6/7/2015 Flashback Video of Baby Ka'ena and Momma Irma

Aloha good people:

We have a very special treat from an old friend who spent many of hours trekking to Ka'ena Point watching over baby Ka'ena.  Karen Harris is a former volunteer/posse and still remains a monk seal supporter.... Karen and I exchanged a couple of emails over the last couple of days about Irma's absence.... we all miss Irma.  Karen sent this amazing video of baby Ka'ena with Irma... to be honest it took all but a minute for the tears to flow.

Thank you Karen for sharing a part of your history with us... we all have our special memories and I know this one is yours.... and now... it's one of mine.

11/19/2014 Remembering Irma part II

Aloha Good People!!!
Well I am happy to say I got some wonderful responses and photos of Irma.... Thank you Melanie, Vera and Jason.... to be honest reviewing the pictures was bitter sweet, brought some tears. Then again this is why we do what we do.... we are passionate and yes we do become attached to the cast of characters in this seal family.  Please enjoy the following pictures and again thank you for sharing these special moments!

 Vera sent her favorite picture of Irma and of course she included a picture of Kermit .... I love this, because to me their like peanut butter and jelly.... some how some way they would always end up together.

Melainie sent a series of pictures of Irma and Kea together shortly before Kea was weaned. The solo picture of Irma was from October 24, 2013 the last time she saw Irma.

soooooooo sweet. 

Lastly... Jason O'Rourke sent this series of shots.... they pretty much speak for themselves.

 such an incredible female seal, but there certainly seemed to be a silly side....

 Big Momma Irma and baby Kea (2013)

 How quickly they grow

Remembering Irma R010

Aloha Good People,

Since DB mentioned in Sunday's Dailies that it has been a year since we had any information on Irma.... 
Honestly I am not giving up, but rather than sit in silence and wonder.... I thought sharing some Irma stories or pictures could give us all an opportunity to learn a little bit more about the old girl.
You can either post your stories in the comment section OR... email me your pictures & story and I will post them as they come to me....   send to dabella50@gmail.com  subject: remembering Irma

 Irma R010 photo taken 11/13/2013 by DB

1-6-2014 APB: Seal of Interest IRMA

Aloha good people
I know many of you have asked, wondered and are worried about Irma.... This morning I saw a posting on facebook asking people to keep and eye out for her.... so I thought I would follow suit and post her profile link here (I also did it on my facebook page).....

Let's hope someone sees her soon and we can all take a breath of relief.

http://monksealmania.blogspot.com/2010/03/profile-irma-2010.html

Yesterday's yesterdays News on Irma (simply Sunday)

Aloha Good People,
Lesley sent this to me yesterday and I forgot to post.... the siting of Irma would be Sunday...  We weren't able to download any of the photos but if you click on the link they are definitely worth seeing.... Thank you Nikole!  and thank you Lesley.

Yesterday late afternoon a hotline call came in from Mark @ North Beach MCBH reporting a seal.

Nikole Vargas was on site and took some fantastic photos. 

The seal reported is R010 "Irma". 

Since I wasn't home, I couldn't check my files so it took me a while to ID her and after double checking with DB he confirmed it was her.

DB said that as far as he knows she has never been reported at Kaneohe Base. 

The link to the photos is: http://nikolevargasphotography.pass.us/monk-seal/

11-14-2013 DB's Dailies

At 0600 I found Irma (R010) waiting for me right where I’d left her last night, at the base of the hill at Makapuu Beach. I redid the cordon and she remained at dark.

　

On my 0651 AD check I found nobody. I picked up yesterday’s signs and continued the adventure.

　

At 0705 Hanauma Bay posse member Gene called with the report of an animal swimming the near shore waters of HB from east to west. He reported the animal hauling out near the right end at 0717. I arrived at 0720, just in time to have Jack (at the Bay) call to say that the animal had been run off and departed. I remained for half an hour but never saw anything. A witness characterized the animal as medium sized, with a brown coat. There was no other info. Van King’s photos did not allow an ID.

　

At 0854, from Makai Pier, I found Mojo (RI17) at 2BS, Kainoa (RN04) at Right Middle Cliff, and Kaiwi (RK96) at 3BS on Rabbit Island.

　

Despite lots of checks everywhere, Kea was a no show today.

Team Billand checked in at 0902 with the report of Kermit (R012) fronting #1944, White Plains. He would depart at 1713.

　

The highlight of the day came at 1025 with another Billand call, reporting Kekoa (RK72) and little sister U’ilani (RN36) together at the Reef Runway.

　

Team Billand began following a foraging animal at 1509. At 1527 Barbara got the Rocky (RH58) ID while she was still foraging. At 1550 Rocky hauled out to Al’s Bench, Kalaeloa Campground. Barbara reported what might be a shark bite wound on Rocky. Awaiting photos.

　

At 1713 the Billands reported the arrival of M&M (R020), fronting #1707, White Plains.

 Irma at Makapuu 

 Mojo at Rabbit Island 

 u/u at Hanauma Bay

 Kermit White Plains

 MM at white plains

 Rocky at Kalaeloa

 hmmmm looks like she was like this time

looking closer maybe not a shark but from a male seal being a little pushy shall we say?

