Sea Turtles in Hawaii in February

Yes, February is a good month to see sea turtles in Hawaii. It is the 7th busiest month of the year, with 882 of the 10,999 sightings logged across the year (8%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

T

By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Hawksbill Sea Turtle photographed in HawaiiGreen Sea Turtle photographed in HawaiiGreen Sea Turtle photographed in Hawaii
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for sea turtles in Hawaii

8%

of yearly sightings

882

records in February

#7

busiest month of 12

10,999

verified records a year

January 9.1%, February 8%, March 10.5%. Busiest month is March at 10.5%.

Best months: March, June, May

10,999 verified observations of sea turtles in Hawaii, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When sea turtles are recorded in Hawaii

Peak month

March

1,157 records (10.5% of the year)

Quietest month

October

618 records

MonthObservationsShare
January1,0049.1%
February8828%
Marchpeak1,15710.5%
April9648.8%
Maypeak1,0599.6%
Junepeak1,0679.7%
July8828%
August8517.7%
September7006.4%
October6185.6%
November7767.1%
December1,0399.4%

Sea Turtles you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Green Sea Turtle10,861
Hawksbill Sea Turtle102
Loggerhead Sea Turtle2
Olive Ridley Sea Turtle1

In Hawaii, February carries 8% of the year's sea turtles sightings, about 0.3 points below an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 7th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from January (9.1%) into February, and it heads toward March (10.5%) after. The busiest month is March (10.5%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The sea turtles most often recorded in Hawaii are Green Sea Turtle, Hawksbill Sea Turtle and Loggerhead Sea Turtle. Those counts are annual totals rather than a February split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in February itself.

Which sea turtles you are most likely to see

  • Green Sea Turtle10,861 records
  • Hawksbill Sea Turtle102 records
  • Loggerhead Sea Turtle2 records
  • Olive Ridley Sea Turtle1 records
Plan your tripAla Kahakai National Historic Trail

Plan your sea turtle trip in Hawaii

Start with live tours near Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see sea turtles in Hawaii in February?+

Yes. February accounts for 882 of the 10,999 verified sea turtles sightings logged in Hawaii across the year, which is 8% of the annual total.

Is February a good time to see sea turtles in Hawaii?+

February is the 7th busiest month. It is workable, though March and June is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for sea turtles in Hawaii?+

March is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through March, June and May, based on 10,999 verified observations.

Which sea turtles are you most likely to see in Hawaii?+

The most-recorded species in Hawaii are Green Sea Turtle, Hawksbill Sea Turtle and Loggerhead Sea Turtle, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.