DB Post Sunday February 17th

A Rabbit Island Kinda' Day

I didn't get out to the SW quadrant. My day was spent in the SE quadrant, with RIP intially at Spitting Cave, but just passing through, and the with the Rabbit Island cast which was Mojo, RB08, Sadie, Temp 403, Buster, and RIP.

This evening I received shots from the Billands who stopped at White Plains at 16:00. They found Kermit and Irma. Aloha, DB

DB Post - Saturday February 16, 2008

I sure picked the wrong day NOT to got to the SW quadrant. Fortunately , the best Posse People I could ever hope to work with, came through with sightings and photos. Thanks to the Sparks' and Billands being on it !

Kermit spent the day amongst the hordes of White Plains weekends, on the main beach, over near the left side fence. Irma was a little smarter and found a more secluded spot down in front of the last cottage, at the west end perimeter fence.

2AW was apparently just a bit further on down, in the Kalaeloa Campgrounds area.

Chester once again popped up, this time at Nimitz Beach Park which is the far west end of Kalaeloa Beach, across from the Coast Guard Base.

While the Sparks and Billands were doing all the work, I was sitting on my substantial butt, watching Mojo, Temp 403, Buster and RIP snooze all day on Rabbit Island. Aloha, DB

Kermit & Irma @ White Plains, 2AW @ Kalaeloa Campgrounds, Chester @ Nimitz Beach Park, et.al., 2-15-08

DB Post - Friday February 15, 2008

The Rabbit Island cast was RB08, Temp 403, Sadie, Mojo and RIP. I found Temp 406 at Kalaeloa Campgrounds and Irma on a patch of reef just off shore also at Kalaeloa Beach. The Billands found Kermit at Nanakuli, and anothere U/U swimming by. Aloha, DB

Know of any school groups willing to support Hawaiian Monk Seal State Mammal

SB 2464 and SB 2465 - Hawaiian Monk Seal Day and the monk seal as the State Mammal bills are in review and we are hoping for a hearing on February 26th , 2008.

If there any school groups that want to come to the hearing that would be a very powerful public awareness tool.

Talking points for letters: - Hawaiian monk seals are critically endangered and extinction is feared if we don't raise awareness for the recovery of the species. - The Humpback whale is the state “marine mammal” and we need the Hawaiian monk seal to be the “state mammal” to help raise public consciousness. Both species need our continued protection - Fact that the Humpback whale is increasing at 7% year and monk seals are declining at 4% per year.

Carol Fukunaga
11th Senatorial District
Hawaii State Capitol, Room 216
415 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
phone 808-586-6890; fax 808-586-6899
e-mail: senfukunaga@Capitol.hawaii.gov <mailto:senfukunaga@Capitol.hawaii.gov>

Gary L. Hooser
Majority Leader
7th Senatorial District
Hawai'i State Capitol, Room 214
415 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone 808-586-6030; Fax 808-586-6031 From Kauai, toll free 274-3141 + 66030
E-mail senhooser@Capitol.hawaii.gov <mailto:senhooser@Capitol.hawaii.gov>

Jill N. Tokuda
24th Senatorial District
Hawaii State Capitol, Room 218
415 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96813 phone 808-587-7215; fax 808-587-7220
E-mail sentokuda@Capitol.hawaii.gov <mailto:sentokuda@Capitol.hawaii.gov>

Wednesday February 13th - DB Post

There was no Rabbit Island cast today , nor anywhere else in the SE quadrant.

I decided to do a check of SW quadrant locations. I found a very pregnant Ewa Girl approximately 1/2 mile east of the Barber's Point Beach Park in Campbell Industrial Park at 0918.



At 1300 I found Chester on the beach at Iroquois Point, behind quarters # 5201. He had been there since 0800 this morning.

Next I found Benny on the beach at White Plains, fronting cottage #1706. The occupants offered an additional piece of info. Apparently Benny had been there yesterday also, in the company of Irma.

Lastly , at 1353 I found Kermit in Ewa Beach, at Oneula Beach Park. Fishermen said he'd been there when they arrived at 1000.

WRITE LETTERS SUPPORT 'Hawaiian Monk Seal Day'

Write letters of support for “Hawaiian Monk Seal Day” and to make the Hawaiian monk seal the Hawaii State Mammal

Background: Hawaiian monk seals are in crisis. There are only around 1200 of them alive today and their total population is in decline! This animal is very special to Hawaii. It is native to our islands – only one of two native mammals. It doesn’t live anywhere else in the world – only here in Hawaii! A small and potentially growing number of monk seals reside and are born in the main Hawaiian Islands. Fewer than 100 seals have been sighted here. However, despite the small increase of animals here in the main Hawaiian Islands, the total population across their entire range, which includes the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, is in decline.
Threats to monk seals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands include
· lack of food,
· entanglement in marine debris, and
· shark attacks.
Seals do not appear to lack food in the main Hawaiian Islands, yet face additional threats including:
· human disturbance,
· infectious diseases,
· fishery interactions, and
· habitat loss.

