in 1978, researchers counted just 35 nesting females at french frigate shoals. the hawaiian green sea turtle was disappearing. today, nearly 800 females nest each year—a 2,000% recovery that stands as one of conservation's greatest success stories.
but the beaches that saved them are now vanishing beneath rising seas.
the honu represents what's possible when protection comes early enough—and what's at stake when the next threat arrives before funding does.
more than a marine animal
the hawaiian green sea turtle, or honu (chelonia mydas), is an ancient navigator, a reef gardener, and for many hawaiian families, a revered ʻaumakua—a spiritual guardian that bridges the world of the living with the wisdom of ancestors.
for millions of years, these 300-pound mariners have grazed on the limu (algae) and seagrasses of the archipelago, performing a critical ecological service. by keeping algae in check, they ensure that coral reefs have the light and space they need to thrive. without the honu, the vibrant underwater cities of hawaii would slowly suffocate under blankets of green.
a conservation triumph
commercial harvesting had decimated honu populations by the mid-20th century. protection under the endangered species act in 1978 changed everything. the population now grows at an estimated 5-8% annually—proof that protection works when it comes early enough.
this recovery didn't happen by accident. it required:
- legal protection from harvesting
- habitat preservation at critical nesting sites
- decades of consistent enforcement
- research to understand population dynamics
the lesson: proactive protection delivers results that reactive compensation never can.
the changing tides
but as we look toward 2026, the success of the honu faces a new, more complex challenge: climate change.
over 95% of hawaiian honu nest at lalo (french frigate shoals), a low-lying atoll in the northwestern hawaiian islands. as sea levels rise and storms intensify, these narrow nesting beaches are quite literally disappearing beneath the waves.
| threat | impact on honu |
|---|---|
| sea level rise | nesting beaches shrinking and flooding |
| warming sands | temperature determines hatchling sex—too warm means all females |
| intensifying storms | nest destruction during breeding season |
| coral bleaching | food source degradation |
the species that survived near-extinction now faces threats that no endangered species act can legislate away.
why ensurance matters here
this is exactly the gap ensurance is designed to fill. traditional conservation funding depends on grant cycles, political will, and crisis response. the honu needs perpetual, proactive funding for:
- coastal habitat protection and restoration
- climate adaptation research
- alternative nesting site development
- marine ecosystem resilience
by funding the protection of coastal systems, we aren't just saving a species—we are ensuring the resilience of the entire marine ecosystem that depends on them.
$HONU: perpetual funding through market activity
the honu coin is an ensurance coin that directly supports the coastal-systems.ensurance mandate.
how it works:
- fair launch — 10M tokens went to coastal-systems.ensurance at creation
- trading generates proceeds — every buy and sell creates funding automatically
- proceeds flow to protection — funds route to marine habitat stewardship
| metric | value |
|---|---|
| market cap | $4,302 |
| total volume | 7.84 ETH |
| ensurers (holders) | 10 |
| beneficiary | coastal-systems.ensurance |
when you hold $HONU, you aren't just holding a token. you are participating in a relational value system that honors the ʻaumakua of the islands and ensures their navigation continues for generations to come.
how to participate
- explore the honu coin — buy, hold, or trade to generate proceeds
- see how proceeds flow — track where funds go
- explore coastal systems — the agent receiving honu proceeds