saving the hawaiian monk seal - Conservation Council for Hawai`i

News from the
Conservation Council
for Hawai‘i
Volume 62, Issues 1 & 2 – Winter & Spring 2012
▲ Benny approaches Rip and M&M, Leeward O‘ahu.
Photo by Barbara Billand
▼
SAVING THE
HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL
Les Welsh
The illegal, intentional killing of endangered Hawaiian
monk seals unfortunately continues with another seal found
dead on a northeastern beach on Kaua‘i in April. Known to
researchers as RA16 and nicknamed “Noho,” the 3-year old
male seal was born and raised in the waters around Kaua‘i.
He was the second monk seal intentionally killed on Kaua‘i
this year. Two other monk seals intentionally killed were
found on Molokai: an adult male, RR64, was
found in November 2011 and a juvenile
female, RT40, in late December.
A fifth killing is under investigation. Locals suspect additional
seals are being killed offshore,
never to be discovered. For
everyone trying to save
these critically endangered
marine mammals, this is
distressing news.
▼
nown for generations as ‘ïlioholoikauaua, or “dog running
in the rough sea,” the Hawaiian monk seal is one of only
three monk seal species in the world. The Caribbean monk seal
was last seen in 1952 and declared extinct in 2008, and the
Mediterranean monk seal hangs by a thread with a wild
population of just 600. The Hawaiian monk seal, with a
population of less than 1,100 and dropping precipitously at 4% a year, is struggling to survive and
needs our help now to avoid a similar fate.
Hawaiian monk seals are at risk from
entanglement in derelict fishing gear and
other marine debris, interaction with
fishing gear and humans, declining
prey stocks, shark predation, sea level
rise, coral bleaching, ocean acidification, and invasive species. Adding to
these threats, vocal resistance to
expanding critical habitat and
recovery actions for the seal has
taken an increasingly ominous turn.
K
Monk seal with sign. Photo courtesy of NOAA
Weaner (pup no longer
nursing), French Frigate Shoals.
Photo by Mark Sullivan
continued
Above left: Co-existing, Po‘ipü, Kaua‘i.
A Critical Year
Even without the intentional
killings, this is a critical year for the
Hawaiian monk seal. Under the federal
Endangered Species Act, critical habitat
was designated for the seal in the 1980s
only in the remote Northwestern
Hawaiian Islands. Nonetheless, the seal
population continues to decline there
because of starvation and, in the French
Frigate Shoals, high pup mortality
resulting primarily from predation by
Galapagos sharks.
In response to a citizens petition,
NOAA has proposed expanding critical
habitat designation to the main Hawaiian
Islands, where an increasing number of
seals reside and there is a higher survival
rate despite increased interactions with
humans. Aggressive recovery actions are
also proposed, including translocating up
to 20 weaned female pups a year from
the NWHI to the main islands for 3 years
to give them a head start in survival
before being returned to the NWHI. But
critical habitat and recovery efforts face
stiff opposition from fishing interests and
others who are misinformed and fear the
seals compete for fish, and see state and
federal protection as intrusion. Monk Seal Myths
As efforts to protect and recover the
monk seal move forward, simmering
resentment among some fishers who
believe critical habitat designation will
curtail their right to fish has been
inflamed by myths about the seal.
Fishers and others opposed to critical
habitat and translocation to the main
islands are making the seal a scapegoat
for declining fish stocks, while the real
reasons for that decline are ignored.
Overfishing, inadequate resource management and enforcement, pollution,
2 • Kölea
Photo by Lisa White
invasive
algae
and other
non-native
species, stream diversions, aquarium collecting, and climate change all negatively impact local fisheries. As for the
monk seals, they are opportunistic feeders and regularly consume a wide variety
of marine organisms.
To make matters worse, some of
those opposed to protecting the seal have
spread misinformation, leading people to
believe that monk seals are not native to
Hawai‘i and instead are invasive species.
Archeological evidence and cultural references, including the Kumulipo
(Hawaiian Creation Chant), which
specifically mentions the monk seal,
indicate the monk seal’s existence in
Hawai‘i for millions of years – far
longer than humans have occupied these
islands.
