KAUNAKAKAI >> Molokai community leaders are speaking out against the recent deaths of three Hawaiian monk seals that may have been killed by humans.

A nontagged juvenile male seal was found dead at Pakaa beach on the west of the island in late June, the Maui News reported. A second seal, which was born in Kalaupapa in April, was found dead June 18 on the east end of Molokai.

A third seal was found dead in May.

The deaths are being investigated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Law Enforcement and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement.

Eight monk seal deaths have occurred on Molokai since 2009. They are believed to be caused by human- inflicted trauma, according to NOAA.

State Rep. Lynn DeCoite of Molokai said she is “beyond upset by the recent deaths of monk seals.” Community leaders Walter Ritte, Malia Akutagawa and La‘a Poepoe echoed her sentiment in a joint statement.

“The Kumulipo teaches us that we as people possess ancestral and familial ties to all manifestations of creation, including to the kinolau (physical body form and divine essence) of ocean god Kanaloa,” they said. “The monk seal is kinolau of Kanaloa.”

DeCoite has asked community members to work with authorities to identify the people involved in the monk seal deaths.

Flyers advised of parking crunch at airport

KAHULUI >> Air travelers are being advised that parking spaces at Kahului Airport may be limited due to construction of a new consolidated car rental facility and reconstruction of the public parking lot.

That means flyers should arrive extra early to find parking, get dropped off at the airport, carpool or schedule other means of transportation, according to the state Department of Transportation’s Airports Division.

To provide additional parking for the public, the agency created a separate employee parking area. Approximately 200 parking spaces will become available Sept. 1 as the projects wrap up, DOT said.