Kaua'i
Hawksbills


Documented: 50 hawksbills (click through their tabs below to find out more)
#KI-001 Salty (subadult): 2009
#KI-002 Terry (juvenile): 2009
#KI-003 Tiny (juvenile): 2012
#KI-004 Dakota (adult female): 2015
#KI-005 Lilley (juvenile): 2015
#KI-006 Leo Hone Kekahi (adult female): 2016, 2018 & 2021-2023
#KI-007 Ke'ahi (juvenile): 2017
​#KI-008 Analani (adult female): 2017, 2019 & 2020
#KI-009 Hi'ilani (adult female): 2018
#KI-010 Lokana (subadult): 2018 & 2019
#KI-011 Kainoa (juvenile): 2018 & 2019
#KI-012 Kaumakani (juvenile): 2018 & 2021
​#KI-013 Kamoana (subadult): 2019
​#KI-014 Aniu-Bacon (juvenile): 2019
#KI-015 Inoa (juvenile): 2019
#KI-016 Lou (juvenile): 2019 & 2020
​#KI-017 Sakura (subadult): 2019
#KI-018 Hikari (juvenile): 2020
#KI-019 Brady (subadult): 2020 & 2024
#KI-020 Amos (subadult): 2020
#KI-021 Emilia (subadult): 2020, 2022, 2023, & 2025
#KI-022 'Olina (adult female): 2017
#KI-023 Aubri (juvenile): 2020
​#KI-024 Sawyer (juvenile): 2020
#KI-025 Kumu (juvenile): 2019
​#KI-026 Carlton (subadult): 2020, 2022 & 2023
#KI-027 Puntina (juvenile): 2021
​#KI-028 Sally (tagged juvenile): 2021
#KI-029 Dr. Scamahorn (juvenile): 2021 & 2022
#KI-030 Jaqueline Marcella McCall (subadult): 2021-2023
​#KI-031 James Hetfield (juvenile): 2021, 2022 & 2024
#KI-032 Lars Ulrich (juvenile): 2021-2023
#KI-033 Cliff Burton (juvenile): 2021, 2022 & 2025
​#KI-034 Lil Miss (juvenile): 2022
#KI-035 Makamae Makana Kai (juvenile): 2022-2025
​#KI-036 Elbee (juvenile): 2022
#KI-037 Kirk Hammett (juvenile): 2022 & 2023
#KI-038 Robert Trujillo (juvenile): 2022
​#KI-039 Thor (subadult): 2022 & 2023
#KI-040 Tara (subadult): 2022
#KI-041 Dijon (subadult): 2022
​#KI-042 Mokihana (juvenile): 2022
​#KI-043 Ms. Mermaid (juvenile): 2023
#KI-044 Silver Surfer (juvenile): 2023
#KI-045 Metallica (juvenile): 2023
#KI-046 Gamera (juvenile): 2024
#KI-047 Murphy (subadult): 2024
#KI-048 Cupid (deceased juvenile female): 2025
#KI-049 Atigun (juvenile): 2025
​#KI-050 Bill Purry (subadult): 2025
  • #KI-001 Salty
  • #KI-002 Terry
  • #KI-003 Tiny
  • #KI-004 Dakota
  • #KI-005 Lilley
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"Salty" is a subadult hawksbill that was photographed by Esmond Lee in 2009.
"Terry" is a juvenile hawksbill that was photographed by Terry Lilley in 2009.
"Tiny" is a small hawksbill that was photographed by Terry Lilley in 2012.
"Dakota" is an adult female hawksbill that was photographed by Mark Malone in 2015.
"Lilley" is a juvenile hawksbill that was photographed by Terry Lilley in 2015.
  • #KI-006 Leo Hone Kekahi
  • #KI-007 Ke'ahi
  • #KI-008 Analani
  • #KI-009 Hi'ilani 
  • #KI-010 Lokana
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"Leo Hone Kekahi" ("elegant one" in Hawaiian) is an adult female that has been photographed in 2016, 2018 & 2021-2023:
2016: Marcus Madson (@marcusmadson)
2018: Scott Bacon
2021: Josh Khan (@joshkhan24) & Caleb Morrison
2022: Logan Barnard & Med Dyer
2023: Jessie Croft (formerly Abirached) with Explore Kaua'i Scuba (@explore_kauai_scuba) & Jonathon Graas
"Ke'ahi" is a juvenile hawksbill that was photographed by Scott Bacon in 2017.
"Analani" is an adult female hawksbill that has been photographed in 2017, 2019 & 2020:
2017: Scott Bacon 
2019: Salil Gandhi
2020: Scott Bacon
"Hi'ilani" is an adult female hawksbill who was photographed by Scott Bacon in 2018.
