August 3, 2023 (part 2) In Memory of Benny RE74 and Pohaku RO28

Thanks to Dana for following up on the remains of Benny RE74 and Pohaku RO28. Auntie Nettie was there to bless their ashes before they were returned to the ocean. And to all the volunteers that were there to remember the two seals and participated saying a few words to remember them.

The ceremony was also attended by two seals. Auntie Nettie was surprised to see them in that they usually show up a little later. The two seals were RN14 Kalani and RL12 Aukai, perhaps to say their goodbyes. After the ashes were scattered in the water, RN14 decided to roll into the water (just like Benny use to) then he went over by the rocks and swam through and rolled in the spot where the ashes were scattered.  Perhaps they know more than we give them credit for.

Thank you Melody for sharing!!

(this is such a Benny pose)

04/11/2020 Stay-At-Home (19) Saturday Monk Seal Dailies

Aloha good people,
Another day of staying put, seems it's getting difficult to even walk about some of the beaches as HPD is patrolling.  Good for them keeping people safe, but makes checking in on our beloved critters a challenge. 

Since folks have time on their hands I been getting lots of links to memories which is always nice to review. Melody sent a video she put together to honor Pohaku and Nanea's memory.  So sit back turn up the volume and grab a couple of tissues.

Thank you Melody for sharing.

04/05/2020 Stay-At-Home (13) Sunday Monk Seal Dailies

I hope you are all are doing well and had a nice weekend, then again can anyone tell the difference anymore? 
Barbara went through her files and came up with these two memories, one of Kekoa Alii RK72 and the other of Pohaku.

About a month after being weaned Kekoa Alii RK72 got himself into a situation on August 30th 2011. While swimming by his birth beach at Reef Runway he got stuck, in a giant tie wrap. Back in those days there was a handful of us that had clearance to access this area. THANK GOODNESS.  Team Billand (as usual) were there to save the day. When they spotted him they immediately got the NOAA Team out. 
It was a painless quick fix.!  

Then January 18th 2012 Team Billand found Pohaku at KoOlina. When they called it into NOAA they were told a team was going to come out to apply a bleach number and attach a transmitter. When Team showed up, they decided not to do anything in that she might be pregnant.  However along withe NOAA team there was a film crew who came out with them. Not sure what was being filmed, at that time, could have been one of the national geographics series. 

Kekoa August 2011

 oops 

 no worries  

 Look! It's Dera! Robert, Aileen, Sean, Mark & Shawn 

Pohaku - January 2012 

 Sleeping Beauty Pohaku 

Barb's sand sculpture

04/02/2020 Stay-At-Home (10) Thursday A Tribute to Pohaku

Today's news brought sadness with the passing of RO28 Pohaku. I am providing the link of NOAA's official announcement. It has been on the news and of course all over social media.  I was touched by Dr. Shell's comment and believe she will live by these words, which I quote:
 "This isn’t the end of the story. We learned a lot from Pohaku, and made many firsts. I will honor her by doing everything I can to create lasting change for her pups, the future of the species, and the ecosystem "  
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/endangered-species-conservation/hawaiian-monk-seal-updates?fbclid=IwAR2UdijYsAUuhSoAxTQatz8AFw4L0Jz6VDXzugiugsxGAc5LWz5-y3vMOTw

I mentioned to Barbara I wanted to pay tribute to Pohaku and if she would send me some stories with photos.  There is no better way to explain than in Barbara's own words.

"For 10 long years we watched and looked after Miss Pohaku R028...but got word she passed away April 1 2020 of Toxo.

I cried, SOBBED, thought of all the times we spent with her at many beaches...including Kauai.

It all began Nov 2009 ..... we heard the news of Pohaku's Mother RK06 shot   to death at Kauai.  Man who shot her was 78 yr old Charles Vindiha of kauai.  Why did he shoot Pohaku's Mom?

He said, She was taking all his fish and he wanted to SCARE HER AWAY.  Mr Vindiha not just killed RK06, but the unborn son she was about to give birth to.  What did he get? A $25 fine and 90 days in jail.

After hearing this VERY TRAGIC story , I told Robert my husband, IF WE EVER MEET HER SIBLINGS, lets take care of them for ever.  That was my PROMISE.