Everyone must play a part in helping the Hawaiian monk seal survive extinction!

What can you do?: In an effort to gain more public awareness and support, NOAA Fisheries and supporting partners are hoping to create an official “Hawaiian Monk Seal Day” as well as designate the Hawaiian monk seal as the Hawaii state mammal. There are bills currently waiting to be heard in the Senate that can make these hopes become reality. WE NEED YOUR HELP! We need you to write letters of support telling the Senators waiting to hear these bills why you think we should have a “Hawaiian Monk Seal Day” and why the Hawaiian monk seal should be our State Mammal. You can use the template on the back of this sheet or write an original letter. The senate hearing will be happening within the next week or two, so these must be sent in or dropped off as soon as possible! Please use the following address:

Senator Carol Fukanaga
Hawaii State Capitol, Rm. 216
415 South Beretania St.
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

Mahalo and thank you for doing you part to help the Hawaiian monk seal!

NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Region

EXAMPLE:

(school name)
(address)
(date)

Dear Senator Fukanaga.

Please hear the bills SB 2464 and SB 2465 to create a “Hawaiian Monk Seal Day” and to make the Hawaiian monk seal our State Mammal. These bills are important because:

(Give reasons in your own words):
a) there are only 1200 of the left in the world! These bills would help make people more aware of the endangered status of the monk seal and the crisis situation it is in.
b) the Hawaiian monk seal is special to Hawaii and doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world.
c) the Hawaiian monk seal is endemic to Hawaii and shouldn’t be allowed to go extinct.
d) there are fewer seals being born and their population is declining.
e) it would help call attention to the things that threaten them like marine debris, infectious diseases and human disturbance.
f) people are naturally fascinated by seals.
g) they are a part of our marine ecosystem and `aina.
h) more monk seals are spending time in populated areas and people need to know how to behave around them.
i) other


(closing,)

(name)

DB's Tuesday Feb 12th Post

The Rabbit Island cast was Temp 403, Mojo, and Sadie. Buster was feeding at Spitting Cave, but it was so wild and wooly I couldn't get a decent shot. I found Kermit over in the SW quadrant at the Kalaeloa Campgrounds. There was an animal reported at Campbell Industrial Park, which I was reponding to, but a haul out at SB took precedence, so I never found out who the Campbells animal was. The bummer was that the Sandy Beach animal was a false alarm, but I didn't find that out until I got back to civilization. Aloha, DB

DB's Monday February 11th - Post

It was a day jam packed with critters. The Rabbit Island cast was RIP, little brother Mojo, Temp 403, and Buster, all in a gang at the left end, and the girls RB08 and Sadie , each by themselves toward the middle and right end of the beach.

DLNR and Fish & Wildlife folks were on Rabbit Island today, and provided a little factiod of interesting info. There had been another animal there when they arrived at 0900. It had a noticeale scar on the right chest, and one of their team said "That's Chester.........I saw him on the beach in Kailua "!!!!!

The day got more interesting when I went to Leahi Beach Park, at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki, at 1716, and found Chester there on his tiny little piece of sand, totally inaccessible.

The only other critter was Rocky, who showed up at Hanauma Bay around 1500, hauling out to the left side rock flats. Aloha, DB

Rocky at Hanauma Bay Monday 2/11/08

Rocky's close up... now this "gal" looks healthy.

She was named after Rocky Raccoon (Beatle's Song) because she was one week away from molting, and from afar (Rabbit Island), she had dark circles around her eyes, commonly referred to as "Raccoon Eyes".

Chester out at Leahi Beach Park.

Chester still looking thin.

(*pictures comments added by Donna)

Meet DB The Seal Whisper!!

Aoha All;
Most of us know him as DB.... Well did you know...



My Day #1 is not all that unlike the Day #1 of all of you in the Kailua Mob. On Good Friday of 2001 I found a Monk Seal hauling out at my feet, and was only vaguely aware that there was such a thing, and even more vaguely aware that there was a number that one is supposed to call. Thankfully, Marilyn, my UH , Marine Biologist wife did all the phone work, and we got her reported, only to find out exactly what all of you found out.

There ain't no calvary comin' and you either turn around and walk away, or DO SOMETHING !

The intervening years have brought me from that Day #1 to an island wide cast of characters that make each and everyday a new adventure. Aloha, DB

Marine Mammal Response Volunteer Training

Want to become a volunteer?

