12/24/2016 Our Christmas Tradition... Written by Dana Jones in 2009. Mahalo!

Hawaiian Monk Seal - Twas the Night Before Christmas 

 Ilio holo I Kau ua ua – Mele Kalikimaka 

 ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all thru the land 

 Not a monk seal was stirring, amidst the white sand 

 The molts were completed, they waited with care 

 In hopes that Mark or Tracy would bleach their new hair 

 The weaners were nestled all snug on the sand 

 While dreaming of tako, a slumber so grand 

 DB on the pier with his scope and his cap 

 Had just settled down to watch them all nap 

 When out on the ocean there arose such a clatter 

 He sprang from his chair to see what was the matter 

 Away to the railing he flew in a dash 

 Tore open the camera shutter, no time for a flash 

 The sun on the crest of incoming waves 

 Like a nautical lantern, what radiance it gave 

 When what to his wondering eyes should reveal 

 One outrigger canoe pulled by Hawaiian Monk seals 

 With a little ole paddler, so lively & quick 

 He knew in a moment it must be St. Nick 

 More rapid than dolphins his courses they came 

 And he whistled and shouted and called them by name 

 On Mojo, Duke, Benny & Chester On Ewa Girl, Irma, Kea & Buster 

 To the top of the volcano to the top of the wall 

 Now swim away, swim away, swim away all 

 As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly 

 When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky 

 So up to Nihoa, Kure & Midway they flew 

 With a sleigh full of herring a tako or two 

And then, in a twinkling, I heard by the reef 

 I gasped and I sputtered in great disbelief 

 As I drew in my head and was turning around 

 St. Nicholas arose from the surf with a bound 

He was dressed all in ti leaves from his head to his toe 

And his tapas a mess from the long hard row 

A bundle of fish he had slung on his back 

 And he looked like a Kahuna, just opening his pack 

His eyes how they twinkled, his dimples how merry 

 His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry 

 His Hawaiian smile was drawn up like a bow 

 And the beard on his chin as white as Mauna Kea’s snow 

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his chore 

 Blessing the waters and monk seals on shore 

 And taking his fingers and pinching his nose 

 Back out in the surf and down under he dove 

 He sprang to his boat, to his team gave a whistle 

 And away they all flew, thru the reef like a missile 

 But I heard him exclaim, as they swam out of sight 

 Mele Kalikimaka to all, and to all a good night. 

 Dana Jones December 2009