Working Together
for the Seals
Conservation Council for Hawai‘i
and the National Wildlife Federation are
working with other community and
conservation partners to speak up for the
Hawaiian monk seal and build a constituency for its recovery. Together we
are working to ensure federal funding
for seal recovery efforts, dispel myths
about the seal, and underscore the
importance of the seal as a native
species deserving of Hawaiian and
national pride and full protection
provided by law.
Les Welsh is the National Wildlife
Federation’s Regional
Representative for the Pacific.
Above right: K57, Nu‘alolo Kai, Kaua‘i.
Photo by Kathleen Ho
Left: La‘akea, Turtle Bay, O‘ahu.
Photo by Larry Stamey
NOHO
oho was born at Larsen’s
Beach on Kaua‘i in 2009.
Officially known as RA16, he was
nicknamed “Noho” (homebody) by
Hawaiian kumu Sabra Kauka
because he was loyal to his two or
three haul-out locations on the east
shore of Kaua‘i. He was often seen
playing with other young seals,
tumbling in the shallow water,
hauling out, and returning to the
ocean. For 2 years in a row, Noho
joined a female seal 2 years older
than him, spending every day with
her in the same spot for the duration of her week-long molt. Noho
and another seal who shared his
birthplace, birth year, and birth
month, RA00, or Kaikoa, would
often switch places in the middle
of a day, confusing seal volunteers
on the beach. Five days before he
was found dead in April 2012, he
was seen alive and healthy at the
Keälia scenic lookout in Kapa‘a.
Noho was loved by the east-shore
monk seal volunteer team and the
community it built to care for
the seals in that area.
N
$40,000
REWARD
he Conservation Council for
Hawai‘i, Humane Society of the
United States, Center for Biological
Diversity, Marine Conservation
Institute, and a generous anonymous local donor have offered a
reward up to $40,000 total, or
$10,000 for each case, for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible
for the illegal killing of two
Hawaiian monk seals on Moloka‘i
in November and December 2011,
and two Hawaiian monk seals on
Kaua‘i in January and April 2012.
Intentionally harming or killing
a Hawaiian monk seal is a Class C
felony under state law, punishable
by up to 5 years in prison and a
$50,000 fine. Monk seals are also
protected under the Endangered
Species Act and Marine Mammal
Protection Act, which make it a
crime to kill or harm a Hawaiian
monk seal under federal law as
well. Please kökua. Call 1-855DLNR-TIP (1-855-356-7847) with
any information about these cases.
Your information will be held
in confidence.
T
New Monk Seal Video
Observations of the
Hawaiian Monk Seal
from an Artist’s
Perspective
Caren Loebel-Fried
am an artist and author, and the nature, culture, and legends of Hawai‘i are my
inspirations. The Hawaiian monk seal has recently become my muse, as I am in the
beginning phases of work on the art for the Conservation Council for Hawai‘i’s annual
wildlife educational poster. I have seen monk seals basking on different Hawaiian
shores over the years. Recently, while camping at Kïholo Bay on the Big Island, I was
delighted to see a dark-furred adult foraging in the ocean. He picked his way along the
reef at the shore in the early morning next to our campsite. What a thrill it was to see a
Hawaiian monk seal just doing his thing in the wild.
I have spent time observing Hö‘ailona, the young Hawaiian monk seal who was
adopted late last year by the Waikïkï Aquarium. At the underwater viewing area, as
children came to the glass, he swam to them with curiosity. Over and over, he put his
whiskered, puppy face close to the children’s smiling faces. It was powerful and
touching to see this young Hawaiian monk seal so keen on interacting with the human
children. Hö‘ailona is truly an ambassador for his species. I realized he would make
the perfect model for the CCH poster, reaching all the schools across Hawai‘i. As he
glided through the
water with such grace,
ease, and agility, I
snapped photos and
did quick sketches.
I marveled at his body,
so well adapted to a
liquid environment.
My desire and greatest
challenge will be to
capture in art
Hö‘ailona’s engaging
personality and his
body in motion!
I
Hö‘ailona at the Waikïkï
Aquarium. Photos by Caren
Loebel-Fried
Co-existing,
Hanauma Bay.
Photo by Suzanne Hammer
n May, NOAA National Marine
Fisheries Service produced an
excellent video, “Good Neighbors:
How to Share Hawai‘i’s Beaches with
Endangered Monk Seals,” which can be
viewed at http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/
PRD/prd_good_neighbors.html.
