12/28/2018 Monk Seal Dailes

Todays dailies are brought to you by Team Billand.  As most of you experienced today (at least on Oahu) we were socked in with heavy rains, thunder and lightening in a couple of spots.  I always think of the stormy days as good seal days because they usually have the beaches to themselves. (well most of the time).

Team Billand headed over to plains in the dark of morning. They waited for a seal to come up, they had heard Da Benny at been Paradise Cove and they missed him.  He came up last evening at 11 pm and left at 2 am, Team Billand checked at 5:30 nothing there but his wallows and trails.
 
At Plains while checking the cabins they spotted Pohaku RO28 coming in by the fenceline. They hurried down and Robert went to get some signs, but people had already there taking pictures. Team Billand pleaded for one lady to move back, explaining that the seal needed rest, but this woman insisted getting that up close and personal picture.  I have to be honest it is one of the most infuriating situations because it just shows a total lack of respect for the animal.

Pohaku moved higher up and closer to her and the children that were with her. One little kid went running right for the seal. Team Billand called the hotline and reported Pohaku and the concern for the situation.  
Team Billand was finally able to get some signs up with the help of a surfer. They educated folks the best they could until they left at 9 am. At that point there was no volunteer was on site.

The rains were beginning but Team Billand made a quick check at one of the westside beach. There was Kaale RH32 on the rocks, but was immediately washed off and tumbled over to the deeper pond.  He fought back made it back up on the rocks, only to get washed off again.  That is when the skies opened up and Team Billand quickly left and went home to ride out the rain.

After the major rain and flooding slowed they went out one more time and found Kalani RN14 at a Leeward beach. He was on lower rocks in the shallows being consumed but the rising tide. He got washed off and swam up stream, galumphed on to the rocks, into the playboy pond and stayed there while the waves crashed over him. He was there when it started to rain again and Team Billand called it a day.

Pohaku RO28 

 Kaale RH32

 oopsie

 RN14 Kalani