11-13-13 DB's Dailies:

The waves in the SE quadrant were Crankin’ today. It was impossible to be at Makai Pier. My Lanai office was being regularly drenched by blasting white water off the breakwater. My limited RI observations were all done from Kaupo Beach Park. I found Kaiwi (RK96) fronting 3BS on RI at 0713, and rechecked through the day. She was the only RI resident today.

　

Despite many a mile covered by both Gayle and myself, it would be 1258 before I would encounter my next critter. We got us a new Dera !!! Dalyn called at called at 1258 with the report of an animal at Makapuu Beach. When I arrived at 1309 I found Irma (R010) snoozin’ at the base of the hill at Makapuu. I cordoned her off and she remains, at dark. Welcome aboard Dalyn!

　

Surfer posse member Mark called at 1440 with the report of an animal newly arrived to AD. When I arrived at 1445 I found Kea (RN46) galumphing across the water front rocks , moving in and out of tide pools as he moved relentlessly eastward. I followed him on his journey and at 1508 he finally hauled out fronting "the party tree", 300 yds east of the AD wall. There was no one around but I put out signs. Kea has been MIA for 4 days, so it was good to see his chubby little bod again, but I was hoping the AD part of his life was history. Wrong.........................again!! Well I wish we knew where he headed off to... but just happy he's back

　

Team Billand checked in at 0625 with the report of Kermit (R012) fronting #1707, White Plains.  He would depart at 1731.

　

At 1058 they called again with news that Eileen had reported Ewa Girl (RS00) at the Reef Runway.

　

At 1612 fisherman posse member Bob called with the report of "a baby seal" swimming and foraging in Kewalo Basin, as we spoke. He had reported what he is sure was the same animal , at the same location back on 9-29-13. Once again, no pictures but I’ve got a coupla’ cats on U’ilani for sure, since she has been there before, and was just down the road aways at Kaiser Rock Piles last night, just a few flipper flaps away.

 Irma looking pretty

 Kea returns! 

 little chubby boy resting after being absent for a couple of days 

 Kermit

 that's quite a pose

 on the move again.

11-12-13 DB's Dailies: Kaiwi&Kainoa@RI, Irma@KBP, Duke@SC&CW, Kermit&Pohaku@NIM, Kolohe,Benny&RIP@Maili Pt. U'ilani@Rock Piles

At 0708 I found Kaiwi (RK96) snoozin’ at Right Middle Cliff, on Rabbit Island. At 0728 she would be joined by Kainoa (RN04). Both would be gone when I got back to the pier at 1017, but at 1030 Kaiwi hauled out again to RMC, and at 1038 Kainoa would haul out at 3BS. Both remained the rest of the day.

　

At 1105 posse member Kathy called with the report of an U/U at Spitting Cave. She called again at 1130 to advise that she had lost the animal, but then at 1037 she reported that the animal was back. I checked the Kokee Flats and finding nothing arrived at SC at 1152 to find an U/U with 2 red tags, doing 8 minute dives. This appeared to be a subadult animal, with no visible markers and a new , but not brand new coat. After many ups I was still stymied, but ruled out everybody but a possible Duke. I had to depart for another call so I never got an ID.

 

Lesley would call with news from diver Hector Sequin Jr, about an animal he had videoed at China Walls around 1100. The video would confirm the Duke ID, and the timing coincided with the timing of Kathy's losing sight of the animal at SC.

　

I had to depart for a 1243 Hotline call from Lesley. The caller had reported "a small animal with tags" at Kaupo Beach Park. That would prove not to be the case. When I arrived at 1303 I found Irma (R010) cruisin’ in near shore waters at KBP. She would never actually haul out to the beach, but chose to spend the day lolling in shallows 20 ft off shore, and resting out amongst the rocks at the pier end of the beach park. She would depart of her own volition at 1645.

　

This would prove to be Day #4 of no Kea sightings.

　

At 0940 Team Billand advised that they would observing 2 foraging animals off shore of CIP. They would quickly get the Kermit (R012) ID, but it would take until 1043 to confirm that the other animal was Pohaku RO28). They would lose Pohaku but ultimately found Kermit hauled out to Wind Sock at 1108. Kermit would be run off by fishermen at 1643.

　

At 1500 the Billand found Kolohe (RW22), Benny (RE74) & RIP (RR70) at Maili Point.

　

The highlight of the day came with a call from Colleen Heyer at 1723 reporting that she was with U’ilani (RN36) at the tiny bit of sand at Rock Piles, behind the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel / Ala Wai Yacht Habor. TERRIFIC!!! what no pictures?

Just an FYI.  U'ilani was no longer there when I went to adjust ropes and signs at 8pm.  Her resident Aunties and Uncles said she had left around 7:30PM.  Guess it was just a quick visit and rest before moving on.  That suits me JUST FINE........hope she finds some place else to hang out.  We do not need another Waikiki visitor from the monk seal ohana.  aloha, Dana

Irma

 Benny at Maili 

Kolohe at Maili

 Rip at Maili

Kermit and Pohaku 

 Kermit still trying to romance Pohaku

 Kermit at Wind sock

 Where is my woman?

Great series of shots of Kermit on the move

 oh that was exhausting.