I
Mom and pup alive and well
in 2008, Miloli‘i, Kaua‘i. This
adult female (RK06) was later
shot and killed in 2009. She
was pregnant again and had
previously given birth to four
pups. The perpetrator received
a slap on the wrist (90-day
sentence and $25 processing
fee). The Hawai‘i State
Legislature strengthened state
law in 2010 by making it
a Class C felony, up to 5 years
in prison and a $50,000 fine,
to intentionally harm or kill
a Hawaiian monk seal.
Photo by Kathleen Ho
Kölea • 3
Monk Seals Tied to Land and Sea: A Look at Critical Habitat
Miyoko Sakashita and
Koalani Kaulukukui
he land and sea of ka pae ‘äina o
Hawai‘i (the Hawaiian archipelago)
have been home to our Hawaiian monk
seals for millions of years – even before
the island of Hawai‘i rose from the sea
floor. The ‘äina (land) along our coasts
serves as critical nurseries and resting
places for the seals, and the kai (sea) surrounding our islands provides important
foraging and mating grounds. Our ‘äina
and kai are essential to the survival of
these highly endangered animals. In fact,
our islands are the only place in the world
that provides habitat to sustain them.
Hawaiian monk seals are on a path
toward extinction unless we take steps to
protect them. Accordingly, in 2008
KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental
Alliance, Center for Biological
T
Gathering, Awalua, Läna‘i. Photo by Robin Kaye
Fishing, east O‘ahu. Photo by Alex Connelly
Diversity, and Ocean Conservancy
petitioned the National Marine Fisheries
Service to designate the beaches and
coastal waters around the main
Hawaiian Islands as critical habitat for
the seal. The seals can no longer survive
in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
alone; they are dying from starvation,
and only one of every five pups born
there will survive to adulthood. The
main islands are also needed for their
recovery. With critical habitat designation in the remote and main islands, and
implementation of recovery actions, the
seals have a chance.
Critical habitat is one of the
strongest planning tools available to save
the Hawaiian monk seal from extinction.
Once critical habitat is designated, the
federal Endangered Species Act requires
careful review of federally funded or
permitted projects to determine whether
the activity will destroy or adversely
modify those features of the designated
area that are essential to the seal’s survival and recovery; if so, then the project
must be modified to reduce its impact.
Unless you are planning to undertake a federally funded or permitted
project on the coast or in the ocean, critical habitat will not affect you. You and
your ‘ohana (family) can still go to the
beach, fish, gather, swim, surf, snorkel,
dive, boat, and do all of the things you
enjoy doing there now. Critical habitat
will not limit public access. In fact,
critical habitat designation is not only
essential to the survival of the monk
seal, it will benefit all of us who love
and depend on Hawai‘i’s ‘äina and kai.
There are many reasons why our
monk seals are on the brink of extinction. If we can share the ‘äina and kai of
the main Hawaiian Islands with the seals
– a species that has called ka pae ‘äina
Critical Habitat in a Nutshell
• Critical habitat is essential to the endangered Hawaiian monk seal’s survival – without
the land and sea seals depend on to live, they will go extinct.
• You can still go to the beach, fish, gather, swim, surf, snorkel, dive, boat, and do all of
the things you do now in critical habitat – designation will not restrict public access.
• The main effect of critical habitat is to require greater review of federally funded or
permitted projects to minimize harm to the habitat. The ESA is a federal law – it
makes sense to prohibit federal actions from harming or destroying critical habitat for
endangered species.
• Protecting monk seal critical habitat is good for the seals, good for our marine
resources, and good for everyone who depends on and enjoys the ocean in Hawai‘i.
4 • Kölea
Noa
Leeward
O‘ahu. Photo
by Barbara Billand
home for millions of years – they will
have a chance to survive beyond
our generation.
Miyoko Sakashita is Oceans Director
with the Center for Biological Diversity.
Koalani Kaulukukui is President of
KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental
Alliance and serves on the Board of
Directors of the Conservation Council
for Hawai‘i.
Gathering pa‘akai (salt), Polihua, Läna‘i.
Photo by Robin Kaye
Enjoying Waiämanlo Beach.
