this morning read your post. I guess there is an acceptance to the demise of my little friends but this story is brutal and so very sad. You just wonder what it is that make people do the nasty things they do. I am an animal lover too....can't figure it out ...

no reason for it. Thanks for the excellent memorial on your sea turtle and for educating us on this endangered species that even more endangered now that there is one less. Sad story but thanks.

JUL

2008

Hi! This is Stephen. I am the webmaster of the Honey Girl Reward Fund website: http://www.honeygirlrewardfund.com. You can make a difference by bringing Honey Girl's killer to justice...we are accepting donations to make a reward for information that leads to the capture and conviction of Honey Girl's killer. You can help us protect and preserve the lives of other Hawaiian Honu giant green sea turtles- right here, right now. Please make a donation, email us or call us or authorities with information (totally confidential- your identity is kept private and safe), link to this site, or even contribute to this site with photos, stories, and information about Honey Girl or other Hawaiian Honu giant green sea turtles. Sign and read Honey Girl's GuestBook, discuss your views and thoughts on our Message Board, join our Mailing List, make a Donation, and even take a Poll to share your opinions. We need your help to ensure that this tragedy never happens again...Please help the turtles now...Donate now! Thanks!

Hi! This is Stephen again with the Honey Girl Reward Fund. We would like to thank Celeste Cheeseman for the use of her wonderful photos of Honu turtles on our website. We realize that the photos are not of Honey Girl, but we are having difficulty locating verified photos of her (we have a few). If anyone has actual photos of Honey Girl, please contact us at info@honeygirlrewardfund.com. Thank you Celeste, for the moving photos and for your support. Thanks!

JUL

2008

terrible shocked......i have seen honey girl, bathing in the moonlight, very peaceful ......such an amazing beautiful animal. i was so touched when i had the chance to be close to that wonderful creature, unbelievable somebody did that!

AUG

2008

wow,that is very shocking and sad.i feel very bad for that turtle honey girl.if i was that person that murdered honey girl i would change my mind because she is a turtle who come to show her self in the beach.also she is like a person who is not afraid of people.

NOV

DEC

Sally-Thanks for this post. I had seen this on the news and like you became sick inside. What in the WORLD are people thinking? Why would you harm a animal like that? I will never understand as I am sure others will not either.

DEC

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