SACRED HONU

Hawaiian waters are home to some of the most diverse marine life on this planet. One of the greatest examples is the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle, or “Honu” in the Hawaiian language. The Honu is one of Earth’s most ancient creatures and has graced our planet for nearly 70 million years. When looking into the Honu’s eyes, we are looking back millions of years into the lens of a reptilian survivor from the age of dinosaurs.

In Hawaii, the honu is considered a sacred animal, it is revered as an “aumakua” or spirit animal. In the Kumulipo, the anchient Chant of Creation, the Honu Turtle was the first creature to emerge from the deep sea to touch the Aina, the land of the Hawaiian Islands.

The Honu pattern is depicted in ancient petroglyphs as well as in modern graphic form. In this aquatic 3-D Wall Sculpture, RayBella utilized coconut pots from the palm trees of their property on Maui. After treating the natural material, the flippers were carved, painted and sealed. A layer of 23 k Goldleaf was applied on the inside to achieve the magical glow that these majestic animal exude.