July 3, 2025 Thursday's Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team R&B 💕

Team R&B only had one sighting today at plains. They went to check and once again they found RH48 Lei Ola in the company of an adult male. Still no ID on this mystery man, but at least for the past three days he hasn't left her side.  

Thankfully the lifeguards set up a zone for them, especially with a crowded beach.  We're all hoping they move on tomorrow with the holiday weekend upon us.

As a closing note today marks 8 years that we lost our beloved DB.  I was able to spend some time with Marilyn today where a couple us were able to make a toast. I can not express how grateful I am that he was a part of my life, and he continues to live on in my monk seal ohana.  💖

U/M

RH48 & U/M

RH48 Lei Ola

July 3, 2024 Wednesday's Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team R&B💕

Before I get into the daily report, I have to acknowledge that it was seven years ago today we lost our beloved DB.  Every year since then a small group of us have gathered at the pier to honor his memory and make toast. We were able to do that today with Marilyn. 

Before we raised our cups, Diane, Tammy, Marilyn and I took a look at Rabbit Island. We did see a couple of seals including PO8 who is getting quite chubby.  The camera wasn't set up so there were no photos or official report.

It is hard to believe DB has been gone for seven years, but he still continues to bring us together. I and others will be forever grateful for all he shared with us about the seals, but most importantly the bond he created between us. 

Team R&B started their day at Kahe were they found just one seal alone in between the rocks. It took them a bit but they were able to ID R617.

They spotted another seal from afar so they headed over to the outfall.  When they arrived there were no seals and the fishers told them there were two seals that left about 5 minutes before.

Team R&B headed back to Kahe and were happy to find two seals on the rocks resting. They were Lefty RG28 and Kalua RL20. (most likely the two seals that were at the outfall).

Then Team R&B could hear another seal barking sounding upset. They could see it tossing its head in the air and vocalizing like crazy. They could see gunk on his face (not sure what it is). He continued over to where Lefty and Kalua were resting. By the time Team R&B got over to them both boys left heading west.

The seal in the water was RM31 Kai still grumbling and smelling the air.

They ended their day at the cliffs. They were thrilled to find one more seal. It was the very cute RP30 Puka alone on his side resting peacefully.

Toasting to our beloved DB

R617

RG28 & RL20

RM31 

RP30

07/03/2022 Dedication to our beloved DB

Today a group of us met up with Marilyn and made our annual tribute to DB at Makai Pier.  It's been five years since we lost him and there are so many of us that hold him close to our heart.

Here are Barbara's words and photos:

Today we made the long drive out to Makai Pier after being invited per Marylin.

It RAINED....then it cleared up and we saw a Iwa Bird flying about. 

We had plumeria flowers, some beer to make the cheers of DB's Service and dedication with

monk seals, THAT HE SO LOVED for 16 years.

We also did a happy toast to BENNY, our beloved seal who recently passed on.

The feeling of FRIENDS, Sharing good ole times, talking seal stories was so AWESOME.

Hard to believe its been 5 long years since SENSEI moved on.  He is truly missed and thought of daily.

Iwa

masked boobies

For DB

December 31, 2021 A New Year and An Old Friend

I can't finish the year without wishing our beloved DB aka Seal Whisperer, A Happy Heavenly Birthday!

He will always be a part of this blog and forever be a part of my monk seal ohana. I know there are many many lives he touched and everyone has their loving memories of him.  I am sure if you closed your eyes and pretended you just called him, you can hear his voice "DB Here"  

I often refer to the friendships that have been made through the years watching over the seals. The passion, the knowledge, the fun of learning about the seals came from my Sensei.

In this post I am also including video that was shared with me on social media. I know for a fact DB would have been tickled to view this.  So my friend this is for you!

 The footage was taken by Helge Weissig while diving with Michele Aloha Way.  Thank you for sharing this amazing footage and turning it into an educational piece. 

07/03/2021 Saturday Monk Seal Dailies

Today's dailies are brought to you by Marilyn.   As of this posting I have not heard from Team R&B, thy may have had plans or just crashed from a long day.

