Friday morning, Hawaiian monk seal Kaiwi wen give birth to one new pup at Kaimana Beach in Waikiki. Officials done roped off Kaiwi and her pup, and da public get remind fo’ stay one respectful distance away from dem as dey bond an’ nurse along da popular shoreline. ??
Da Hawaii Marine Animal Response, one non-profit marine species conservation and response group, get volunteers monitoring da pair to make shua dey stay safe. Dis da second pup Kaiwi wen give birth to at Kaimana Beach, and da fifth pup for 12-year-old Kaiwi overall. ??
Da last time we wen hear bout a pup being born at Kaimana Beach was on April 26, 2021, when Halau Ku Mana students named Kaiwi’s fourth pup Loli’i. Rocky, da celebrity seal who wen become famous for giving birth to one pup at Kaimana in 2017, wen show up at Kaimana Beach dis month aftah giving birth to her 14th pup, Koalani, in July. ??
Da National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) get one collaborative team of members stationed on da beach daily fo’ provide info to da public about Kaiwi and her pup. NOAA also working wit da Honolulu Ocean Safety and Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources fo’ coordinate support fo’ da seals. ??
DLNR’s Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement go check up on Kaimana Beach periodically throughout da nursing period, which should take five to seven weeks. NOAA remind da public fo’ maintain one distance of at least 50 feet from monk seals on land and in water. If da monk seal a mom and pup, da distance should be at least 150 feet. ??
Hawaiian monk seals give birth all year, but da peak pupping season is from March through August, according to NOAA. Monk seals normally nurse their pups for five to seven weeks. Hawaiian monk seals get one endangered status with only about 1,500 left in da wild, and dey protected by state and federal laws. Under Hawaii law, harassing one monk seal is one Class C felony, punishable by fines and imprisonment. ??
So if you stay heading to Kaimana Beach anytime soon, make shua you stay back and give dis new mom and pup duo da space and respect dey deserve! ??♂️
NOW IN ENGLISH
??? Kaimana Beach Welcomes New Monk Seal Pup! ???
On Friday morning, Kaiwi, a Hawaiian monk seal, gave birth to a new pup at Kaimana Beach in Waikiki. Officials have cordoned off the area to ensure the safety of Kaiwi and her pup and remind the public to keep a respectful distance from the pair as they bond and nurse on the popular shoreline. ??
Volunteers from the Hawaii Marine Animal Response, a non-profit organization dedicated to marine species conservation and response, are monitoring the pair to ensure their safety. This is Kaiwi’s second pup born at Kaimana Beach and her fifth pup overall, as the 12-year-old Hawaiian monk seal had previously given birth to three other pups along the Kaiwi coastline, where she was born. ??
The last time a pup was born at Kaimana Beach was on April 26, 2021, when Halau Ku Mana students named Kaiwi’s fourth pup Loli’i. This month, Rocky, the celebrity seal who became famous for giving birth to a pup at Kaimana in 2017, made an appearance at Kaimana Beach after giving birth to her 14th pup, Koalani, in July. ??
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has stationed a collaborative team of members on the beach daily to provide information to the public about Kaiwi and her pup. NOAA is also working with state and local partners, including Honolulu Ocean Safety and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, to coordinate support for the seals. ??
DLNR’s Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement will conduct periodic checks at Kaimana Beach throughout the nursing period, which is expected to last five to seven weeks. NOAA recommends maintaining a distance of at least 50 feet from monk seals on land and in water. For monk seal moms and pups, a distance of at least 150 feet is recommended. ??
According to NOAA, Hawaiian monk seals give birth all year, but peak pupping season is from March through August. Monk seals typically nurse their pups for five to seven weeks. Hawaiian monk seals are an endangered species with only about 1,500 left in the wild and are protected by state and federal laws. Under Hawaii law, harassing a monk seal is considered a Class C felony, punishable by fines and imprisonment. ??
If you plan on visiting Kaimana Beach anytime soon, please remember to stay back and give Kaiwi and her new pup the space and respect they deserve! ??♂️”
