September 20, 2025 Saturday's Dailies

Todays dailies are brought to you by Team R&B💕   Marilyn did go to the pier but there were no seals seen on Rabbit Island during her observation.

Team R&B decided to bring the grandkids to visit an old friend at the Aquarium. Yes Ho'ailona aka KP2 is back on island. When they arrived he was sleeping until one of the handlers called out Hoa! He awoke immediately, and turned towards the woman. He is a big boy and just finished his molting.

For Team R&B this brought back so many fond memories of him and being part of the team of care takers in his early years back in 2009.

The handler explained he is almost completely blind and only follows sounds.  They brought out a bucket of fish for him, but he wasn't hungry so he dove into the water.  He will always have a special place in our hearts.

After visiting the aquarium they went over to Kapiolani Park to check out the birds. Their grandson told them the park with the statue of liberty. LOL  Its the statue of Queen Kapiolani, too cute'

They fed the ducks, an egret and some pigeons. They saw about 40 ring necks flying around. A little rain made the birds sly to the trees. 

While in Honolulu they got a text of a seal at plains.  So when they headed back they made their way over. They were happy to find KG89 Huakai high up on shore. The beach was crowded but she was resting peacefully.  They noted she is looking quite large these days, beautiful and healthy.

Lastly they hurried over to pokai to check in on RH76 Kala. There she was about 90% molted looking lovely. Thankfully her molt is moving along so she can head out soon to get some food.

KP2

KG89

RH76

9/4/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: RK72, RH32, RH48

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand. Also a link to the news of today's report of Maka passing at the Waikiki Aquarium. 

I would like to weigh in on the subject of animals in captivity. In a perfect world, I believe animals belong in their natural habitat and let nature do what nature does best. I DO NOT support capturing animals for the purpose of captivity. BUT in some cases such as Maka's and Ho'ailona if neither of these two were brought into the aquarium they would have died for sure. The benefit of having them in captivity, education! 
More people are aware of the critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal because of their visit to the aquarium. The amount of attention KP2 aka Ho'ailona brought to the world gave the aquarium a chance to carry on that message. Maka gave 34 years of greeting people, I thank him and all the folks at the aquarium for looking after him.
https://www.khon2.com/news/local-news/waikiki-aquarium-s-resident-hawaiian-monk-seal-dies/1417732438

Team Billand headed out early as usual and their first stop was not at the outfall. On their way there they saw a seal and was hoping it was in fact Ka'ale RH32. Nope! It was Kekoa Alii RK72 way in and alone. They ID'd him with his broken tag. Welcome back to the west side!  
Later when they returned he was gone from that spot but did spot him foraging doing 5 minute dives.

After leaving Kekoa, Team Billand head out to Ka'ale's Kitchen and upon arrival they spotted a seal but couldn't get an ID right away. Thankfully today there were only 13 fishermen and a volunteer Christina. Finally they see his tag and it's RH32 Ka'ale, he goes out, comes in and then goes way off the jetty and they could no longer see him.

Team Billand headed over to the nearby beach where he is known to haul out. They waited and waited watching the dolphin boats. Then sure enough there he is coming into the area. He hauled up on the rocks, looks about and stayed. He moved enough they could see all his green belly. He is HUGE.  They headed out to look for more critters.

Team Billand headed over to a westside beach close to 10 am and there they found the beautiful Miss Lei Ola. She is nice and plump, looking healthy and yes her hook still visible. Amazing she is functioning and thriving out there with a hook in her mouth for a year. Her tags are showing  with no new markers.
On their afternoon revisit to the area see another seal on the rocks with Lei Ola. It was Kekoa RK72 both there in their own water hole. Kekoa kept a close eye on her but they did not interact.

 Ka'ale RH32

 seriously..... he is huge

 Kekoa RK72 N2 

Kekoa in the afternoon

Lei Ola RH48

 Such a sweet face, 2 years old and spent the last year attached to this hook

Kekoa and Lei Ola

7/26/2018 Monk Seal Dailies: (part 1)

Today's dailies are brought to you by Team Billand, ol' posse pal Vicki, Lesley who was joined by Team T&D.  Lesley's complete Ka'ena Update is part two of the dailies.  I just want to personally give a BIG SHOUT-OUT and KUDOs to Lesley, Tammy & Dave for the hard work they accomplished today. They are my Hero of the day... week... month... !!!  Read part 2 and you will understand why.