A group of us met up with Marilyn this afternoon at the pier. (Diane, Gayle, Tammy, and Tracy)  We gathered to commemorate the passing of DB four years ago today. Marilyn said she was grateful for the lasting friendships formed among DB's posse of monk seal lovers. I will add that some of the best friends I have made has been through this posse. 

There were three seals on Rabbit Island between 1:30 to 2:30.  Along with the seals were three people who arrived on island with two kayaks.

On LPB was an AF#1, adult size, lighter female belly with some green and at least one tag.

At middle cliff area was AF#2, adult size, darker female belly, unsure about tags. AF2 was scared off the beach when one of the three people on island walked near her. She left soon after.

At SRI was who Marilyn believes to be weaner P04. Lighter female belly, did not see any NB or tags. She never changed position during the viewing session.

Rabbit Island will forever be connected to DB

Plumeria tossed into the water

AF#1

AF#2

Weaner P04

04/06/2021 Happy 20th Monk Seal Ohana Day!

 

Here is the story of how it all began, and I am so grateful it did.  The opportunity to be a part of something meaningful and to have a true ohana of monk seal friends just makes it all the better.

THANK YOU MARIILYN FOR SHARING, AND THANK YOU DB !

On Good Friday 2001 which fell on April 6, 2001, DB was at Sandy Beach to see if there was any reason to do some video of bodyboarders which was his passion at the time.  While he was watching the beach, suddenly he saw a Hawaiian Monk Seal (HMS) haul out at Sandy Beach.  In all of his years spent on Hawaiian beaches, he had never seen a HMS before. He called me at work and asked me what he should do.  I searched around and found a Hawaiian Monk Seal phone line. He called it and a short time later, a woman named Margaret Dupree, a NOAA employee called him back. She later joined DB at Sandy Beach. Margaret was an attorney and not a biologist. That's how it all started. The seal was an adult female that DB named LuSeal. I joined him at SB later that day and was amazed to see a HMS, my first although I had been in Hawaii since 1968. Over the next few weeks LuSeal hauled out at Sandy Beach frequently. 

We found out then that there was no volunteer group and really no one to call.  Several weeks into this venture, NOAA sent an officer from OLE (Office of Law Enforcement) on a Sunday to tell us volunteers what we could and could not do. There was a group of about 15 of us listening to him talk, when we saw LuSeal cruising the shore and getting ready to haul out. We had already started setting up a "perimeter" whenever she hauled out. We weren't quite sure what to do when she hauled out when an official was there, but he told us to do what we normally did. Then he left to go get his wife, because this was the first time he had seen a Hawaiian Monk Seal on an Oahu beach. Little did we know at that time that Hawaiian Monk Seals would become DB's passion and that he would manage to accrue a whole posse of folks to help track the HMS on Oahu. I'm forever thankful for this fortuitous circumstance because it introduced me to an amazing critter and has led to a wide circle of friends whom I greatly value.

Marilyn

July 3, 2020 Remembering DB

Today we remembered our beloved DB.  A couple of us joined Marilyn in a celebration of life honoring him with a toast on the 3 year anniversary of his passing.   His presence will forever be on the that pier and Rabbit Island.  Each of us has our own special memory, or story with DB and there are many.  No doubt he and Marilyn had a special relationship and have done so much for the Hawaiian monk seals and the posse who continue to be out there.  Honestly more than anything it is truly a very special connection we have as a result of him. So today we toasted him, tossed some flowers off the pier and shared the love we have for him and each other.

December 31, 2019 Happy Birthday DB

While we are all celebrating the arrival of the new year, a new decade.... I want to wish a very special friend a Happy Birthday! I couldn't end this evening, this year, the last day of this decade without acknowledging this man. He means so much to so many, and I personally want to thank him for all he taught me. BUT what I am most grateful for is: he brought some of the most amazing friendships together. So DB this one is for you....

 Yes this is a 3 year  5 year old bottle of Roque Monk Seal Ale, and yes it is still good.

Merry Christmas 2019 Continuing the Tradition

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 toes

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

Copyright © 2009 D. Jones All rights reserved