Kaimana the monk seal thrives despite repeated hookings

Question: Regarding Rocky the Hawaiian monk seal, it’s wonderful to hear that she’s had another pup, this time at a safer location (808ne.ws/­716sty). Can we also get an update on Kaimana, the pup born last year in Waikiki?

Answer: “Rocky’s most famous daughter, RJ58 (Kaimana), is still regularly sighted and doing well,” said Jolene Lau, a spokeswoman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Kaimana was most recently seen July 4 along Oahu’s Windward coast, Lau said.

Sadly, Kaimana has been hooked four times, once last year and three times in 2018, Lau said. “Three of these hooks were treble hooks, and one was a small circle hook. On the same day she was hooked in 2017, Kaimana was able to toss the hook on her own. NOAA’s scientists removed the hooks in the three 2018 cases,” Lau said.

Kaimana is named for the beach in Waikiki where she was born in late June 2017 and where she frolicked to onlookers’ delight and occasional trepidation until being weaned about seven weeks later. At that point mom Rocky departed, and pup Kaimana was relocated to an undisclosed Oahu beach away from people.

After the move, NOAA tracked Kaimana via a satellite antenna attached to her back, which stayed on for four months, said Lau. “During that time we watched her do exactly what we would expect a growing, weaned pup to do. Initially, she stuck very close to her release site; as she got stronger, her movements expanded over time, and she traveled several miles offshore into deeper water as well as up and down the Windward coast,” Lau said. “While this was not groundbreaking or new information for a young seal, it was exactly what we wanted to see from her: She was adapting to her new area normally.”

Now, to keep track of Kaimana and other monk seals in the main Hawaiian Islands, NOAA relies heavily on calls to the statewide marine mammal reporting hotline, 888-256-9840. “Please call the hotline with any monk seal sightings or any reports of a stranded, injured, hooked or entangled marine mammal,” Lau said.

The Hawaiian monk seal is one of the world’s most endangered marine mammals, with a population of about 1,400, 300 of which live in the main Hawaiian Islands, according to NOAA. They are protected by the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Hawaii law.

On Monday, Rocky gave birth to her 11th pup, which was born — like all but No. 10, Kaimana — on Kauai.

Q: Which is worse, a hurricane watch or a hurricane warning?

A: A warning is more urgent. When one is issued, the storm is expected — rather than possible — and within a shorter time frame. The National Weather Service explains:

“A hurricane watch is issued when a tropical cyclone containing winds of 74 mph or higher poses a possible threat, generally within 48 hours. These winds may be accompanied by storm surge, coastal flooding, and/or river flooding. The watch does not mean that hurricane conditions will occur. It only means that these conditions are possible.

“A hurricane warning is issued when sustained winds of 74 mph or higher associated with a tropical cyclone are expected in 36 hours or less. These winds may be accompanied by storm surge, coastal flooding, and/or river flooding. A hurricane warning can remain in effect when dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves continue, even though winds may be less than hurricane force.”

Hawaii’s hurricane season began June 1 and lasts through Nov. 30.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center tracks storms at www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc. As of deadline Tuesday there were no hurricane watches or warnings posted for Hawaii.

Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.