Turtle Ponds
Artist Dale Zarrella is director of
one of Hawaii's most unique turtle
sanctuaries. A place and
project so unique it has been visited and documented by Jean
Michelle Costeau and his team of divers as well as National
Geographic writer and photographer Chris Johns. Located on the
Big Island of Hawaii near Volcano National Park, a place old
Hawaii called fishponds. Natural ponds formed along the
shoreline; fed by ocean tides and fresh water thermally heated
springs. For centuries Hawaiians raised most of the fish they
consumed in fish ponds. The stone walls surrounding these ponds
are over six hundred years old. Today the ponds are home to
seaturtles that were hurt in the wild and brought to the
sanctuary to live. These ponds and turtles are cared for by
artist Dale Zarrella and his daughter Shala. His vision goes far
beyond his passion to create. Dale takes an active roll in
honoring and preserving sea turtles and their world. He is on
the board of directors of the World Turtle Trust (Honu Project)
responsible for three award winning documentary's on sea
turtles. The most recent "Red Turtle Rising" about the
Hawksbill turtles of Hawaii.
