KIHEI, Maui — The nearly life-size bronze sculpture of a nesting sea turtle stolen from the Kealia National Wildlife Refuge boardwalk has been returned. The 140-pound sculpture by artist Dale Zarella was turned in to the Maui Police Department this week. Details of its return were not available.

The artwork was donated in 2006 by the artist and Hawai'i residents Warren and Rose Gummow for display in the last kiosk on the new 2,200-foot Kealia Coastal Boardwalk, which is not yet open to the public. It shows a sea turtle nesting, complete with a chamber and eggs.

The sculpture is 5 feet in diameter and 18 inches high, and was mounted with heavy bolts before it was stolen on Feb. 21 or 22, said Refuge Manager Glynnis Nakai.

"We'll place her back in the kiosk, perhaps a little more securely, when the boardwalk is completed," Nakai said. "In the meantime, we'll let her rest from her adventure."

The coastal boardwalk will provide a platform for birdwatchers at the 700-acre refuge, which includes some of the last remaining natural wetland habitat in Hawai'i. Hawaiian stilts, or ae'o, and native coots 'alae ke'oke'o, live there, and migratory ducks and shorebirds visit in the fall, winter and spring.