9-3-11 Irma and Ka Iwi Day 23

These first set of pics are from DB on dawn patrol  and then the latter part of the day.

 So good to see the pup using her water wings....

 Irma very cautious with Ka Iwi in the water

 Surfer dudes being totally cool with mom and pup... Thank you guys!

 Having some chow... all that swimming builds up an appetite

 Ka'Iwi doing the back flipper

 Hanging onto big momma

 Karen Rohter sent a couple of shots in from her shift with Irma & Ka Iwi

 Karen mentioned at one point kid was swept out of tide pool.... and shortly after swept back in with another wave.... all while big momma watched closely

 Lesley captures another beautiful sunrise.... Also want to credit Lesley for all the gorgeous sunrise photos.... It's nice to start DB dailies with one of her shots.

 Look at my belly! 

 Look mom i'm swimming

 and swimming

 Whew I need a nap 

 I look just like my momma... more like a mini me

9-2-11 My Day with Irma, Ka Iwi, DB and Lesley

Aloha good people....  
Today I had my shift with big momma and po4.... When I arrived two things were noticeable; 1st - Ka Iwi was close to double her size from last week. I could not believe how much she had grown.... and 2nd - How far to the east they had moved and they were in front of the very spot DB most feared.... the surfers access point.


Pup had just finished feeding and they were in full on snooze mode when I arrived.... I waited a bit and looked over the site and made the decision to start prepping the area to scale down the size of the SPZ. After all we have a big holiday weekend and last thing we need to do is take up too much of the area.  Just as I was finished prepping... DB arrived.... 
( I know he's been moving this fencing quite a bit so it felt good to have made it a wee bit easier for him).... from there he and I continued to relocate the fencing and secure the perimeter.  Just as we were finishing up... Lesley arrived with frozen mocha coffee for us.... OMG sooo sooo good (although I will probably be up until Sunday)... All in all it was a great day at Camp Irma... beautiful scenery, Irma and Ka Iwi and time spent with DB and Lesley.... PRICELESS.


Oh and I got to meet new volunteer Michael.... very cool dude, I look forward to working with him and turning him into a monk seal maniac ~da blog lady~

 How can anyone not love a face like this? 

 Inching her way back to big momma

 Giving little snuggles 

 Still can't get over how much she has grown 

 

9-2-11 Day 22 Irma and Ka Iwi

DB's shots from dawn to afternoon

 so good to see pup in the water... she doesn't get the swim time her cousin @ turtle bay does.... 

 Hauling out by all the coral rocks.... right in front of the surf access... oh Irma what we going to do with you?

 Auntie Lesley along with DB from dawn to afternoon 

 Swim Ka Iwi Swim 

 From yesterday's news... apparently Ka Iwi caught her first moi yesterday... Lesley reported during the patrol at dawn they can see the moi swimming near the flats.

9-2-11 DB Dailies

The Dawn Patrol was on it at 0600 at AD to find Irma (R010) and Ka Iwi snoozin' right where they'd been last night. The did a swim session from 0720 until 0801, hauling out to their starting point, and doing a feed. When I got back midday, they were doing another swim, and once again hauled out the the same starting point. They were snoozin' on my last check of the day . We shortened up the west end land holdings at the site. Irma & Ka Iwi are not now hanging out at the exact point were surfers at Left Point would paddle in and out. Fortunately, the waves are crappy, so nobody is surfing the spot. I spoke with a surfer friend who is a regular there and asked him to spread the word about the hazards associated with Mom and Pup being at that location. We will advise anybody surfing there of the hazards.

I got to Makai Pier at 0846 for an abbreviated Rabbit Island session. I found Kolohe (RW22), Duke (RA12), Nani (RK60), and Sadie (RB12), all in a group , in the Morning Glory, 60 ft left of 1BS. All but Sadie would do a swim/play session at 0907.  I love that all these young'ens hang out together!  As it should be.

Team Billand reported M&M (R020) at Guard Rails Beach in Maili at 0900. They found RIP (RR70) at Maili Point at 0930. At 1550 they reported RI37 at Paradise Cove.

Kolohe, Duke, Nani and Sadie

 Sadie, Nani and Kolohe.... So good to see the kids on Rabbit Island

 M+M R020 @ Maili ... just looking at this makes me want to call a chiropractor

 RIP tag... RR70/71

 What is it with these two?  

 RI37 @ Paradise Cove and she is looking healthy, and has a beautiful new coat.

 Initially one would look at this crowd and think holy crap.... but take a closer look none of them are even looking at RI37....  Wouldn't it be nice if this happened all the time?

9-2-11 R5AY and PO3 Update

Aloha Good People!
Well we have a little girl pup on the North Shore and I have been informed she has a name.... I received the following message from Dana Jones: 
La'akea
The naming of the North Shore pup has happened, somewhat without our knowing about it but similar to last year. This one happened to come from a Hawaiian lady that Karen Turner spoke with on the day of birth. Seems very fitting.  Our cultural liasions have concurred that this is a fine name and gave the thumbs up.

The meaning is: La'akea
n. Sacred light, sacred things of day, as sunshine, knowledge, happiness. Lit., light sacredness. Cf. laʻa uli. E nānā ʻia ka pulapula i ka laʻa kea i ka laʻa uli, may the descendants be cared for in times of light and times of misfortune. ʻO Pele ia aliʻi o Hawaiʻi, he aliʻi no laʻa uli, no laʻa kea (prayer), Pele is a chiefess of Hawaiʻi, chiefess of sacred darkness and of sacred light.

And now I present the following photos of La'akea from Vera and Diane Diga Gabriel from their shifts on Friday;

Funny how when they are not fighting they remain close like mother like daughter

 Is the La'akea blocking Honey girls eyes or slapping her on the head? 

 Honey Girl getting thin.... and La'akea chubby cubby

 Diga come through with full on body shot of  La'akea's full figure

 Rolls and more rolls

 Sunshine, knowledge and happiness... she sure complains a lot.

 GREAT shot of girth and changing color....