May 6, 2019 (part 2) Lesley's Special Ka'ena Update

Another busy morning.

Before heading out to assess the park's roads I stopped by to check on overnighted RN58 "Luana". Just as I was about to leave RK36 "Kauai Kolohe" hauled out and galumphed up to her. There was a little vocalizing, then I witnessed one of the most touching scenes I've ever seen. RK36 "Kauai Kolohe" put his head on the side of RN58 "Luana's" belly while the pup was wiggling inside. They stayed like that for a couple of minutes then she rolled over.

I headed in to the gated area heading towards the NARS. As I was going by Alau Cove I saw a light rock. Stop reverse... that's a seal. Went around an IDed little RK40 "Napua". Hadn't seen her for a couple of weeks. She looks like a raccoon, her first molt must be around the corner. It was her !yr old BDay yesterday so it was a treat to see her today. On my way back she was still there but had moved down towards the waterline.

In the NARS I found RK40 "Holokai" doing the hippo in a tide pool. I stood between 2 rocks and used the zoom to take photos. As DB would say "lo and behold, you got that water tag, done good" - Guess DB is always looking over our shoulders.

After doing my monitoring, I started to head back under some light rain. Stopped to check  RN58 "Luana" and now there were three! Another big surprise RH32 "Ka'ale" had joined the other 2. I hadn't seen him back here for a couple of years! He was voicing around and doing guttural noises. RK36 "Kauai Kolohe" put himself between "Ka'ale" and "Luana"

While I'm writing my report Kimo comes up from surfing and says that 2 of "my kids" were down in front. Stop take a breath pick up camera and down I go.

Seals were RN58 "Luana" on one side bellow our KPt side beach access and RK36 "Kauai Kolohe" was right in front.

This was like a wild dancing chair party.

A little note to show how special today was: out of 5 seals 3 were "Nihoa's" off springs

R912 "Nihoa" or "761":

in 2012 gave birth to RL42 "Leia" (F)

in 2013 gave birth to RN58 "Luana" (F)

in 2016 gave birth to RH32 "Ka'ale" (M)

in 2016 she was found dead

in 2018 Apr 29 RN58 "Luana" gave birth to RK88 "Puna" (M)

in 2018 May 5 RL42 "Leia" gave birth to RK40 "Napua" (F)

I'm going to rest now. More tomorrow 

Thank you soooooo much for sharing this little history....  I know how special it is to KNOW this information, but to experience it in front of you AND know all the connections, well it doesn't get better than that!

 Great shot.... LOL  

5/19/2018 Monk Seal Dailies:

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, ole' posse pal Paul, and photographer Melody.

Team Billand had another unlucky day only finding Kekoa today. They checked several spots and did the Ka'ena West Trek but no luck. I do know they had their faithful helper Miss Olivia today and spent quite a lot of time in traffic. Maybe they'll have more luck tomorrow.


Our ole' posse pal Paul Hasely was out at Ka'ena Point and sent a picture of RIP RR70. Thank you Paul and good to hear from you.

The big news today was Melody early this evening when she arrived home she found Miss Rocky RH58 at Iroquois. This is great because I am sure there are many worried Aunties and Uncles out there. Melody called it into the hotline and a volunteer cam out and verified the Rocky's ID.

So although it seems like it was a really quiet day, there was the usual Ka'ena Point Trek done by Lesley, Marilyn, Tammy, Diane and today they were joined by our seal Pal Val and Molokai Diane. I met them out at play pen early afternoon along with Dana and we attended the spreading of Nihoa R912 ashes.  Nihoa passed a couple of years back, and it's only now that something was pulled together to release her ashes back to the water.  It was very special to be out there today with some dear friends and meeting some new people. ( actually finally putting the face to the names of many).
What really made today a special moment was spreading the ashes of this seal, when both her offspring were just down the road with their new pups. Such is the circle of life. 

Clearly it was a long day for the old friends who spent the evening eating, drinking and sharing, so I will get their updates sometime tomorrow. Stay tuned.

 Kekoa RK72 

 RIP RR70 

 ROCKY ! !!!!!

July 24 ! Happy 5th Birthday RL42

Happy Birthday RL42 born on July 24, 2012.  

She was born at Mokuleia Birth Beach to Nihoa (R912).  

Boy time flies by.... 

She going to be ready to have her own kids soon!