Want to become part of the Hawaiian Monk Seal Response Team?

Opportunities:

February 26 Tuesday Ewa Beach Library 6-8 p.m.

February 28 Thursday Waikiki Aquarium 6-8 p.m.

February 29 Friday Kailua Recreation Center 6-8 p.m.

March 1st Saturday Waimea Falls Park 10 a.m. - Noon

GET INVOLVED!!!!

Hawaii State Mammal - ? Hawaiian Monk Seal

All local supporters of naming the Hawaiian Monk Seal as the State Mammal & designating a day in April as Monk Seal Day, please READ THE FOLLOWING:

VERY IMPORTANT: The House Committee on Tourism and Culture hasn't scheduled these bills yet for a public hearing.
PHONE CALLS MONDAY to: Committee Chair Ryan Yamane, 586-6150 Vice Chair Joey Manahan, 586-6010
message: "HB 2625 and 2626" relating to Hawaiian Monk seals passed the House Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs on Friday. These bills also have been assigned to the House Committee on Tourism and Culture. I am calling as a strong supporter of both bills, and would like to know if Representative (____________) has scheduled these bills for a public hearing yet."
Request that the office call you back, leave your name and phone number. Also, it is always right and proper to follow up with thanks when our electeds do what we ask, or at least try. So please, your offerings of mahalo to: House Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs Commiteee chairs for raising and passing the Day and Desigantion bills: Chair Ito, 586-8470; Vice Chair Karamatsu, 586-8490.

This link is to the Hawaii State Legislature Bills Status & Documents:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/docs/status/searchstatus.asp?query=Hawaiian+Monk+Seal&currpage=1

**this message was emailed to me from a volunteer in support of the Bills.

Meet KC

Donna & Patricia take a field trip onto the Marine Base in Kaneohe to check on this beautiful creature. DB informs us her name is KC for 'Kaaawa Critter' or since she seems to like Kaneohe she can be 'Kaneohe Critter'. Either way she is a beauty! Question is... is she pregnant. We have to wait and see since females carry for 11 months.

DB's Notes Friday Feb 8th 2008

The Rabbit Island cast was Buster, little sister Sadie, and Temp 403. Chester was once again waiting for me at the Blowhole end of SB. He had apparently overnighted. He began at th vegetation line, but moved down mid day to cool off, and at end of day went back up to the vegetation line. He was still there when I called it a day at 1845. Shawn came out this afternoon and gave Chester his new N17 bleach, w/ girdle.

Kathy Brown sent photos of Kermit from Kalaeloa, and Mary Jay reported that a kid she'd spoken with had reported a probable Irma at White Plains. Aloha, DB

Chester looking slim. That boy needs to fatten up.

DB's Notes Saturday Feb 9th 2008

The Rabbit Island crew was Sadie, and RIP. At 1130 I found a male, Temp 403 , foraging at SC, and while observing him, Chester made an appearance from stage right, just passing through. I went to the Kokee flats, further into Maunalua Bay, at 1200, and just like a actually have a clue, I found Chester at the spot I call "Irma's Grotto" 300 yds to the left of the Kokee access path. Aloha, DB

Chester out at Spitting Cove or is it Irma's Grotto? DB knows.

DB reports seeing this male known as Temp 403 swimming out by Spitting Cave.

Meet Chester

Chester is an adult male Hawaiian Monk Seal, first identified as an adult on Kauai in 2001. His most frequent locations on Oahu are from Iroquois Point, Barber's Point, Ko Olina Resort. Although, he has been seen on the marine corp base in Kaneohe, and pulled up on Kailua Beach in January 08 for his annual molt.

Chester earned his name for the large scar across his chest. How he obtained the scar is unknown, but whatever happened it was a while back.

January 1st 2008, Chester unknowningly brought a group of volunteers together that had never met before, and yet they were able to coordinate and organize a round the clock watch of him. Through the guidance of NOAA (National Oceanic Atomspheric Administration) National Marine Fisheries Service, we were able to help educate the general public, most who had never seen a monk seal before. We kept him safe from the unleashed dogs and provided information for all the curious on lookers. Many of Kailua's residents got to know Chester during his annual molt. He stayed in and around Kailua's shoreline for 26 days, before he headed back to his old haunts.

Hawaiian Monk Seal

Hawaiian Monk Seals are critically endangered and only exist in the Hawaiian Archipelago. They are distributed among discrete populations at eight locations from Nihoa I to Kure Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, a distance of 1,240 miles. A small number of individuals are seen in the main Hawaiian Islands and, over the past decade, births have been documented on all the main islands except Lanai. Approxiamately 90% of the Hawaiian monk seals remain at their natal island for life; the remaining 10% move between major population centers.