Recent Tagging Trips-

During the week of October 22 to 24, HPA's STRP program joined the NOAA Marine Turtle Biology and Assessment Program to conduct three days of capture and sampling at Hualalai, Waikoloa and Mauna Lani.
The primary purpose of the field work was to collect blood samples to continue the sex ration study started back in April.  During the trips, HPA students assisted Laura Jim, Marc Rice (HPA) and Shawn Murakawa, Ali Balis and Camryn Allen (NOAA) to capture, tag, measure and draw blood samples from green turtles.
On Tuesday we went to Hualalai where we were hosted by the wonderful Four Seasons Resort team headed by David Chai.  During the day we were able to capture 7 honu.  All turtles were worked up (measured, weighed and blood drawn) and the HPA students Hikari Shaver, Ivanni Jamin and Jimmy Liu did the lab work that afternoon and froze the plasma collected.
On Wednesday we went to the Waikoloa Hilton where we were hosted by Tessa Cazimero (Hilton Biologist).  We were able to capture and work up 12 honu noting that they were well feed and quite plump!  The blood samples were worked up that afternoon by the same exemplary HPA team.
On Thursday, our last day of field work, we went to Mauna Lani Bay and were able to capture 8 honu.  After completing all of the field measurements and drawing blood, we returned to the lab and worked up the blood samples.
In all, we were able to collect 27 samples and worked up that number of turtles.
The team effort (HPA and NOAA) worked very well and everyone learned a lot from our visiting NOAA scientist.

Below are a few pictures from the three days of field work.

Hikari pipettes blood serum after centrifuging.  The serum is
put into cryovials and frozen in liquid nitrogen.

Charlotte returns a honu to the ocean after it was weighed and measured and a blood sample was taken.

The team of HPA students controls a small turtle on the work-up table.

Our worksite at Hualalai.

Our data taker!

Students control a honu while a harmless identifying number is etched into its shell.

The team releases a honu.

Ms Jim etches a number into the carapace.

Lunch time at the Waikoloa Hilton Hotel.  We all enjoyed Laura's fresh squeezed juice!!!

Roughing it during lunch at the Waikoloa Hilton.

Our work area at the Waikoloa Hilton during High tide.

A student working on a honu at the Mauna Lani Bay site.

River takes a small tissue sample from the shoulder of a honu.

Ivanni accurately taking down data.

Mariko assists Ms Jim in taking data.

Jimmy does an oral exam.

Mr. Balazs took these pictures of the turtles feeding on algae at 0730 in the morning at the Waikoloa Hilton Water Fall.