HMMA Update from September 23rd

At 0715 a report came in about a seal at Paradise Cove. Barbara ID'ed Pohaku (RO28). Warren responded. Robyn later responded in the afternoon. Melissa responded. At 0810 Don checked in with a report of Lei Ola (RH48) at the Keiki Pool. At 1051 a report came in about a seal at the Outrigger Canoe Club. Colleen confirmed the Kaiwi (RK96) ID. At 1358 Robyn checked in with a report of a second seal hauling out at Paradise Cove. Later the seal was ID'ed as Benny (RE74). Terri checked in to report Pohaku departed at 1715. Benny departed at 1755.

 It has been a sad day in marine mammal response community. It saddens us to inform you that R912 Nihoa was found dead on Mokuleia Beach on 9/23. Nihoa was found with numerous wounds, some quite large, to her body and head. NOAA took her to their Ford Island facility to conduct a necropsy. We hope to have at least some preliminary finding soon but sometimes it can take several weeks for the lab results. NOAA will inform us as more information is available.

 Nihoa was first observed on the Northwestern Hawaiian island of Nihoa in 2011 and she made her way to Oahu the same year. She had been sighted on the west, north and eastern portions of the island. She had 3 pups. RL42 born in 2012, RN58 Luana in 2013 and RH32 Ka’ale earlier this year - all born in Mokuleia near the Kaena Point parking lot. She was a good mom, protective of her pups, and she was the 2nd documented case of a Northwestern Hawaiian islands animal to have pups in the main Hawaiian islands.

 For those of you that have looked after her over the years, know that no one could have given her more care and attention than you. You have served her well. Her death is very hard, but it also emboldens and strengthens us to continue the good fight for the preservation and recovery of these very special animals. Very nicely said.....  this is important to remember... 

 Melon Headed Whale Update: On 9/17 a distressed whale was reported at Kalama Beach in Kailua. HMMA assisted with response in partnership with NOAA and HPU. HMMA volunteers participated in monitoring, documentation of behavior and public outreach. Unfortunately, due to declining condition of the whale's health, the difficult decision was made by NOAA to euthanize the animal. A Hawaiian cultural practitioner was called to perform a blessing on the whale. HPU will conduct a necropsy and more details from the lab results will be provided as the information becomes available over the next several weeks. A big mahalo to everyone who assisted with response during the last several days.

9/23/2016 DB's Dailies: Kea&Unk J/F@Rabbit Island, Pohaku@Paradise Cove, Kaiwi@Outrigger, RIP&Kerby@30min, Luana@Ka'ena Point, KC@Kauai & Nihoa at Mokuleia

At 0819 I found an Unknown J/F just moving down from the grass, toward the water line, 40 ft right of 3BS, on Rabbit Island. She would enter the water at 0835. No ID could be made.

 Also at 0819 I found what would prove to be Kea (N46) partially visible up in the tall grass behind Seal Rock Inlet on RI.

 On a pan at 1227 I found a newly arrived J/F hauling out to the left end rock flats. Though I believe this to be the same unknown female from this morning, I can’t state that as fact at all.

 Team Billand found Pohaku (RO28) at Paradise Cove, at 0715.

 At 1320 Barbara reported RIP (RR70) at the 30Min mark on the west side KP trail. He would later be joined by Kerby (RW08).

 At 1426 she reported Luana (RN58) at Ka’ena Point.

 At 1641 Colleen advised that Kaiwi (RK96) had been at Outrigger today.

 Val Bloy send along more shots of a newly molted KC (RK28) on Kauai.

 Reliable sources had been making contact this afternoon, but a note from a posse member, stating that KHNL had the story, confirmed what I had been hearing. Nihoa (R912) had been found dead this afternoon at Mokuleia. As is Always the case, it is a verrrrry sad day. Awaiting word on the necropsy results. First identified on Nihoa in 2011, hence the name (thank you Lesley), she then made her way to Oahu. She has given us 3 pups that we are aware of. First , RL42 in 1012, then Luana (RN58) and then Ka’ale (RH32) just this year. Us ol’ dogs that have been with her from the beginning as well as all of you that have spent countless hours with her and her pups, are greatly saddened to say the least.
To all the volunteers who have looked over Nihoa the past couple of years, especially on the west side... I am so sorry for this loss. My heart is with you. <3 

J/F 

 Kaiwi

 Kea

Luana

 pretty much how i felt when i heard about Nihoa

Kerby

 Pohaku

I know .... I saw those people with the silly masks

Rip

Thank you our pal Val for keeping us updated on KC