The Story Behind “Olowalu Honu”

There's a stretch of reef off Olowalu, on Maui's west side, where the afternoon light does something special. It filters down through clear, shallow water and turns everything gold — and if you're lucky, a honu glides right through the middle of it.

That's the moment behind "Olowalu Honu," one of my most-loved images — and honestly, the shot of a lifetime.

I'd found a turtle at a cleaning station on the reef, holding still while a cloud of surgeonfish picked it clean. I tucked myself behind a rock, took a breath, and just waited — about a minute, barely moving, trying to be part of the scenery. When the turtle was done, it pushed off the reef and swam straight past me, close enough that I barely had to reach. One breath, one pass, one frame. That's all it took — and all it ever takes, when everything lines up.

A note on photographing honu

Honu are protected in Hawaii — it's illegal to touch or harass them, and a good rule is to give them plenty of space and let them come to you. Every turtle image I sell was taken without chasing, baiting, or disturbing the animal. Patience does the work.

Bring it home

"Olowalu Honu" is available as a fine-art print on aluminum metal, acrylic, and canvas — the aluminum version especially makes that golden water glow: https://www.drewsulockcreations.com/purchase-photos/p/walu-honu