Meet Chester

Chester is an adult male Hawaiian Monk Seal, first identified as an adult on Kauai in 2001. His most frequent locations on Oahu are from Iroquois Point, Barber's Point, Ko Olina Resort. Although, he has been seen on the marine corp base in Kaneohe, and pulled up on Kailua Beach in January 08 for his annual molt.

Chester earned his name for the large scar across his chest. How he obtained the scar is unknown, but whatever happened it was a while back.

January 1st 2008, Chester unknowningly brought a group of volunteers together that had never met before, and yet they were able to coordinate and organize a round the clock watch of him. Through the guidance of NOAA (National Oceanic Atomspheric Administration) National Marine Fisheries Service, we were able to help educate the general public, most who had never seen a monk seal before. We kept him safe from the unleashed dogs and provided information for all the curious on lookers. Many of Kailua's residents got to know Chester during his annual molt. He stayed in and around Kailua's shoreline for 26 days, before he headed back to his old haunts.