MonkSealMania.blogspot.com

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

7-28-2014 An Adorable Little Sibling - Thank you Val

Aloha good people.... this is RF22 - he's KP2s (Ho'Ailona's ) little brother.... don't they look alike (okay just kidding). Thank you Val for sharing... I know this little one probably has a special place in your heart since you were one of the many that put in many many hours looking after his old brother. In so many ways it's come around full circle.... so glad this Momma finally figured out how to take care of her babies. !!

7282014 MM and Rip at White Plains

Thank you Diane T... aka KoOlina Diane.... aka Aloha Diane :-)

these two are still going strong!

7-26-2014 DB's Dailies: U/U @ BH , T990@HB, Duke&Kainoa@R, Kaiwi@LL, RIP, M&M@WP

At 0630 I found an U/U doing 6 minute dives at Blowhole . My dollar is on Buster but ????

At 0756 Jack (at the Bay) called with the report of an animal on the rock flats at the east end of Hanauma Bay. When I arrived at 0815 I found T990 (R4DV). He is one of the “ol’ dudes”, translocated to Molokai in (1994),as an adult. His last and only knows visits to Oahu came on 6-15-14 near the Kahala Hilton, and then again on 6-24-14 in Waikiki. Since then ,according to Tracy, he’d been seen back on Molokai, but today the guy is hangin’ at Hanauma Bay. He would briefly enter the water at 1127, only to haul out again to a spot just 20 ft away from his initial location. Much Mahalos to Jack (at the Bay) for all the hard work. You are most definitely worth many,many times your weight in Guiness !!! We picked up the stuff at closing, and T990 remained. I’ll check him first thing in the morning.

At 1033 I found Duke (RA12) just hauling out 100 ft left of 1BS on Rabbit Island. At 1108 Kainoa (RN04) hauled out not far left of Duke. Duke would notice him and moved to Kainoa’s location. There was lightweight interaction and both entered the water for a swim/play session at 1127.

At 1154 Gayle called with the report of Kaiwi (RK96) at the Lanai Lookout Cove.

At 0651 Team Billand reported RIP (RR70) & M&M (R020) fronting #1708 , White Plains. Mahalos to Jean, Diane Terai & Terri for the hours.

Last , but not least, Happy 3rd Birthday to La’akea (RK82)!!

Kainoa and Duke

it's funny to me to think of Duke as the older one.... oh geesh these kids grow so fast

T990 - I spent some time looking at these photos before posting.... I found myself feeling sad.... Looking at him he's pretty old and before long we'll have to deal with his passing.... it's so bitter sweet to see the elders getting old .... I mean in so many ways it should be celebrated that a Hawaiian monk seal lives out a life to a wonderful age of 25-30+ years.... that's what their suppose to do.

But looking closely you see the wear and tear this old boy has been through.... he has survived the odds... he deserves to be celebrated !

Ah that scar across his chest.... reminds me of an old friend of mine.

Kaiwi at Lanai look out+

MM - she always gives you that over the shoulder look... so sweet

Rip and MM

Happy 3rd Birthday La'akea

Monday, July 28, 2014

7-27-2014 - Kauai News

Once again I just want to say thank you to the Kauai folks for sharing their photos.... and most importantly for all that they do.... They have been a solid group of volunteers for quite sometime and have always done great work when it comes to being monk seal guardians. We don't always get to communicate with one another.... so just want to make sure you all know you're appreciated near and far.

KC and PK5

RF28

oh he's a porker.... a little sharpei seal too

RK36

7-27-2014 DB's Dailies:Kainoa&Duke@RI, Buster@SB, RIP,M&M@WP, RL42@Makua Cliffs

At 0550 I checked Sandy Beach and was happily surprised to see that Kea was gone. Kimo & I picked up the stuff and the adventure continues. There was a swimming head sighted at Crappy Cove, later, but nothing ever came of it.

At 0734 Marilyn called to advise of an adult sized animal foraging at Blowhole.

At 0944 Ocean Safety called with the report of an animal hauling out at the east end of Sandy Beach. When Marilyn & I arrived we found Buster (RV08) lolling in the shallows. Slowly but surely he began swimming the shore line headed back to the west and out the Half Point channel. I’d say the BH animal was probably Buster based on this episode.

At 0844 Marilyn reported Kaiwi (RK96) at China Walls. Melanie confirmed that she was still there on her noon check.

On my 1st look at Rabbit Island at 0730 I found Kainoa (RN04) at 1BS, and at 0820 I found Duke (RA12) at Seal Rock Inlet. On my afternoon recheck at 1218 they were both interacting on the beach and during swim/play sessions.

At 0730 Team Billand reported RIP (RR70) & M&M (R020) just hauling out fronting #1708, White Plains.

At 1334 they found RL42 once again at Makua Cliffs. In the Yesterday’s News department (7-26-14), Kimo Smith did an afternoon check of KP, after Marilyn & Lesley’s session and found RW02 & Temp 402 at the end of the world , and Luana (RN58) at her birth beach, Mokuleia.

Gary Langley sent KC & PK5, as well as shots of Pohaku’s boy, RF28, and just in case you were wondering where the heck RK36 has been of late, Mary Miyashiro sent shots of the dude on Kauai. Thank you Mary & Gary.

Buster