"Lokana" (Roxanne) is a subadult hawksbill that has been photographed in 2018 & 2019:
2018: Kalani Robledo
2019: Jared Brewer (@bamfnamedjared) & Sonene Donnelly (@sonene_d)
  • #KI-011 Kainoa
  • #KI-012 Kaumakani
  • #KI-013 Kamoana
  • #KI-014 Aniu-Bacon
  • #KI-015 Inoa
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"Kainoa" is a juvenile hawksbill that has been photographed in 2018 & 2019:
2018: Anthony Kuntz
2019: Scott Bacon & ccollard58 (iNaturalist)
"Kaumakani" is a juvenile hawksbill that has been photographed in 2018 & 2021:
2018: Anthony Kuntz & Scott Bacon
2021: Jim van Gogh
"Kamoana" is a subadult hawksbill that was photographed by Anthony Kuntz in 2019.
"Aniu-Bacon" is a juvenile hawksbill that was photographed by Scott Bacon in 2019.
"Inoa" is a juvenile hawksbill that was photographed by Scott Bacon in 2019.
  • #KI-016 Lou
  • #KI-017 Sakura
  • #KI-018 Hikari
  • #KI-019 Brady
  • #KI-020 Amos
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"Lou" is a juvenile hawksbill that has been photographed in 2019 & 2020:
2019: Scott Bacon
2020: Terry Lilley
"Sakura" is a subadult hawksbill that has been photographed in 2019-2020:
2019: Scott Bacon
​2020: Caleb Morrison
"Hikari" is a juvenile hawksbill that was photographed by Scott Bacon in 2020.
"Brady" is now a subadult hawksbill that has been photographed in 2020 & 2024:
2020: Julie Gardner
2024: Logan Barnard
"Amos" is a subadult hawksbill that was photographed by Andre Raine in 2020.
  • #KI-021 Emilia
  • #KI-022 'Olina
  • #KI-023 Aubri
  • #KI-024 Sawyer
  • #KI-025 Kumu
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"Emilia" (Emmie for short) is a subadult hawksbill that was photographed in 2020, 2022, 2023, & 2025:
2020: Caleb Morrison (@cobbym) 
​2022: Shivaram Yellamilli (@axiomatically.ambiguous), Jessie Abirached with Explore Kaua'i Scuba (@explore_kauai_scuba) & Dan Okamura
2023: Jessie Croft (formerly Abirached) with Explore Kaua'i Scuba (@explore_kauai_scuba) 
​2025: Jessie Croft (formerly Abirached) with Explore Kaua'i Scuba (@explore_kauai_scuba) 
"'Olina" (joyful, rejoicing) is an adult female hawksbill that was photographed by Kelly Quin in 2017.
"Aubri" is a juvenile hawksbill that was spotted by Bri Smith (@seawithbri) & Josh Khan (@joshkhan24) in 2020.
"Sawyer" is a juvenile hawksbill that has been photographed by the Reef Guardians Coral Reef Kids Camp (led by Bri Smith & Robin Mazor) in 2020.  Read all about their encounter and naming process:
The Garden Island
"Kumu" is a juvenile hawksbill that has been photographed by Sonene Donnelly (@sonene_d) & Jared Brewer (@bamfnamedjared) in 2019.
  • #KI-026 Carlton
  • #KI-027 Puntina
  • #KI-028 Sally
  • #KI-029 Dr. Scamahorn
  • #KI-030 Jaqueline Marcella McCall
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"Carlton" is a subadult hawksbill that was photographed in 2020, 2022 & 2023:
2020: Scott Bacon
2022:  Jessie Abirached (@explore_kauai_scuba)
2023: Jessie Croft (formerly Abirached, @explore_kauai_scuba)
"Puntina" ("little dot" in Italian) is a juvenile hawksbill that was photographed by Jasmine Cadeddu in 2021.
"Sally" is a hooked juvenile hawksbill that was brought to shore by Jessie Abirached with Explore Kaua'i Scuba (@explore_kauai_scuba) in 2021.  It was sent to O'ahu for NOAA Fisheries to de-hook and assess, and then it was returned to Kaua'i.  Note the temporary "E5" on the carapace.
"Dr. Scamahorn" is a juvenile hawksbill that was filmed by Jessie Abirached with Explore Kaua'i Scuba (@explore_kauai_scuba) in 2021 & 2022.
"Jaqueline Marcella McCall" is a subadult hawksbill that was filmed by Jessie Croft (formerly Abirached) with Explore Kaua'i Scuba (@explore_kauai_scuba) in 2021, 2022 & 2023.