Nov 2010, at Maili Pt, I found Miss Pohaku R028, resting high up in the rocks, next to a shredded Flag on a stick. Miss Pohaku had a new cookie cutter wound on her right side of body....Plus she had other cookie scars on her right side.  I called Rob to tell him HOW THRILLED I WAS TO MEET POHAKU. Her coat was beautiful inspite of all her cookie scars...what an honor to finally MEET HER. 

She spent many days at Maili area, but loved this beach known as DEPOTS.  Folks werent always kind to her while she basked in the sun. But we stayed with her and TRIED to educate folks bothering her.  Pohaku didnt care, she didnt like it, she tolerated humans. SHE NEVER ONCE WENT UP TO A HUMAN BEING...HUMANS found great pleasure walking up to her for a close up photo.

Pohaku had many males who hung out with her...but...one male known as Benny RE74 was her favorite male friend.   Benny had this calendar in his mind that knew when Pohaku would be returning to Oahu and he'd find her alot.

We tried going to Kauai upon all her journeys to Kauai birthing...and met nice folks on Kauai and became good friends.  One nice gal was Val Bloy, Gary, and the nice couple Mary and Lloyd.  It was fun to meet each of her beautiful off spring.

One day, Pohaku didnt make the trip to Kauai, stayed on Oahu, we found her and followed her closely till the day she gave birth at KoOlina Paradise Cove.

It was July 19th 2019.... she was at Paradise cove and not happy...but the day was way too long for us and we left TO GO HOME.  As soon as we got home, AUNTIE NETTIE called us back...COME BACK, POHAKU JUST GAVE BIRTH!!!!! Oh dam, we just missed the incredible birthing...someone else took a video who saw the birthing.  WE MISSED IT all.

We hurried out to Paradise Cove, anxious to see the PUP...who was a beautiful FEMALE that Auntie would eventually call...NANEA...Peaceful .

Got to site, there were a gazillion people, so loud, and there was the pup, big eyed and jet black. I cried with joy and yet very disappointed we missed the birth.  HMAR was there busy building the barrier around the sweet little girl and Pohaku.  As I tried to take photos of the event, I realized I forgot my chip for the camera.  Rob ran to the car and luckily, I had one chip in my bag in the car. THANK GOD.

We went to Paradise Cove daily for the next 40 days Pohaku nursed her Nanea. She was a great Mama, very protective and any one who came close she would CHARGE!!

Pohaku had many visitors, which included good ole BENNY, Kalani RN14, RIP and one unknown.

Like I said, she loved Benny but fought the others off.

We were honored to have had those 40 days together with Pohaku and Nanea.  It was the best time in our lives and we educated so many good folks.  We got close to Auntie Nettie who also took great pride in watching over Nanea.

Noaa captured Nanea took her blood work, put a transmitter on her, new shiny red tags that read RL44/RL45.  Relocated her to North shore...Melody took me out to site as NOAA released little Nanea...who swam her heart out, in a strange new home.  She adapted, other seals would visit her, one was the Famous...RJ58 Kaimana who was born Waikiki in 2017. That was amazing.

Rob and I never went back to North shore he couldnt do the walk any more...so on release day, that was the last time we saw Nanea ALIVE. She would be found dead on the 26th day at her new home...OH how we cried for days...months, I still cry.

It is very hard to go to Paradise cove now as we shared so many great days with Nanea and Pohaku. I never found out WHY SHE DIED.

Pohaku made a few visits after weaning...it was sad to see her....

She molted at Lagoon 4...it would be her last molt.

It got harder and harder to relocate Pohaku, she changed to Plains and other areas.

On Jan 11 we found Pohaku at Nimitz beach , logging. My heart sank, was she ill? I notified NOAA about her logging. Then she disappeared again but found Lagoon 4 logging....they were going to capture her, but she left with the currents, floated a couple of days more.

Jan 22 Pohaku was found in Lagoon One, logging. It broke our hearts, we knew she had TOXO, we had other seals die during our years with seals.  She didnt use her flippers at all, rolled in waves. It was HEART BREAKING.

Pohakus was rescued by NOAA that day, it would be our last visit with her....she was taken to  Ford

Island...then shipped out to Ke Kai Ola where for weeks, the good folks there tried to help her.

Sadly after everyones hard work in trying to save Pohaku, she passed away according to the news on April 1st 2020. I burst out in tears.....I knew it was coming....but watching it on the news brought it to reality. A very tragic ending for a GOOD MOM, of seven pups...all living except Nanea.