Photo by Rick Barboza
Your Call Could
Save a Seal
Fishing with
Aloha
P
lease keep these numbers
handy in your mobile device
or taped to your beach cooler,
and make a call when you see
marine life in distress or witness
marine resource violations. And
please remember never to feed
a monk seal or any other wild
animal. Feeding wild animals
causes them to unlearn their
natural ability to forage in the
wild – threatening their survival.
Wayne Tanaka
ishing has always been an integral
part of life in Hawai‘i, from ancient
Hawaiian times to the present. Informed
by local values and generations of knowledge, Hawai‘i’s fishers have traditionally
shared a strong passion and deep respect
for the ocean and its resources. Today,
many fishers are all too familiar with
modern society’s impact on our marine
environment, having witnessed the effects
of pollution, invasive species, reef-smothering runoff, and illegal poaching on our
once-abundant fisheries.
Fortunately, there is now an
unexpected ally to be found in the
Hawaiian monk seal, whose critical
habitat designation on the main
Hawaiian Islands will ensure an
additional layer of scrutiny over federal
projects that may degrade or destroy
our favorite local fishing spots.
While monk seal sightings in the
main Hawaiian Islands are rare, and
interactions with fishers rarer still, monk
seals and fishers do occasionally interact. Over the past decade, a total of 77
hooking incidents have been reported,
resulting in the tragic loss of two monk
seals recently. Unfortunately, monk
seals cannot be expected to have the
experience or instinct to avoid such
F
1-888-256-9840
Toll-free, 24/7 NOAA hotline
for seal injuries, entanglement,
fishing interactions, and other
incidents.
Photo by Eric Carter
interactions, giving fishers the responsibility to take preventative measures in
line with their traditional values, stewardship, and love for the ocean.
To help fishers with this kuleana,
suggested guidelines – such as using
circle hooks – have been made available
at http://tinyurl.com/monksealfishing.
The guidelines also stress the importance of reporting all fishing interactions, so that resource managers can
develop even more innovative solutions
to help monk seals and fishers alike.
Wayne Tanaka is an attorney, avid fisher,
and the author of “Ho‘ohana aku, Ho‘öla
aku: First steps to averting the tragedy of
the commons in Hawai‘i’s nearshore
fisheries”: http://blog.hawaii.edu/aplpj/
files/2011/11/APLPJ_10.1_ tanaka.pdf
Threatened honu (green sea
turtle) encounters lay gillnet.
Endangered loggerhead killed by longline fish hook.
Photo courtesy of Oceana/Mar Mas
Photo by John Johnson
1-855-DLNR-TIP
(1-855-356-7847)
Confidential reward hotline to
receive information on monk
seal killings for the rewards.
To report monk seal sightings,
please call:
808 220-7802 O‘ahu
808 651-7668 Kaua‘i
808 553-5555 Moloka‘i
808 292-2372 Maui and Läna‘i
808 756-5961 East Hawai‘i
808 987-0765 West Hawai‘i
To report violations of the
Marine Mammal Protection Act
or Endangered Species Act, call
808 541-2727 (O‘ahu) or toll
free 1-800-853-1964.
Predation of young monk seals by
Galapagos sharks at French Frigate Shoals
is a major limiting factor in seal recovery.
Translocating weaned female pups from
the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to the
main islands for 3 years will greatly
increase their chances for long-term
survival. Photo by Mark Sullivan
Kölea • 5
National Wildlife
Federation 76th
Annual Meeting
Julie Leialoha and Koalani Kaulukukui
he annual meeting of the National
Wildlife Federation was held May
18-20, 2012 at the US Fish and Wildlife
National Conservation Training Center
in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Vice
President Julie Leialoha, serving as
Affiliate Representative, Board member
Koalani Kaulukukui as Alternate
Affiliate Representative, and Executive
Director Marjorie Ziegler represented
the Conservation Council for Hawai‘i.
There we joined NWF affiliate
representatives from all over the country
and US territories.
The annual meeting provides a great
opportunity for the affiliates to share stories and lessons learned about their work,
and it was interesting to see that while
the types of issues varied greatly, the lessons could be applied across the board.