Team Billand was out early to meet up with their little problem child. They arrived at the outfall and found Ka'ale RH32 foraging. Today they didn't see him catch anything and then before they knew it he was on his way. They never saw him again for the day.  Maybe he was still bloated from yesterday.

Team Billand didn't have much luck today finding critters. They did the Ka'ena West trek and when they reached the 20 mark and the water was so clear, they had no problem seeing a seal coming in. It was Kalani RN14, he went to the left, towards the middle hung out for a while on the rocks then took off again going west.  They continued to to follow along and at the 30 mark looked like Kalani was going to land but there were folks in the area taking pictures.  Kalani did not stick around, and continued west.  Determined Team Billand kept going and they spotted him at the 40 mark, but this time he just looked and never stopped kept heading west.  ( I think he was cruising for da ladies).

I was thrilled to get an email from our posse pal Vicki, it's been a while since we heard from her!!!  Vicki was in Honolulu today and went to visit another old friend of ours at the Waikiki Aquarium. Ho'ailona aka KP2 is back out for the public to see in his newly cleaned pool!  He's such a sweetie, I'm going to have to go and visit soon.  

While Vicki was in the neighborhood she stopped by Kaimana Beach and found Kaiwi RK96 at the beach. Let's just say she isn't at her prettiest.  Having said that, just wait a couple more days and she will be all shiny and new.  She is obviously going through her annual molt.

RH32 Ka'ale

 RN14 Kalani 

 Ho'ailona aka KP2

 Kaiwi RK96 going to pieces sporting a monk's hairdo 

6/20/2015 DB's Dailies: La'akea,Cass&UU@RI, RIP@Maili Pt., Rocky@Kaimana, Right Spot@PL, RI37@3Tables, R5AY@TB

It was a most interesting Rabbit Island day. Despite, Gayle , Diane T., and I trekking the quadrant today, RI was the only action.

 The highlight of the day began with my arrival to Makai Pier at 0838 for my 2nd check of the day. 30 ft left of 2BS, I found, to my shock & awe...... La’akea (RK82)!!!! This marks the first time she has been documented beyond Kahuku. I began to see that the animal had a bleach, and I assumed it was going to be Kaiwi returned from her possible Turtle Bay experience. It completely floored me when I saw that big , ol’ beautiful N31 bleach on her right shoulder. The majority of the 195 shots I took today, showed her and her perfectly visible N31 bleach, but the photo gods just wouldn’t allow it to show up, save for 1 shot late in the day.

 Also at 0838 I found what remained an U/U through the day. With all my little , bald heart, I wanted to believe that this would be Kaiwi, returned home, and bringing La’akea with her, but alas, I was never able to get an ID on the animal. I saw 2 red tags, but that was all.

 Though I can’t prove it, there has got to be a connection between a possible Kaiwi sighting at Turtle Bay, and the sudden appearance of La’akea to Rabbit Island.

 At 1119 chubby, little Cass (RG06) hauled out to the left end of the beach. She would reenter the water later, but then haul out again to the same location.

 Team Billand got a call from Paradise Cove security about a newly arrived animal there. When then arrived the animal was gone.

 At 0912 the Billands found RIP (RR70) at Maili Point.

 Ocean Safety called at 0918 with the report of an animal newly arrived to 2H life guard stand, I thought that was Queens, but wrong....again. It was Kaimana Beach, just a coupla’ flipper flaps to the east. Melanie Chun confirmed the Rocky(RH58) ID. There had been a haul out to Kaimana last night, to which Todd responded, but no ID was possible in the dark. I’d say it was Rocky, wouldn’t you ?
Melanie reported Rocky’s departure at 1255. Being the above & beyond kinda’ posse member she is, she also stopped by to say Hi! To KP2 & Maka.

 A Dana call at 0957 advised that Right Spot (R016) was at Pipeline today, and that RI37 was once again at 3 Tables, just down the beach.

 At 1042 Diane Gabriel advised that Karen Turner was with R5AY at Turtle Bay today. Thomas Sperandeo shots confirm the ID. I’m sure more shots will follow. No word yet on Ola.

 Cass

 La'akea at Rabbit Island... first time ever

 UU - could it be Kaiwi.... did she bring La'akea back with her from her trip up north 

Rip at Maili Point

 R5AY Honey Girl at Turtle Bay

 Rocky at Kaimana

 she'll be heading for the lobby pretty soon

 KP2 at the aquarium 

 maka snoozing