July 25, 2026 News from July 23rd

From Marilyn: 

I viewed Rabbit (Manana) Island from Makai Pier from 10:32 am to 12:11 pm. It was mostly sunny with moderate winds. I no longer have access to the Makai Pier lanai because of structural problems so I viewed from next to the container on the Lanikai end of the main pier building. This is really not an ideal viewing location because it's low and I have to stand in the sun.

The NOAA-DOFAW-DLNR team was on the island from 11:06 am to 12:06 pm and landed near the 1BS.

There were 10 or 11 HMS spotted on the island during my viewing session and I think 11.

Out on the rock flats at the Lanikai end of the island was RH76 Kala. I did not knowingly see her pup, PO13, but I suspect it was on the cliff side of her.

At about 10:47 am, I saw what I believe was a weaner haul out and and then move up to RH76 and then behind her. This seal was too big to be a less than 3-week-old nursing pup (PO13). Based on the process of elimination, I think this was RV68. The other three recent weaners were all between the 3BS and SRI.

Between Middle Cliff and SRI there were 8 seals (initially 7, but then the SU arrived while the team was on island).

On the 3BS side of Middle Cliff was RV70 (male): weaner size, light male belly, two red tags.

Closer to the 3BS was RU70: small juvenile size, old coat with lots of green, female belly, two red tags. She seems awfully small.

Just SRI side of the 3BS was a group of three seals. 

RU38: very large for a juvenile, recently molted, female belly and two red tags. 

Then there were two sub-adult to adult seals for which I did not get the IDs from Mark, one female and one male. 

Further in the SRI direction was RV50: weaner size, female belly, 3 tags. Mark applied a N81 bleach on her.

What I think was a Sub-adult Unknown (SU) hauled out between RV50 and PO10 at 10:48 am. It left as the team approached and was followed by one of the seals that had been in the group of three.

The last seal seen and closest to the SRI was weaner PO10, who is now RV52. She is female which I thought, but had been unable to confirm. She of course was the seal farthest away from where the tagging team landed. She entered the water after being tagged and later, after the tagging team was gone, she hauled out from the SRI channel.

June 26, 2026 Friday's Dailies

Todays dailies are brought to you by Marilyn and Team R&B💕

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from 12:37 to 2:42 pm and there were seven seals seen during that time. 

On the back of LPB were four seals, the three weaners and a sub-adult female, at the back near the cliff. The seals moved around some but all stayed in the same general location. The three weaners, RV50, RV68 and RV70 were all there. Marilyn thinks the smallest looking weaner is RV50. The sub-adult female has a yellow-tan female belly, not sure about tags.

Up from the SRI channel were RM26 Nohea and her pup PO10. The pup was some distance from mom, when Marilyn arrived, but soon after it moved close to mom. The pup has been packing on the pounds. PO10 is 4-weeks old today. Marilyn should be able to determine the pup's sex in the next week. The mom and pup were lasr seen at 2:21 pm.

At 2:34 pm, Marilyn believes RU38 hauled out of the RRB side of the SRI channel; she looks considerably larger than her juvenile size, old coat with lots of green and brown and two red tags.

Team R&B started on the west side. They spotted on big fat seal on the rocks. It was RH76 Miss Kala. Although they're always happy to see her, today they were not. She gotta get herself out of this area and somewhere safe like Rabbit Island to have this kid.

Next they headed out to see Rocky RH58 and PO11. When they arrived they were in the keiki pond exploring. Mom was always close by when the pup moved away, she got vocal.... and the pup would hurry back to mom again touching muzzles (kiss)

They saw lots of nursing today. There were lots of folks out since the story with location aired on the news. 

While they were onsite another seal passed by, they weren't able to ID and only got one photo.

After several feeds they went completely out of the zone and unfortunately no volunteer. There were folks from the community helping out.  Team R&B called the hotline. Mom and pup went into the rough water. Whenever Rocky lost sight of the pup she would call out and PO11 would pop up like a mini submarine and immediately head for mom. 

They finally landed and Rocky made sure the pup made it up. Such a good momma.

Rabbit Island

RH76

U/U

Rocky & PO11

June 24, 2026 Wednesday's Dailies

Todays dailies are brought to you by Marilyn and Team R&B💕

Marilyn viewed Rabbit Island from 12:59 t0 2:29 pm and there were nine seals seen during that time.

Ultimately on LPB all of the weaners showed up. The first two of the weaners were one of the males and female RV50. Marilyn hadn't seen RV50 for a couple of days so she was glad to see her. All the weaners seem to be doing fine.

Between the Middle Cliff and the 3BS were RM26 Nohea and her pup PO10. Initially the pup was a short distance from mom, but later the

pup moved close to mom. Marilyn did not see any nursing during her viewing session.

Between the 3BS and SRI were three seals:

RU38 started out closest to the 3BS: old coat with lots of green, female belly and two red tags.

Nearby was a Sub-adult Male: sub-adult size, older brownish coat, male belly, no visible tags.

Next was a Sub-adult Female: sub-adult size, lighter gray coat, female belly, not sure about tags.

Out of the RRB was a Juvenile Female: juvenile size, lots of green, female belly, unsure about tags.

Out on the west side Team R&B spotted a green seal swimming by as they were walking. They followed the seal to the zen area and the seal hauled out. It was RU12 who is looking quite green.

Next they headed over to electric beach where there was a seal on shore. They ID'd RP28 Wakea who is also very green. They noticed he has a hook with 18 inches of line trailing. They made all the necessary calls to report. The hook is visible about 2 inches size, and attached to the right corner of his mouth.

Team R&B got to the pup site a little later and apparently Rocky RH58 and PO11 have moved down the shoreline in the Honolulu direction. There was one volunteer on site. Team R&B noticed there were two unleashed dogs on the beach, but not near the seals.  

DLNR arrived and talked with volunteer. Then one of the dogs came running towards the area. Team R&B called out to the DLNR officer,

and he jumped in his truck. The owner grabbed his dog. Officer warned the people to leash the dogs.

Team R&B did not see any swimming today but they did see a nursing.  They noted the pup is gaining weight. The kid is noticing the rocks and pushing them about, just like a pup playing with a toy. They were waiting for it to play with the slipper that was in the area for the past week.

While talking with a monk seal fan they got a text about a seal at plains. So they headed over and found RT06 on shore near the life guard stand.  There was a zone set up for him. He is looking healthy and plump.

Rabbit Island

RU12

RP28

PO11 and Momma Rocky

RT06