Kaimana the monk seal OK after recent hooking

Kaimana, the Hawaiian monk seal pup that created a stir in Waikiki last month, was hooked on Labor Day but is doing fine.

Volunteers from Hawaii Marine Animal Response spotted her around noon Monday with a hook and lure hanging from her mouth. She was able to shake off the hook and lure on her own before the monk seal response team from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration arrived, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The NOAA team examined Kaimana, also known as RJ58, and found a small wound but no signs of infection, DLNR officials said in a news release Friday.

Kaimana was hooked with a type of lure used by fisherman casting for fish like papio or ulua, they said. The lure, which had algal growth on it, was most likely not being used at the time she was hooked.

DLNR said the team will continue to monitor the monk seal pup, but reported that she is in excellent condition and behaving normally.

Kaimana drew crowds in June when she was born at Kaimana Beach in Waikiki, the first pup to be born there in decades. After she was weaned from her mother, Rocky, NOAA officials relocated her to a remote, undisclosed beach in August to keep her safe.

Hawaiian monk seals, an endangered species, are protected by both state and federal laws. Members of the public who spot a Hawaiian monk seal in distress can call 888-256-9840.