  • #KI-031 James Hetfield
  • #KI-032 Lars Ulrich
  • #KI-033 Cliff Burton
  • #KI-034 Lil Miss
  • #KI-035 Makamae Makana Kai
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"James Hetfield" is a juvenile hawksbill that has been photographed in 2021, 2022 & 2024:
2021:  Jessie Abirached with Explore Kaua'i Scuba (@explore_kauai_scuba) 
2022: Jessie Abirached with Explore Kaua'i Scuba (@explore_kauai_scuba) & Matt Eames
2024: Jessie Croft (formerly Abirached) with Explore Kaua'i Scuba (@explore_kauai_scuba)
"Lars Ulrich" is a juvenile hawksbill that has been reported from 2021- 2023:
2021-2023: Jessie Croft (formerly Abirached) with Explore Kaua'i Scuba (@explore_kauai_scuba)
"Cliff Burton" is a juvenile hawksbill that has been photographed in 2021, 2022 & 2025:
2021: Jessie Abirached with Explore Kaua'i Scuba (@explore_kauai_scuba)
2022: Jessie Abirached with Explore Kaua'i Scuba (@explore_kauai_scuba) & Matt Eames
2025: Jessie Croft (formerly Abirached) with Explore Kaua'i Scuba (@explore_kauai_scuba)
"Lil Miss" is a juvenile hawksbill that was filmed by Jessie Abirached with Explore Kaua'i Scuba (@explore_kauai_scuba) in 2022.
"Makamae Makana Kai" (precious gift ocean) is a juvenile hawksbill that has been photographed from 2022-2025:
2022: Robin Shannon & Erik & William Larson
2023: Robin Mazor
​2024: Robin Mazor & Terry Lilley
2025: Catherine Ulansey
  • #KI-036 Elbee
  • #KI-037 Kirk Hammett
  • #KI-038 Robert Trujillo
  • #KI-039 Thor
  • #KI-040 Tara
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"Elbee" is a juvenile hawksbill that was photographed by Logan Barnard in 2022.
"Kirk Hammett" is a juvenile hawksbill that was photographed by Jessie Croft (formerly Abirached) with Explore Kaua'i Scuba (@explore_kauai_scuba) in 2022 & 2023.
"Robert Trujillo" is a juvenile hawksbill that was photographed by Jessie Abirached with Explore Kaua'i Scuba (@explore_kauai_scuba) in 2022.
"Thor" is a subadult hawksbill that was photographed by Jessie Croft (formerly Abirached, @explore_kauai_scuba) in 2022 & 2023.
"Tara" is a subadult hawksbill that was photographed by Robin & Doug Shannon in 2022.
  • #KI-041 Dijon
  • #KI-042 Mokihana
  • #KI-043 Ms. Mermaid
  • #KI-044 Silver Surfer
  • #KI-045 Metallica
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"Dijon" is a subadult hawksbill that was photographed by Ben Sims in 2022.
"Mokihana" (a native tree (Pelea anisata), found only on Kauaʻi, belonging to the citrus family) is a juvenile hawksbill that was photographed by Jessie Croft (formerly Abirached) with Explore Kaua'i Scuba (@explore_kauai_scuba) in 2022. 
"Ms. Mermaid" is a juvenile hawksbill that was photographed by Robin Mazor of Reef Guardians Hawai'i & Mark Miller in 2023.
"Silver Surfer" is a juvenile hawksbill that was photographed by Tom Woods in 2023.
"Metallica" is a juvenile hawksbill that was photographed by Jessie Croft (formerly Abirached) with Explore Kaua'i Scuba (@explore_kauai_scuba) in 2023. 
  • #KI-046 Gamera
  • #KI-047 Murphy
  • #KI-048 Cupid
  • #KI-049 Atigun
  • #KI-050 Bill Purry
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"Gamera" is a juvenile hawksbill that was photographed by Thomas Green in 2024.
"Murphy" is a subadult hawksbill that was photographed by Tom Eaton with Explore Kaua'i Scuba (@explore_kauai_scuba) in 2024. 
"Cupid" is a juvenile hawksbill that was found floating off of Kaua'i, so became a 2025 rehab patient at the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute (MOCMI).  It passed fishing line and what resembled a barbed wire metal object, but it unfortunately didn't gain the abilities to dive or eat on its own.  Despite intensive rehabilitation efforts, it lasted less than a month at MOCMI.  Necropsy results indicated that Cupid was a female.  Stay tuned for more information.  
All photographs were taken under MOCMI's Federal and State endangered species permits.
"Atigun" is a juvenile hawksbill that was photographed by Jessie Croft (formerly Abirached) with Explore Kaua'i Scuba (@explore_kauai_scuba) in 2025. 
"Bill Purry" is a subadult hawksbill that was photographed by Jessie Croft (formerly Abirached) with Explore Kaua'i Scuba (@explore_kauai_scuba) in 2025.