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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 2:23 p.m., Sunday, July 20, 2008

Memorial held for sea turtle

Advertiser Staff

Malama Na Honu is holding a memorial service this morning at the site of the slaying of the green sea turtle at Laniakea Beach .

Volunteers from the guardian group, which was set up to educate the public and protect the threatened species, will place lei at the site where the sea turtle was partially buried in the sand, said Patrick Doyle, Malama Na Honu project coordinator.

The green sea turtle is included on the federal Endangered Species list.

The 200-pound female sea turtle was found on the beach Saturday morning by a beachgoer. She is called Honey Girl because of her honey colored shell, Doyle said.

The sea turtle's body has been taken to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration facilities, where scientists will perform a necropsy.

The turtle, one of a group of 20 that regularly comes to bask in the sun on the beach commonly called "Turtle Beach," had its shell cut off and was missing a flipper. The turtle's head was attached to her body, despite earlier reports that it had been removed.