Monika started sucking in air as if she were suddenly gasping for breath. Once she was finally full to bursting, she managed to blurt out "TURTLE!"

This was back on our first night on Kauai, and we were taking a walk along the beach before setting up camp. The turtle popped its head up briefly above a breaking wave, then pushed itself back into the ocean and was gone. As we continued on our way, we kept glancing back at the spot in the vain hope that it might come back.

The next few days we were busy with the hike, which does not have any good spots for snorkeling or turtle-watching. When we made it back out from the trail, we stayed at a little condo/cottage on the southern edge of the island; there we had the following view from the balcony the next day.



In case you didn't catch that, here's a different view:



For those still having trouble, this one we spotted on the beach down the street.



Needless to say, the fleeting glimpse of the first turtle will not be our only memory of these guys. Wading out into the cove below our balcony as they swam about lazily and sunned themselves on rocks tops that one I think.

Also, more views from the cottage balcony: