HMMA Update from July 29th

At 0220 a call came in about a seal hauling out on the Kahuku side of Turtle Bay Resort. Diane checked in to report Holokai (RG40). At 1709 a report came in about a seal swimming near a fishermen's line. The seal later hauled but no ID could be made.

 Jon checked in with some updates from Alan Davis. The Science Center team was gearing up for Kawena's vaccination and tagging. At 0930 an unknown adult seal came to the beach at the east border of the SPZ. The seal did not haul out. No ID or sex could be determined. The seal continued to swim slowly along the shore continually looking towards the tide pool where Kawena was swimming around. It got to about 50’ from the tide pool and turned towards open water and swam away. Total time in the shallows was less than 5 minutes. Kawena was successfully tagged H36/H37. Permanent ID is now RH36.

 Later in the day during Brad’s shift around 1630 he reported that a seal had come to shore again near the east border of the Kawena SPZ and swam along the shore. The seal then turned out to open sea swam a bit away from shore and then headed towards the tide pool where Kawena was swimming. The adult enter the tide pool and the two seals interacted for 20 minutes. There were no observed or audible vocalization, no attempted nursing behavior nor fighting. The unknown seal departed and swam out to open water.

 Carola checked in via email following her shift in Mokuleia with Ka'ale (RH32). There was some concerned about some fishing debris that was near Ka'ale's mouth but the tide came and washed the gear away. At 1400 RW02 hauled out on the beach and approached Ka'ale. RW02 checked out the pup and then went back into the water. Ka'ale vocalized and RW02 came back out again for a few minutes. RW02 went back into the water and Ka'ale followed him. Pup vocalized several times, they interacted for a brief time, then the RW02 left. Ka'ale went into the pool remained there.

 Karen T. also checked in via email with some photos from her morning shift with Ua Maile (RT10) and PO5. Mom and pup spent a lot of time in the pool swimming. There was a brief nursing and resting then they went back in the water. Karen was able to take a belly shot but the sandy belly makes it a bit difficult to determine the sex.

RG40 Holokai

 Ka'ale RH32

 sticks and stones may break my bones.... not!

 Ka'ale RH32 and RW02

 Ua Malie RT10 and PO5

 Hard to say.... boy or girl... but plenty of belly rolls

7/29/2016 DB's Dailies: Kawena@AD, U/F,Aukai,Cass,Kainoa,RG32,Kala,Benny&Kea@Rabbit Island, Ua Malie&PO5@Turtle Bay

Kawena would get her bling today, but it was quite a wait. Marilyn was at AD on her early morning check and found her in a tide pool at 0530. The NOAA gang arrived but it would be a waiting game. She finally hauled out and Tracy called at 1023 to advise that Kawena is now officially, RH36/37.

 At 0842 I found the U/F, I believe to be (but can not prove)Sadie , left of 1BS on Rabbit Island. She would move down and enter the water at 1010 and haul out again ate 1227 fronting 3BS.

 At 0848 I found a gang of 4 hangin’ out left of Seal Rock Inlet. They would prove to be Kaino(RN04), Aukai (RL12), Cass(RG06) & RG32). All would enter the water , and all would haul out again in the afternoon.

 At 1203 on a pan I found Kala (RH76) hauling out to the left rock flat. She would galumph to the sand and remained there the rest of the day.

 At 1243 my U/F was snoozin’ at 3BS, when Kainoa & RG32 hauled out to bother her. It was short lived however because right behind them there came the Benny (RE74), who immediately took over and ran them both off, only to depart himself a bit later.

 On a pan at 1343 I found an animal near the vegetation line, newly arrived behind Seal Rock Inlet. To my complete surprise, at 1347 that beautiful , white, right fore flipper came into view. After a 10 day absence, Kea (RN46) was back !

 Dr. Tom sent an Ua Malie&PO5 shot from the Keiki Pool at Turtle Bay at 1058. Thank you Tom !

Hail hail the gang's all here,,,, Benny, RG32, UF and Kainoa

 Kainoa, Aukai, Cass and RG32 

 RG32, U/F and Kainoa 

 UF and Benny

 UF wish we had confirmation... I know it must drive DB crazy, even though it's most likely Nani or Sadie

 Ua Malie and PO5

Holokai

 So nice there were kids helping to protect Holokai

 jeepers creepers he is green!

 Ua Malie and PO5

 do what i do

11/29/2015 Ua Malie and Holokai at Turtle Bay Together

Thank you to RJ Strayhorn for sending in these pics of Mom and son together again

 Sunday in the Park with Holokai and Ua Maile

 the green green grass of home ( hmmm beach at turtle bay)  

7/20/2015 DB's Dailies: Aukai&Cass@RI, Pohaku&Benny@KoOlina, Kimo Kai@Nanakai, Kekoa@Maili Pt., Nihoa@Maipalaoa, RI37@Hauula, 7-20-15 Y/N, Ua,PO3&La'akea@TB,

Once again the SE quadrant was Monk Seal free based on passes by both Gayle & myself, until well into my 2nd look at Rabbit Island, when, on a routine pan, at 1005 I found what would prove to be Aukai (RL12) out on the left end rock flats where she remained the rest of the day.

 The Billands are back from their Big Island adventure, and sure enough there was an increase in west side activity. At 0626 the Billands advised that Linda had called from KoOlina reporting 2 unknowns at L#2. They were gone when the Billands arrived at 0730.

 At 0900 the Billands found Kimo Kai (RT12) at Nanakai Beach, Maili. He was gone on their 1411 recheck.

 At 1121 they found Kekoa (RK72) at Maili Point.

 At 1121 they got another call about 2 animals at L#2, KoOlina. At 1208 they confirmed Pohaku (RO28)&Benny (RE74). At some point they would depart.

 At 1028 they Billands advised that Debbie was with Nihoa (R912) at Maipalaoa Canal.

 At 1439 the Billands reported Pohaku&Benny at Lagoon#3, KoOlina. Dana checked in at 1449 with the report of RI37, once again in Hauula.

 In the Yesterday’s News department, Diane Terai sent photos from yesterday’s evening session at Turtle Bay, where she found Ua Malie&PO3, and La’akea (RK82).

 Yesterday's news Ua and PO3 

 La'akea

kimo kai 

 Kekoa at maili

 Nihoa

Pohaku and Benny at Paradise Cove

 herrrreeee's Benny ! no doubt about it

La'akea

 Ua and PO3 

 a little shake and bake

 i got sand in my eye

 nothing a swim won't cure

 some one who was totally disrespectful of the pupping site....