DB Post Saturday November 29th

KOLOHE@RI !!!!, Kermit&Irma@WP,2W@Kahe,Rocky@Nimitz Beach, 11-29-08
It was a spectacularly wonderful day ! The fact that Ewa Girl was still at Hanauma Bay, and Kermit & Irma were still parked at White Plains, or that 2AW was 85% molted at Kahe, are are good , but my Rabbit Island day began at 0755 with a sighting of a small, red tagged male at what I call 3rd Cave, well to the right of the RI beach area. When the animal rolled over and I saw an unmistakeable transmitter on his back, I dared to hope. It would take until 1150 to finally be 150 % sure that I was right. When that beautiful natural bleach on his left side came into view, I KNEW that it was KOLOHE !!!!!!! He has finally returned home, and my day went from good to GRRRRREAT !!!

I'd last seen him on 8-19-08, on Rabbit Island. After that the only contact was through Charles' off and on transmitter data. There had been possible, but impossible to confirm sightings on 9-13-08 with an adult animal on Moku Manu, and another possible sighting at the Mokes on 10-14-08. The only factual data however, was from the transmitter that showed that he was hanging around the Mokapu Peninsula, and Moku Manu area.

The last word had come on 11-24-08, when I heard , second hand , that his transmitter was not functioning.

Kolohe has definitely lost all or most of his "baby chub", and has a more miniature Monk Seal shape, and his coat has browned up a bit, since he is a tad over 6 months old. Aloha, DB