June 9, 2024 Sundays' Dailies

Today dailies are brought to you by Marilyn and Team R&B💕 

I got an email from a couple Sunny and Michael. The photo was from Friday of a seal at Dukes Beach Waikiki. If anyone has any clues who this critter is let me know.

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from 12:30 to  2:00 pm. There were six seals seen during that time.

Kala RH76 and PO8 were on the waterline and they went for a 10 minute swim and hauled out almost directly down from the 2BS. They slowly moved a bit more in the Makapuu direction.

Aukai RL12 and her adopted pup P03 were apparently swimming for the first half hour. They finally hauled out at the beach at Middle Cliff at 1:20 and moved up onto the rock flats for a nursing session.  They both seem to be doing fine.

Resting on the top of watefront rocks near 3BS was an Adult Female: smaller adult size and light gray female belly; unsure about tags. She left sometime around 12:55 and was not seen again.

Between 3BS and SRI was a Juvenile Female: juvenile size, older coat, yellowish tan female belly and two red tags.

Team R&B first sighting was at the outfall. They saw a seal doing dives and there were snorkelers in the area. They best they could tell it was an adult - subadult size. They could not make a positive ID or get any decent photos.

Next they made the long walk out at tracks. To their surprise there was a seal resting, who might be ready to molt. Looking very grubby. They ID female KG54, but due to the area they couldn't get great shots. There were dogs on the beach, but thankfully they left RG54 alone.

Much to their surprise there were two seals on the rocks again. Again a difficult spot to get decent

photos but they ID'd Nalu R3CX and Lei Ola RH48. Team R&B did not stay in the area.

Last find was R407 Kawika at Nimitz, he was on his rocks resting.  There were folks out in the water and one couple were getting very hot and heavy. Team R&B left the area.

Rabbit Island

unknown adult on Waikiki Friday by Dukes

KG54

R3CX a d Lei Ola

R3CX

RH48

R407

08/15/2020 Closure Round 2 Day 9 Sunday Monk Seal Dailies

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island today and there were six seals on island today.

On Left Point Beach in a group were 3 seals:

Seal 1 - adult female, 2 tags, new coat, with light female belly. May have a line scar on right shoulder and a scar on lower right lip. This could be the same seal labeled as Seal 1 yesterday.

Seal 2 - adult male I think, 2 tags and an older coat with lots of green. This is probably the seal labeled as Seal 2 yesterday.

Seal 3 - juvenile to subadult female, 2 tags and a new coat with light female belly. And  this is likely the seals labeled as Seal 3 yesterday.

The seals kept moving around and changing positions.

About 50 feet to the Makapuu side of 1BS were two seals:

Seal 4 - adult female with a newer coat, darker female belly than Seals 1 and 3, 2 tags.

Seal 5 - adult male with an older coat, male belly and two tags.  The upside down N11 applied bleach was visible on the seals left side which IDs it as RG32.

About 1:50 pm Seal 6 hauled out about 50 feet Lanikai side of 3BS.  This is definitely a weaner with no tags. Marilyn never saw the belly and was unable to see any applied bleaches. The larger size of this weaner makes her believe it might be PO5.

I received a photo from a woman named Linda who spotted a bathing beauty at Waikiki from her window. The photo isn't perfectly clear, but it looks like a female to me and with a new coat, maybe Kaiwi. But can't say for sure.

Then out on the west side there was RF28 Paakea sleeping on lower rocks. The waves were getting to him and he woke up, moved up. Unfortunately that didn't help and he eventually left.

Nalu R3CX was to the right in a pond, but the waves kept covering him. He tried to come out onto the rocks, a wave came and he couldn't be seen. Then he appeared in the water hole chilling. 

Then unfortunately this unknown seal was run off the beach by two folks.  They were not practicing social distancing at all, 6 ft away from people 50 ft away from seals. This makes me so mad!

weaner

RF28 Paakea

Nalu R3Cx

UU at Yoks   no social distancing!

November 2, 2019 Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Marilyn, Lesley, Posse pal Anissa.  I did get a text from posse pal Paul who was diving today, I was hoping to have some video to show tonight, but maybe tomorrow.  Lesley's Ka'ena update is part 2 of the dailies, but it appears she was having internet issues tonight, in that out of all the photos sent only three were able to download completely.

