03/13/2022 Sunday Ceremony for Honey Girl and her Pups

Today at Turtle Bay a group gathered to remember Honey Girl and her pups. Dana had possession of the ashes from the her pups and grandchildren.  The turn out was amazing, so many old friends came out today to remember and pay tribute.  

A plaque is now at the Keiki Pool honoring Honey Girl. This to me was so special, so many of us spent hours and years there with her. It will always be her spot, and now it is there in writing. 

We started by returning Ua' Malie and her pup RKD2 ashes to the sea at the

Keiki pool.

Her beloved sister RG03 Ola Loa, brother RHX2 ashes were sent out to sea at the Elbow.  RHX2 was stillborn in 2016 and retrieved by Monk Seal Foundation volunteers and NOAA scientists shortly aftery R5AY gave birth.

Although there is a lot of sadness from the loss, we all shared our memories of the happier times with these animals.  When I looked over this amazing group of people I was honored to be among them. I haven't seen some of these folks for years, and I made sure I gave them lots of hugs.  We are so lucky to have participated in the life of Honey Girl.

04/24/2020 Stay-At-Home (32) Monk Seal Dailies

Aloha good people,
I hope you are are all staying safe.  I open tonight's blog with great sadness to report the passing of Honey Girl R5AY.  There aren't words to express how many of us are feeling the loss of this beautiful female. Over the next couple of days I'll post more about my and other posse's personal feelings  and experiences with her. For now here are a couple of links about the news coverage, as well as a couple of links about her and her life.  I know there are many of you who are feeling the loss, just know you're not alone.

News of her passing:
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/04/24/breaking-news/popular-hawaiian-monk-seal-honey-girl-found-dead-on-windward-oahu-beach/?fbclid=IwAR3y_6yWilsONju7TIlukBtcJ8RO8q-6sRtbV6uYFLGSJm6BT6I6I48DkEY

https://www.kitv.com/story/42053865/after-20-years-wellknown-hawaiian-monk-seal-found-dead-on-windward-oahu-beach#disqus_thread

R5AY's (Honey Girl) Story
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/r5ay-honey-girls-story-struggle-and-salvation-paradise?fbclid=IwAR1zKJ4aBILAhZLD5JtiwsqRvfXscSGg23VzGswQfsqNB-oVkQy0qNlw2co

Other than this very sad news, in the monk seal community life goes on and there are critters hauling out. Thankfully we have some eagle eye posse that spot them while they are out running their errands.
Yesterday Kolohe RW22 was spotted, and if I do say so myself he's looking quite large.

Her very own book... 

Kolohe RW22

 Kalani RN14

RH32 Ka'ale

 RH92 Nalani 

 RL20 Kalua

04/08/2020 Stay-At-Home (16) Wednesday Monk Seal Dailies

Aloha Good People

I hope you all are well and staying safe. Such a strange time we are going through, so much unknown, and yet so much to be grateful for.  I do hope when the worse is behind us, we can look at the mistakes that were made, but more than that what worked. How neighbor reached out to neighbor, how we suddenly realize how important so many of the "essential" workers are.  I make sure I thank ANY and ALL of them whenever I have an opportunity.  

I got a really nice email today from blogger buddy Bobbi :-) She shared with me that her favorite seal is RL20 Kalua. Why because while visiting Oahu she got to see him as a pup. Of course I think for many of us the first "pup" always tugs our heartstrings.  
Bobbi did mention the Honey Girl R5AY was her favorite because she was the first seal she ever saw in the wild, again a first.

My first:
1st seal ever laid eyes on: Chester
1st view of a pup: Kerby born to Ewa Girl on Rabbit Island
1st pup watch Hoku born to 5AY on the north shore & and Kolohe born to KC on the north shore 
( they were born just week or so apart)

Having said that one of my favorites was Makaiwi 4DF.  I joke that I like her because of her tag number, but honestly the first time I met her she was at white plains. Team Billand had been out there so I went to give them a break.  She was so entertaining, did not stay still the entire time I was there. She rolled, she posed and she would put her flippers together like she was praying.  
That girl was all over the island, west side, waikiki, east side... and last we heard she made her way to the Big Island. She did return to Oahu once but then left for the Big Island again. It's been a long time since we had any sighting.

RL20 Kalua  

Makaiwi caught some dinner

 the hug pose 

 blowing bubbles from her nose

 the glamor shot

02/21/2020 Friday Monk Seal Dailes

Today's dailies are brought to you by Lesley, Tammy of Team T&D, posse pal Anissa, Team Billand and posse pal Vicki.  Lesley's Ka'ena update is part two of the dailies.

In yesterday's news department posse pal Vicki was on the North Shore on Thursday. Vicki found the beautiful Ms. Sadie RB12 hauled out in Hauula.

Tammy went out solo today and her only find was R353. As a reminder R353 is a female originally from Niihau and spends a lot of time Kauai. 

Earlier today I had a text message from my old friend Karen B, sending work that Honey Girl was resting on the marine base. Sure enough our posse pal Anissa K. sent an email with pics of the grand dame R5AY Honey Girl resting peacefully.  Thank you ladies!

Team Billand had a very trying day and I do not plan to go into any details, at least not now. BUT I will say, this couple has gone above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to looking after the Hawaiian monk seals.  They are out there day after day putting their passion into action. They have on countless occasions been first on site to see animals in distress and are often the reason some animals have been taken into for care.  They have always had and will continue to have my utmost respect, I can only hope others with recognize their efforts and show them the respect they so deserve.   

At 9:40 am they arrived at a westside location, and did not see any seals at first. Then they heard the grunts and snorts, and were able to find Nalu R3CX with RN14 Kalani to the right at seal inlet. They both finally settled down.

Then RL20 Kalua came in by lower rocks, slowly looking around and eventually hauling up on lower rocks. He remained there the entire day.

While out watching over the seals, they saw whales off shore. Then a duck came flying in and landed on the inlet area.

Late afternoon they found Kawena RH36 hauling out on the rocks at a beach close to the outfall. She was alone and after looking her over she had no new markers and her tags were visible.

Forgot to mention earlier in the day Team Billand found RG22 mid beach on the west side. For those who don't know RG22 was born in 2015 and is the infamous KP2 aka Ho'ailona's little brother.

 Sadie RB12

 R353

 Honey Girl R5AY 

RG22 

R3CX Nalu

 RN14 Kalani

Nalu and Kalani

RL20 Kalua

 beautiful whales

 quacky ducks

 Kawena RH32