05/13/2020 Thursday Stay-At-Home (51) Monk Seal Dailies

Aloha good people, I hope you are all well and staying safe.

We had a couple of sightings on the West Side today. 
This past week Kaiwi and PO2 were doing well in spite of things opening up.
AND thanks to Tammy's eagle eyes, she spotted a sighting on Instagram!
Our beloved RH48 Lei Ola hasn't been seen for quite a while now, and as you can imagine it's been a nail biter wondering if she is okay.  Well she is and is resting comfortably on Maui !!! 

when asked if the tag was seen "wild_whales" replied RH48!

Nalu R3CX 

 RG28 Lefty

Kaiwi & PO2 - Kid getting chubby and muzzle starting to lighten up

June 22, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Lesley, Marilyn and Melody. Lesley's Ka'ena Update is part two of the dailies.

Team Billand went out to check their usual sites. First thing they saw this morning was a pod of dolphins enjoying themselves. Then checking one of the west side beaches about 9 am they spotted a seal to the left on the high rocks. 
Initially they couldn't figure who this was, an adult mottled belly and a K tag, broken. That was the give away scar on the right side cheek. It was Kekoa Alii RK72. Needless to say Team Billand was extremely happy to see him back on the west side.

Junior Sealette Olivia accompanied Grandma checking on the three critters from yesterday.  They noticed RG28 was in his water hole, again and he remained there all day.

They also found Miss Lei Ola RH48 to the right on rocks, and she was alone, enjoying her peace away from the boys. 
On their followup check just before sunset, RG28 was gone.  Lei Ola was in the pond with waves swishing her about and she had company. Kekoa had joined Lei Ola in the pond, both resting peacefully. 

Team Billand didn't do Ka'ena WEst trek today with all the crowds out there today.

Marilyn went to check out Rabbit Island after going to Ka'ena Point this morning.  She was there for about 2 hours. There were four seals there today.
UM (unknown male) alone on LPB, adult size, fairly old coat, male belly and possibly 2 line scars on belly and at least one tag. The seal disappeared about 10 minutes before Marilyn headed out.
RB12 Sadie and PO4 were about 60 feet to the left of SRI on the waterfront rocks. Marilyn thinks they had just hauled out and PO4 was ready to nurse.  PO4's belly was sandy, so hard to say, but maybe another dude.

UU (unknown unknown) was seen in the water in front of Sadie and PO4. Soon thereafter the seal hauled out about 30 feet to the left of Mom and pup. Sadie kept looking at the new arrival and possibly vocalized to it. The UU appears to be a sub-adult or adult, sex unknown and unclear if it had tags. Possibly RG32.

Melody was at a Manu O Ku event in Waikiki this morning and then headed over to Diamond Head for some bird work.  Melody made a quick detour to check on Kaiwi RK96.  In Melody's own words " she looks like she's losing her britches" LOL.  She was at the waterline laying with her head in the water.  A small SRA was set up with two signs and orange cones, and a ton of people hanging out on the sand and in the water. 

As the tide started to wash over her, she turned over and started giving signals she was heading out. Melody asked folks to give her some space to allow her to exit. As she made her way into the water the kids on the beach were sweetly saying good-bye Kaiwi.  Kaiwi made her way through the crowded water of surfers, boats and people. Melody called the hotline to let them know that she had left the beach about 2 pm.  The folks on the beach immediately pushed the cones away and claimed the beach back as their own. Hmmmm... hope she doesn't come back. 

 Dolphins

 Kekoa RK72

 RG28

 Lei Ola RH48 

 Lei Ola and Kekoa

Rabbit Island Sadie and PO4 

 UM

 Kaiwi molting

 losing her britches

 hope the water washes off some of that skin

April 15, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies:

Todays' dailies are brought to you by Team Billand , our Canadian Posse Team D&T and Lesley. Lesley's complete Ka'ena Update is part two of the dailies. 

Darlene and Todd had a very special visitor haul out right on their beach!  They were thrilled to see Kaiwi RK96 had come to visit them.!  They called the hotline to report and were lucky to find a monk seal sign in a neighbors yard which they put up without ropes. Thank you Team D&T ya done good.


Team Billand was out on the westside and at 8:42 am they spotted a seal foraging doing 6 minute dives. Soon after he hauled up to his favorite spot for the day and they ID'd Kekoa Alii RK72. He remained all day in the same spot.
Nice addition to spotting Kekoa Team Billand caught a couple of whales breaching.

Team Billand went out to Ka'ena West and spotted Lei Ola RH48 with RW02 PvKauai together.  Volunteer Susie was on site. Team Billand observed the fishing line coming from the left corner of her mouth and can see the shank. Lei Ola was not in any stress, seemed okay, alert and was swimming just fine getting away from RW02. ( pretty much acting normal). Team Billand departed at 2:30 pm.

Further along Team Billand came across the lovely Leia RL42

resting on the rocks. Waves were coming in swooshing her about, she hung on, rolling to the right and left and bracing herself against the rocks.  She is looking big, fat and happy today.

Leaving Ka'ena West Team Billand found little RK88 Puna laying upside down, flippers up and relaxing in the hot sun on the rocks. Not a care in the world, he barely moved the whole time.

Back to the west side beach Team Billand spotted a very green boy on the rocks to the right. They read the tags and here is RH32 Ka'ale. He too was relaxing hardly

moving the time they were there, this boy is fat and happy.  

Then close to 4:30 on their way home they spotted a seal at Pukas alone on shore. They ID'd RIP RR70 alert and moving aware of the locals to his left. Volunteer Karen and Kathleen were on site. 
RIP turned around and went up, so it seems he's planning on staying.  

Kaiwi RK96

 Kekoa foraging

  Kekoa hauled out

 whales still here

Lei Ola 

 RW02 PvKauai

 Lei Ola and RW02

RL42 Leia

 HOLY MOLY !!! she's huge

Puna RK88

 RH32 Ka'ale 

 RIP RR70