While the whirlwind meeting was packed
full of official business and training seminars, there was some downtime. The
training center is exquisite, sitting in the
middle of aspen, cedar, and hemlock
groves along the Potomac River and
teaming with all kinds of wildlife. We
were greeted by beautiful sunny weather
and were able to spend a few hours hiking through the woods on the property,
where we saw historic sites, eagles,
turkey buzzards, and even some baby
foxes. Scents of honeysuckles and wild
strawberries filled the air, and woodpeckers and owls broke the silence. Though
T
National Conservation Training Center,
Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
Photo by Koalani Kaulukukui
our surroundings were very distractive, it
was all business once the annual meeting
got underway.
Our first order of business was the
Regional Roundtable, where we met with
affiliate counterparts from Alaska,
California, and Oregon, and NWF staff
to discuss conservation issues in our
respective areas. We then broke off into
committees to review and make recommendations on resolutions submitted by
NWF affiliates. CCH submitted a resolution entitled “Endangered Hawaiian
Monk Seal Conservation and Recovery,”
which calls upon the President, Congress
and federal agencies to implement policies and funding mechanisms that will
serve to protect Hawaiian Monk seal
habitat and promote the recovery and
reestablishment of the species throughout
its native range. Koa chaired the
Endangered Species Resolution
Committee, which reviewed the monk
seal resolution, while Julie served on the
Climate Change Resolution Committee.
Given the timing of this critical issue and
the recent high-profile killing of monk
Save the Date!
Conservation Council for Hawai‘i’s
2012 Annual Awards and
Membership Meeting will be held
on Saturday, October 6, 2012,
6-9 pm at the Atherton Hälau,
Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum
in Honolulu. For more
information, please contact us
at (808) 593-0255 or
info@conservehi.org.
6 • Kölea
Koa Kaulukukui (left) and Julie Leialoha
represent the Conservation Council for
Hawai‘i at the National Wildlife Federation’s
76th Annual Meeting in Shepherdstown,
West Virginia. Photo by Julie Lalo
seals in the main Hawaiian Islands,
CCH felt it imperative to seek support
from NWF to support expanding critical
habitat to the main islands and full
funding for recovery actions. We thank
NWF affiliates the National Aquarium,
Virgin Islands Conservation Society,
and Sociedad Ornitologica
Puertorriquena for co-sponsoring our
monk seal resolution. The resolution
was unanimously adopted.
In addition to adopting our monk
seal resolution, affiliates also adopted
resolutions on agriculture tile runoff,
emerging leaders in the conservation
movement, reductions and eradication
of invasive feral hogs, adaptation planning for climate change, and population
pressure on natural resources. These
resolutions will help inform NWF conservation policy. Affiliates also elected
NWF board members, participated in
training sessions to help strengthen our
organizations, and met with NWF
leaders and staff.
En route home, the CCH team made
an informal presentation to NWF staff at
the Pacific Regional Center in Seattle on
Hawai‘i’s unique Hawaiian culture, natural history, and wildlife issues pertinent
to CCH. We met the staff and learned
about NWF’s good work in the region.
Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal Conservation and Recovery
Submitted by the Conservation Council
for Hawai‘i, National Aquarium,
Sociedad Ornitologica Puertorriquena,
and the Virgin Islands Conservation
Society
Adopted by the National Wildlife
Federation at its 76th Annual Meeting
on May 19, 2012 in Shepherdstown,
West Virginia
WHEREAS, the Hawaiian monk seal
(Monachus schauinslandi), endemic to
the Hawaiian Islands, is one of the most
endangered marine mammals in the
world and on the brink of extinction
with a current population of approximately 1,100 and declining at a rate of
4% a year; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaiian monk seal,
or ‘ïlioholoikauaua (“dog that runs in the
rough sea”), is referred to in the
Kumulipo (Hawaiian creation chant),
place names, mo‘olelo (stories and legends), and mele (chants) indicating that
it has been present in the islands for
thousands of years; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaiian monk seal is
one of only two remaining monk seal
species in the world; the other being the
Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus
monachus), with an estimated 600 seals
in the wild, and a third monk seal
species – the Caribbean monk seal
(Monachus tropicalis) – which was last
seen in 1952 and officially declared
