Hawaiiana | The Maui Stamper

Our family has a “spot” on the beach near our home. Sara walked over yesterday morning for a little beach time and quickly sent me a text that someone was sunbathing in our spot:

This is the Hawaiian Monk Seal, specifically an 11 year old female. Since she is a member of an endangered species, there were signs posted around her to remind her adoring public that she needs her space and should not be disturbed. I didn’t think taking a couple of pictures would disturb her, but the surf didn’t cooperate with her snooze:

We’ve had a pretty good swell going on the south shore for the past couple of days, and apparently she didn’t calculate enough distance for herself. She got a good soaking, rolled about 3 times (not easy for a girl her size!) and moved up the beach a little:

It’s a bit of a pity that I didn’t have a video camera on me. Although she is graceful in the water, her locomotion on the sand is what I would call galumphing.

Once she moved past the (present) high tide mark, she settled comfortably on the sand but kept an eye on me:

Volunteers from the community were on the beach providing information about the Hawaiian Monk Seal (and making sure the two-leggers kept their distance.) They assured me that this seal was healthy and had likely selected this spot (Our spot!) for a little R&R while she went through molting. All that lovely green algae growing in her fur will be shed in the next few weeks as she drops that coat and a new one comes in.

I’ll keep you posted.

Every year in August I start watching and listening for an old friend’s return. The Kolea (Pacific Golden Plover) migrate between Hawaii and Alaska every year, arriving here in August and leaving us in April. Their arrival in late summer tells me that soon cooler weather will be coming! This morning on my walk I spotted my first Kolea of the season – actually a pair which is relatively unusual. I recognized their flight as they wheeled over the shore and landed on the lawn of one of the Wailea resorts:

I know it’s not a great photo, but this pair didn’t like me attempting to approach them. Kolea are generally territorial, and some people think they return to the same spot each year. We had one take up residence in our backyard one year, but I didn’t encourage it because of Captain Stupidhead. Cats and owls are Kolea’s main predators.

In addition to their distinctive cry, the Kolea is notable for the dramatic change in appearance it makes while living in Hawaii. When it arrives, it has a subtle speckled pattern to its plumage, but by the time it leaves in the spring, it has a dark underbody and more distinctive appearance. We tell the changing of seasons a little differently here, and the arrival of the Kolea is one of the indications that fall is on the way.