Posse pal Anissa got word from a friend of hers of a seal in Waikiki. The seal was reported as an unknown/unknown. Unless anyone has any insight as to who this critter could be?

Marilyn went to the pier after her Ka'ena point trek. She observed Rabbit Island from about 2:30 to 4:00 this afternoon.
There were only two seals on the island during her observation. RW22 Kolohe was about 40 feet left of the 3rd blue sign on waterfront rocks. He was ID'd by his partial molt, male belly and NB behind his RFF. He appears to be about 20% molted, mostly upper chest.
Unknown Juvenile or "weaner" about 20 feet right of the 3BS on the sand. Young seal with a non white belly. Marilyn thinks it was a male, but couldn't say for sure. There were two tags visible.
Marilyn had high hopes to see at least one of the seals that had been bleached this week, but no they weren't cooperating at all.

UU @ Waikiki

 Kolohe RW22 

 UJ

April 13, 2019 A Hui Hou Miss Becky

Today Dana released her mom to the ocean in Waikiki where she lived for 25 years.  I would like to extend my sincerest thoughts of support to Dana and family.  I want to let our readers know that Miss Becky was a big contributor watching over the Hawaiian monk seals, as well as the volunteer organizations that were created. 

Back in the day Miss Becky would spend hours on the beaches watching over such critters and doing outreach, as Benny, Irma, Rocky and many others that hauled out in Waikiki.  I met her once hanging out with Benny, she became Becky, my Benny Beach Buddy.

It goes without saying I appreciate all the time that Miss Becky spent caring about the seals! AND that when I heard Rocky showed up today, well it's just a perfect way to say goodbye to Miss Becky! 

 Thank you Rocky for showing up today

2/3/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1) Five Rabbit Island Critters, U/U Waikiki, Kolohe RW22, Kalani RN14, & Ka'ale RH32

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, Gayle, Ka'ena Point Trio Lesley, Marily & Diane (see part 2 of the dailies) and Justin T.

Gayle did not find Right Spot or anyone else in or around Sandy Beach today. But she did spot FIVE critters on Rabbit Island. One photo has two laying side by side, and the other has three spread out. At least two of the five are full sized large adults and there is one small youngen. The other could be sub adult/adult.

Justin T. sent an email letting us know he was at Waikiki today stand up paddle boarding where he spotted a seal about 10:30 am between the Canoe lineups and Queens surf break. The seal went towards Diamond Head and approached a group of snorklers near the jetty by Barefoot Beach Cafe. He alerted them and many of them quickly left the water. The seal briefly went on the sand on the Ewa side of the jetty but then reentered the water swimming toward the Aquarium and Natatorium at 11 am. He was unable to ID the seal, it looked like an adult, he did not notice any injuries, unusual behavior or markings. Justin has seen seals on shore and while diving over the years and can identify several critters on sight, but he felt this was the first time he had seen this one while paddle boarding. (no picture, but good to have the story, thank you Justin)

Meanwhile Team Billand was out at Sunrise, they didn't find any seals but witnessed a gorgeous sunrise. 
Finally heading off to a Leeward Beach they were waiting around starting to think no one was going to show up in this big gigantic waves, covering the area like snow. But after 40 minutes they spotted something and one comes in waves tossing the seal about, but the determined critter landed on  the lower rocks, washed off and came back up. It was RW22 Kolohe, trying to bare down with his fore flippers. Wave after wave just covering him, and he stayed.  
A second seal was spotted surf pounding crashing, looking so dangerous. The second seal was getting tossed about but kept coming. It was RN14 Kalani, he came in looking saw Kolohe and approached slowly. Kolohe awoke, turned to face Kalani and they had a few words but Kalani was determined to haul up with him. In the end they both stayed together in between rocks. Barbara noted it was super amazing what they did baring down with each powerful wave hitting them. Team Billand left the area  but when they returned later both seals remained.
When Team Billand returned later there were two seals side by side, snoozing together in between the rocks, which she assumed was Kolohe and Kalani. BUT..they see Kolohe to the right alone tag showing, so they went back to the two seals, and one is smaller with a whiter belly and tag showing RH32, it's Kaale the little head butt.  All three remained and truly amazing they fought off the rough surf. 

2 critters side by side

 3 critters

Kolohe arrives

 RN14 Kalani arrives

 Kolohe & Kalani

 RH32 Ka'ale & RN14 Kalani

 big white belly Ka'ale