extinct in 2008; and
WHEREAS, recent proposals to expand
critical habitat for the Hawaiian monk
seal to the main Hawaiian Islands and to
bring as many as 20 female pups a year
to the main islands from the
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands for 3
years has resulted in a backlash of opposition by fishers and others who oppose
federal regulations and programs; and
WHEREAS, immediate, diverse, and
aggressive recovery efforts are needed to
prevent the Hawaiian monk seal from
going extinct within the next few
decades; and
WHEREAS, former National Wildlife
Federation Director, Dr. Steven Lee
Montgomery, is a current member of the
Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Team,
which identified threats to the Hawaiian
monk seal that include: very low survival of juvenile and sub-adult seals due
to starvation related to food limitations;
reduced prey resources in the
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as a
result of climate cycles and other factors; entanglement of seals in marine
debris; heavy predation of juvenile seals
by Galapagos sharks; human interactions
in the main Hawaiian Islands including
fishery interactions, mother-pup disturbance on popular beaches, and exposure
to disease; and loss of haul-out and pupping beaches as a result of erosion,
storms, and sea level rise; and
WHEREAS, the National Wildlife
Federation and its affiliate, Conservation
Council for Hawai‘i, are actively
engaged with community, state, and
national organizations to raise public
awareness and increase legal protection
and funding for recovery actions for the
Hawaiian monk seal and are working to
raise the national visibility of this
species; and
WHEREAS, the National Wildlife
Federation has worked for more than
seven decades to help recover the
nation’s threatened and endangered
Above left: RW22, or Kolohe and mom,
Mokulë‘ia, O‘ahu (not to be confused with
Kaua‘i Kolohe, who survived after recently
biting a fish hook). Photo by John Johnson
Above right: Pöhaku (RO28), Leeward O‘ahu.
Photo by Barbara Billand
species through habitat protection and
restoration, public education and outreach to key constituencies, and active
participation in policy and funding decisions at the local, state, and federal levels of government; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaiian monk seal is
a national wildlife treasure – on par with
the polar bear, bison, sage grouse, and
sandhill crane – and part of a natural
heritage we, as a nation, hope to leave
for our children and generations to
come; and
WHEREAS, the National Wildlife
Federation has consistently promoted a
vision that the nation should protect
existing ecological treasures, restore
damaged ecosystems, and re-establish
and maintain populations of key species;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the National Wildlife
Federation at its 76th Annual Meeting
assembled May 18-20, 2012, in
Shepherdstown, West Virginia, calls
upon the President, Congress and federal
agencies to implement policies and
funding mechanisms that will serve to
protect Hawaiian monk seal habitat and
promote the recovery and reestablishment of the species throughout its native
range; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the
National Wildlife Federation calls on the
President and Congress to provide $7
million or more annually in the federal
budget to fully implement all actions
identified in the National Marine
Fisheries Service’s 2007 Recovery
Plan for the Hawaiian Monk Seal.
Kölea • 7
Mea Makamae – Hö‘ailona
Trisha Kehau Watson Service Pacific Islands Regional Office
Marine Mammal Response Network
awai‘i’s history
flew to Kaua‘i to rescue the abandon
is full of tales
pup from the beach and bring the newof historic births.
born back to O‘ahu. Upon being
Küpuna (elders)
brought to O‘ahu, volunteers and staff
teach of great chiefs
cared for the animal around the clock.
whose births would
When of appropriate age, KP2 was
be marked by
released back into the wild on
prophetic signs.
Moloka‘i, at ‘Ïliopi‘i in Kalawao on the
Mö‘ï KamehaKalaupapa Peninsula. By this time, the
meha’s mother,
young seal had grown accustomed to
Kekuiapoiwa, famously craved the eye
the human contact, and he quickly
of the niuhi (tiger shark) during her
found his way to the more populated
pregnancy, indicating the child would
area of Kaunakakai. The young, charisgrow up to be of great importance and
matic seal quickly befriended children
significance.
and adults alike near the wharf. He
It is within this larger historical and
quickly gained the attention and adoracultural context that a monk seal called
tion of the Moloka‘i community.
Hö‘ailona would be born and named.