FOR YOU POHAKU RO28...you will always be in our minds, our hearts for ever!!! You will be missed....now you will meet up with Nanea and be free of humans who bothered you all those years.  God bless you sweet Pohaku and Nanea. Love you ALWAYS. "

 November 2010 

 Pohaku and Benny  

Pohaku taking care of outreach

 Rest in Love sweet girl

03/26/2020 Stay at Home (3) Thursday Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies include a mix of old and new and some information for you!

Barb sent me to an old link to the blog dating back to April 5th 2012. I pulled two photos from that day, one of Pohaku and one of RB00. They look so young, well we all were 8 years ago.

Along the road today, on the west side there were a couple sighting, only able to make a quick stop then off to an appointment. Not to mention the dolphins enjoying the waters without the tour boats!

I am posting a couple of links that have been in the news lately and never got the chance to post here.

Monk Seal population shows signs of recovery.
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/hawaiian-monk-seal-population-saw-signs-recovery-2019

RA20 released back into the wild
https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2020/03/19/hawaii-news/hawaiian-monk-seal-ra20-released-from-hospital/

Pohaku chronicles #3
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/podcast/line/pohaku-chronicles-podcast-3

Pohaku back in April 2011

RB00 - Check out the heart shaped natural bleach April 2011

Kala RH76

 Kawena

 Kekoa

02/20/2020 Thursday Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team T&D and Team Billand.
On a side note I wanted to share an update for NOAA regarding Pohaku RO28 status and the sad news of young RKC1 passing.   https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/toll-toxoplasmosis-protozoal-disease-has-now-claimed-lives-12-monk-seals-and-left?fbclid=IwAR0qYajrtKewBCl9FZMEV6k-SwiZY6pE2R5cn1UjFJ_Q5XpOswrHyCTmOQY


Team T&D hiked Ka'ena Point today and just as they got to 5 minute beach they spotted a seal hauling out down the way.  By they time they got to it the small seal was completely covered in sand full on shake and bake. Small in side with only one tag. Tammy's best guess would be RL98 but they could not be sure.  Tammy later got confirmation from Lesley that it was RL98 Lina. 

Team T&D next find was PvKauai RW02 at hidden beach, he was an easy ID with his three tags.
They also got to enjoy seeing the Snow Geese having a drink in one of the many puddles. 

Then at the runway they came across Luana RN58 and Ka'ena RO40.

Finally when they got to the point there were no seals and after 20 minutes Tammy went to check back beach again. This time they found RL74 Kami who must have hauled out while they were on the main beach.

All the seals were in the same spot on their way out and this time they were able to easily ID RL98 by her applied bleach mark.

Team Billand had been out and about and spotted a small seal trying to haul in but it took off, when they returned later they found Nalu R3CX was arguing with RG28 Lefty in the shallows.  
RG28 Lefty landed on lower rocks, the second seal was Nalu R3CX cautiously came into lower rocks and landed.
Once again the two had words before they finally settled down for the day.

Well before everything was settled Team Billand spotted little RL20 Kalua hauled in and immediately R3CX Nalu met him and began to bug him. RL20 took off to the right and was going to land where Lefty RG28 was resting.  Lefty also bugged the little one, guess the boys letting the kid know whose boss.  Eventually all three settled in and went to sleep on lower rocks.

Kekoa Alii RK72 hauled up to the right at the inlet and was there for the day. While Team Billand was there four dudes came and one of them went close to Kekoa. Barb called out asked him to move back, he didn't listen. Even his friends called out to him and he didn't listen.  No harm was done, and the guys finally left.  
In light of the recent footage that went viral it is EXTREMELY frustrating when you try to prevent people from doing the wrong thing and they are just ignorant or worse yet a big A$$.

Early afternoon Team Billand headed over to plains and found Buster RV08 resting. There was a zone in place and all the folks at the beach were respectable.  They called the hotline.

RL74 Kami

 RL98 Lina

 Rn58 Luana and RO40 Ka'ena

 RW02 Pv Kauai

 Hello Chickie! 

Nalu R3CX and RG28 Lefty

 Lefty RG28

Lefty RG28 and RL20 Kalua

 Nalu R3CX and Rl20 Kalua

 Kalua

Kekoa RK72 

 Buster RV08