No confirmed photo of Chinese softshell
Chinese softshell
Pelodiscus sinensis
What the sources say
Habitat: Freshwater (NAS 'Native Habitat: Freshwater') (USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) database)
Hawaii Turtles: Identification Guide With Pictures
Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.
Hawaii DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife: Five marine turtles occur in Hawai'i; two are common residents that nest on Hawai'i's beaches and three others are more occasional visitors.
This page lists 10 turtles: 5 from Hawaii DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife's Sea turtles: Hawaii State Wildlife Action Plan 2025, Appendix A, marine reptiles; freshwater turtles: USGS NAS Species List, Reptiles, State = Hawaii and 5 named in other official sources. 5 are nonnative. Hawaii DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife gives a total of 5; the 10 here are the turtles official sources name one by one.
All 10 turtles
From A to Z.
No confirmed photo of Green sea turtle (honu)
Green sea turtle (honu)
Chelonia mydas
- Where in Hawaii
- Marine; common resident that nests on Hawaii beaches Hawaii DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife
- Conservation
- Federal Threatened; State Threatened (SWAP Appendix A)
Hawksbill sea turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata
- Where in Hawaii
- Marine; nests on Hawaii beaches Hawaii DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife
- Conservation
- Federal Endangered; State Endangered (SWAP Appendix A)
Leatherback sea turtle
Dermochelys coriacea
- Size
- Adults 5 to 6 feet long, 750 to 1,000 pounds (NOAA). Texas Parks and Wildlife cites weights up to 1,300 lb and shells up to 8 feet.
- How to recognize it
- The only sea turtle that lacks scales and a hard shell.
- Front flippers proportionally longer than in other sea turtles; rear flippers paddle-shaped.
- Usually a pink spot on top of the head that can identify individuals.
- Where in Hawaii
- Marine; occasional visitor Hawaii DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife
- Conservation
- Federal Endangered; State Endangered (SWAP Appendix A)
Loggerhead sea turtle
Caretta caretta
- Size
- Adults 2.5 to 3.5 feet long and 200 to 350 pounds (NOAA). NCWRC gives 31 to 45 inches shell length and 170 to 350 pounds; SCDNR says adults can weigh as much as 300 pounds and reach up to four feet in shell length.
- How to recognize it
- Very large head with powerful jaws.
- Slightly heart-shaped top shell.
- Two pairs of scales (prefrontal scutes) between the eyes above the nostrils; two claws on each flipper.
- Where in Hawaii
- Marine; occasional visitor (SWAP: three of the five sea turtles are occasional visitors) Hawaii DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife
- Conservation
- Federal Threatened; State Threatened (SWAP Appendix A)
No confirmed photo of Olive Ridley Sea Turtle
Olive Ridley Sea Turtle
Lepidochelys olivacea
- Where in Hawaii
- Marine; occasional visitor Hawaii DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife
- Conservation
- Federal Threatened; State Threatened (SWAP Appendix A)
No confirmed photo of Ouachita Map Turtle
Ouachita Map Turtle
Graptemys ouachitensis
What the sources say
Habitat: Freshwater (NAS 'Native Habitat: Freshwater') (USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) database)
No confirmed photo of Pond Slider
Pond Slider
Trachemys scripta
What the sources say
Habitat: Freshwater (NAS 'Native Habitat: Freshwater') (USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) database)
Red-eared Slider
Trachemys scripta elegans
What the sources say
Habitat: Freshwater (NAS 'Native Habitat: Freshwater') (USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) database)
No confirmed photo of Wattle-necked Softshell
Wattle-necked Softshell
Palea steindachneri
What the sources say
Habitat: Freshwater (NAS 'Native Habitat: Freshwater') (USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) database)
Turtles people confuse
Loggerhead sea turtle or Leatherback sea turtle?
Loggerhead sea turtle Not stated
Leatherback sea turtle Not stated
Adult leatherbacks differ from all other sea turtles, including the loggerhead, in their large size, spindle-shaped body and leathery shell without scales.
Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.
When turtles are active in Hawaii
Records of turtles in Hawaii peak in January to April, October and December. They show when people record turtles, not how many there are (about month bars).
How to report
Invasive species (including any snake sighting): Pest Hotline 808-643-PEST (643-7378) or online at 643pest.org. Hawaii DLNR
About this list
The species list comes from Sea turtles: Hawaii State Wildlife Action Plan 2025, Appendix A (Species of Greatest Conservation Need), marine reptiles; freshwater turtles: USGS NAS Species List, Reptiles, State = Hawaii (Hawaii DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife, 2025-10-01 (SWAP); 2026-11-03 (NAS live query)). 5 more entries come from other official sources named on each card.
Venom labels come only from official sources and link to them; "Not stated" never means harmless. How labels work.
"Nonnative" and "Invasive" follow the wording of the source list. See invasive species in Hawaii.
Sources
- About Us (Division of Forestry and Wildlife). Hawaii DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Hawai'i State Wildlife Action Plan 2025 (as submitted to the Regional Review Team October 1, 2025). Hawaii DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife. October 1, 2025; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Five marine turtles occur in Hawai'i; two are common residents that nest on Hawai'i's beaches and three others are more occasional visitors.”
- NAS Species List: Reptiles, Hawaii. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) database. database queried November 3, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
- Examples of Invasive Species in Hawaii. Hawaii Invasive Species Council (Hawaii DLNR). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Report Invasive Species Online at 643pest.org Report Invasive Species by Phone: 808 643-PEST”
- GBIF.org occurrence records, human observations licensed CC0 1.0 or CC BY 4.0 only, accessed November 3, 2026. The datasets behind these counts are listed on our Sources page.