Hawaiian monk seal

A man who recently moved to Hawaiʻi from the continental U.S. is being cited for monk seal harassment. His unleashed dog approached an endangered monk seal resting at Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park on the Big Island.

Ke Kai Ola, the Hawaiian monk seal hospital in Kailua-Kona, has been rehabilitating sick and injured seals until they are able to survive in the wild. Two former patients from Ke Kai Ola were found in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands with pups of their own.

The latest highly virulent strain of avian flu appears to have jumped from birds to sea creatures. But the risk to Hawaiʻi’s marine mammals is low, and scientists across the state have good surveillance in place for new outbreaks of diseases.

Rocky was the first Hawaiian monk seal to give birth to pups in Waikīkī in front of tourists. Now the descendants of the endangered monk seal are also breaking records.

A Hawaiian monk seal pup was transported to the Marine Mammal Center’s hospital Ke Kai Ola for critical care. The female pup named Malama was found on Mānana Island — also known as Rabbit Island — off the coast of the eastern end of Oʻahu.

Fourth grade students from Waikīkī Elementary School participated in a naming ceremony for a one-month-old endangered Hawaiian monk seal at Kaimana Beach. The students chose the name Koalani, meaning heavenly warrior.

Officials for the Waikiki Roughwater Swim on Sept. 5 expect a Hawaiian monk seal mom and pup to leave Kaimana Beach in Waikīkī before the race. The monk seals are now being protected 24 hours a day by state officials. The Conversation spoke to Stefan Reinke, race director, about the upcoming event.

Starting Thursday, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources will be enforcing a 50-yard boundary around the Hawaiian monk seal Rocky and her pup at Kaimana Beach in Waikīkī.

A swimmer at Kaimana Beach in Waikīkī was injured after encountering an endangered Hawaiian monk seal with a young pup. Hawaii Marine Animal Response says their workers witnessed a swimmer come into contact with the mother monk seal known as Rocky on Sunday morning.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently announced the Hawaiian monk seal population has grown to more than 1,500.