Hawaiian Monk Seal molt (1)

Here's the seal I helped look after last Sunday. (I use the term "help" loosely. It was me and the boys alone with her for about an hour, then two other seasoned volunteers came by and handled the real work as more beach goers came out!) She is molting, or in the process of shedding her coat. This seal is about 2 years old and going through her first molt. From what I understand, seals molt multiple times over their lifetimes.
They are not more susceptible to disease during the molt, but it's a tiring process for them, so a typical seal will stay in the same general area (sleep in the same or nearby spot on an open beach for a week or two) and it is important that they are left alone. When seals molt on popular beaches, volunteers are posted near the seals until sunset, at least on the weekends. She started her molt in Ewa, then made her way west to Nimitz, where she finished her molt. I think in the picture below her molt is roughly 50%. Her new coat is peeking through and you can see how great she will look when she's clear of the old, dirty coat. It sounds silly, but the words "Shiny and clean! Shiny and clean!" kept running through my head. It's from a cartoon or a movie the boys watch...it's bugging me that I can't think of which one right now.
You can't make it out in the picture, but one of the posted signs reads: "Shhhh! Monk Seal sleeping. Quiet please!" I was talking to another volunteer when Robbie runs up to me with an iPod in his hand. Earlier in the week, I'd downloaded the free Vuvuzela app (yes, for fun!). In front of the ropes, he starts playing with the app, which makes the horn sound. Luckily, it could barely be heard over the sound of the waves and the wind. I was able to get him to understand not to talk loudly around the seal, what didn't translate was also not to play with loud, obnoxious iPod games. Oops.

Hawaiian Monk Seal molt (2)

I decided to start a sugar detox this week...

...but only after I finished this! After Sunday morning on the beach, I wanted to study for a few hours before heading to the movies to see Toy Story 3. Cub has been sick again and we both haven't been sleeping well, so I figured I needed something to keep me up during the late afternoon matinee. (I know! So pathetic, yes?) Along with a large soy cafe mocha, I picked up this yummy treat at the coffee house: a Liliko'i Mac Nut Bar. That big white spot in the picture? A blizzard of powdered sugar that my humble iPhone camera wouldn't even attempt to render any color or definition from.
Liliko'i (or passion fruit) is a fruit - and flavor - I first came to know and love in St. Lucia. The variety is a bit different here. From what I remember in St. Lucia, the passion fruit (and resulting juices and jams, etc.) is pink. The Hawaiian liliko'i is pale yellow inside and a little tart, making it a perfect substitute in the classic lemon bar. The mac nut crust didn't do much for me, but on the whole, a good indulgence. Now excuse me if I am a little cranky for the rest of the week; I've already used up my sugar quota.

My new wallpaper

I took a volunteer shift on Nimitz Beach Sunday morning, keeping an eye on a molting monk seal. The boys came along and played on the beach nearby. It was the start of a busy day! More information and pictures to follow this week.

On the train again

Seeing a snapshot like this makes me wonder if wanderlust is inherited, and if so, will the boys get it from me.

More monk seals!

One morning this week I hit the beach for a little walking exercise. And I saw a few monk seals! I recognized one pregnant seal sleeping on the sand near the waves and was able to confirm her ID due to her “bleach” (literally, a number/code bleached on her coat of fur with an over-the-counter hair product). I was so excited to see her and take her picture that it wasn’t until I was walking away that I spotted a second monk seal resting on the reef about 20 yards from her. Wow, I’ve got to get my act together if I want to volunteer with the monk seal response team! I’d be laughed off the beach if I couldn’t see a seal right in front of me.
On a return trip later that morning, I found the two seals close to each other (rising tide and stronger waves probably pushed the other off the reef and onto the sand). It’s one thing to find seals and see them sleeping undisturbed, it’s another to see other folks also on the beach smile in appreciation of these beautiful creatures and give them the space they deserve. The monk seal response team works hard to protect the seals when this isn’t the case, but it’s always nice to be reminded that there are more good folks out there in this world than bad.

Sleepers

Guess which monk seal is pregnant. ;) Yes, both are female. Coincidently, that's Rocky on the left. She had a pup in April. AMAZING to think she was just as big a few months ago!

Look closely

Here's the monk seal I nearly missed!

The end for the Advertiser

Big - yet not surprising - publishing news in Hawaii: Honolulu is now a "one newspaper town." It's been talked about for months, but on Sunday, the Honolulu Advertiser produced its last daily newspaper. The Advertiser was bought out by and merged with the Star-Bulletin to create the Star Advertiser, which launched on Monday. Lots of jobs were lost by long-time journalists and technicians, and the Advertiser web site was to be shut down by Monday.
I feel a little bad about poking fun/being critical of some of their recent work, but it got under my skin so I will share it! A few weeks ago the Honolulu Zoo hosted a Hawaiian Endangered Species Celebration, where local groups and environmental advocates were allowed to host a booth and perform public outreach about local endangered species. The Advertiser used archive photos of native African animals residing at the zoo to promote their story on the event both on the front page (pictured) and three additional pictures on the first page of the Island Life section. Who knows, maybe it is worse than I believe, maybe they are stock photos of random, non-native Hawaiian endangered species that don't even reside at the zoo. The supporting text proudly talks about the native Hawaiian species like the nēnē, koholā (humpback whale), and Mauna Loa silversword plant to be featured at the event. But where are their pictures?? Surely they have some dazzling pictures of these species or any of the other 56 endangered animals and 318 endangered plants, whether archived or from talented, local photographers?

San Jose (CA) Kidney Walk

This year's Kidney Walk is tomorrow, Saturday, June 5th, benefiting the National Kidney Foundation. The San Jose event starts at 10:00 AM and walkers will stroll 3 miles through downtown. My brother-in-law, sister, nephew, and niece will be walking. For one more year (hopefully the last, if not second-to-last!) we will be joining them in spirit and cheering them on from across the Pacific. To donate to the Kidney Foundation, click here.