An endangered Hawaiian monk seal that usually has pups on the less congested island of Kauai gave birth this week in the crowded beach area of Waikiki near the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel, to the delight of scores of visitors.

A roped-off barrier about 50 feet from the mom and pup has been established to provide privacy — and to keep onlookers from angering the new mother.

The mother, named Rocky — who is also known as RH58 — gave birth late Wednesday night or Thursday morning along Kaimana Beach in a sandy area near the hotel, marine officials said.

Angela Amlin, the Hawaiian monk seal recovery coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Pacific Islands Regional Office, said she’s unaware of any other monk seal giving birth in Waikiki, which can create problems for onlookers.

“A nursing mom can be very protective,” Amlin said.

Nursing Hawaiian monk seals have been known to attack people. A monk seal that was nursing a pup on a beach on Kauai swam out and bit a male snorkeler, officials said.

On Thursday, Rocky barked and chased a plastic bag that blew too close to her and her pup, state marine education specialist Kristen Kelly said.

Rocky is expected to nurse her pup on the beach for about 40 days. The pup could spend several weeks in the area preparing for a longer trip of its own.

“It’s pretty awesome, especially seeing an endangered species,” said Allison Lapkowicz of West Virginia, who is honeymooning with her husband, Jeff.

Rhode Island resident Mary Madden said, “We’ve been to Hawaii and never seen a monk seal. … It’s fantastic.”

State law exceeds federal laws in protecting marine mammals and endangered species, imposing a fine of up to $50,000 and five years in prison for anyone who harms a monk seal. It’s also a felony under state law to harass, harm or kill any endangered or threatened species.

Amlin said Rocky, born in 2000 on Kauai, began frequenting the Waikiki area in 2002. Amlin called Rocky a “good mom” who has given birth to nine pups on Kauai, most of whom are continuing to survive in the wild.

“She tends to rear really healthy pups,” Amlin said.

Monk seals can give birth at any time within their yearly cycle but tend to pup more during the summer, she said.

The population was steadily declining until three years ago. Federal officials said that since 2013 the number of monk seals has increased by 3 percent annually from 1,100 to 1,400.

In the main Hawaiian Islands monk seals total about 300, with 40 to 50 on Oahu, including Rabbit Island.

Hawaiian monk seals spend about two-thirds of their life in the ocean. During the one-third of their life that they spend on land, the mothers give birth.

While federal officials once recommended a public standoff distance of 50 yards for a monk seal, the standoff distance on land has been evolving based on experience and is now closer to 50 feet, Amlin said.

But she warned swimmers and snorkelers to be vigilant and give the mother seal a wide berth while in the ocean.

Amlin said the busy visitor traffic on the beach requires balancing different factors. The distance between the seals and public could change if the mother seal begins barking and expressing discomfort.

“Kaimana is going to be more challenging,” Amlin said.

Click here to see more photos.