Among those who grew fond of the
Born on the island of Kaua‘i, the monk
young seal was long-time activist
seal pup (known then as “KP2” for
Loretta Ritte. Familiar with seals from
“Kaua‘i Pup 2” indicating that it was
her work at Lä‘au Point, where seals
the second monk seal born on the
were common, Ritte would come down
island that year) was abandoned at birth
to the wharf regularly to spend time with
by his mother. Considering that the
the seal. While tension was already
monk seal population across the
growing across the island about the
Hawaiian archipelago continues to
increasing number of seals in the waters
decline at an alarming rate of 4% annuaround Moloka‘i, Ritte believed this parally, an emergency recovery and rescue
ticular seal to be both a sign of the
of the pup was launched from O‘ahu.
return of the Hawaiian monk seals to the
Local volunteers and response staff
main Hawaiian Islands and an opportufrom the National Marine Fisheries
nity to educate more people about the
H
Board Profile: Julie Leialoha
Photo by Evan Tector
ulie Leialoha is Vice President of the
Conservation Council for Hawai‘i. Her
extensive career in natural resource management began as an intern while attending Kamehameha Schools. An avid surfer
and hiker, she turned her love for the outdoors into a commitment to protect
Hawai‘i’s environment. Attending
J
8 • Kölea
Evergreen State College in Olympia,
Washington, she utilized her knowledge
of the ocean to study marine biology and
zooplankton.
Upon completing her science degree,
Julie was recruited by NOAA’s
Endangered Marine Mammal Program in
Honolulu, where she ventured to Laysan
Island and French Frigate Shoals in the
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands long
before the Papahänaumokuäkea Marine
National Monument designation. She
worked on recovering the critically
endangered Hawaiian monk seal – a
conservation imperative she continues
to support to this day.
Her career took a detour into managing native Hawaiian forest when she was
recruited by Hawai‘i Volcanoes National
Park’s iconic botanist and resource manager, Tim Tunison. It was during this
period Julie realized there was a lot more
value of monk seals in Hawai‘i. She
gave this seal his name, “Hö‘ailona,”
meaning “sign” or “symbol.”
Hö‘ailona was eventually removed
from Moloka‘i and sent to the
Mammalian Physiology Lab at the
University of California Santa Cruz,
where Dr. Terrie Williams and her team
worked with the seal to gather critical
information about monk seal physiology and metabolism. Ritte, along with
her husband Walter, had the opportunity
to visit the seal in California. The visit
gave the Moloka‘i community leaders a
chance to discuss collaborative ways to
work with researchers. The group still
hopes to find opportunity to implement
its ideas.
After an extended stay in
California, Hö‘ailona returned to
Hawai‘i, where he currently resides at
the Waikïkï Aquarium. Monk seal advocates hope to find opportunity in the
near future to work with the Aquarium
to use this special seal to better promote monk seal recovery for the entire
species. For regardless of where he
goes, Hö‘ailona will always be
Moloka‘i’s seal, and he will remain a
sign and symbol for a future in which
monk seals and humans co-exist peacefully in Hawai‘i’s waters.
Trisha Kehau Watson is a community
advocate from Honolulu.
www.honuaconsulting.com
to resource management than field work.
She became active in local politics, focusing on environmental issues, including an
unsuccessful bid for Hawai‘i County
Council, losing by only 98 votes. She
intended to run in the next election, but
fate took another turn when she was
severely injured in a helicopter crash while
working in the Manukä Natural Area
Reserve. After 5 years of intense rehabilitation, Julie began working on habitat mitigation for the endangered palila bird on
Mauna Kea, and later, managing the Big
Island Invasive Species Committee. She
currently manages the Wao Kele O Puna
Forest Reserve on the Big Island for the
Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural
Resources and Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
She also serves as an appointed member
of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery
Management Council (WESPAC),
US Department of Commerce.
Conservation
Deserves More
Than 2%
EARTH FRIENDS
CONSERVATION FUND
CONSERVATION’S
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
TM
Kïkäkapu. Photo by Victoria Martocci
Rick Flory
onservation and the environment
receive 2% of all charitable giving
in the United States.* Most people
believe they deserve more. Like the
slogan says, “You can pay me now, or
pay me later.” If we neglect our responsibilities of stewardship for the planet
now, it will cost us more later. The Earth
Friends Challenge supports exceptional
groups known for their efficiency and
effectiveness. Earth Friends challenges
these organizations to raise more money
and recruit more members to protect
wildlife and the environment.
Conservation of threatened animals
and endangered species is vitally important and certainly worth more than 2%.
Our future is worth more than 2%.
Please help raise that number by joining
the Conservation Council for Hawai‘i or
making an extra donation today, and
help CCH meet the 2% Challenge Grant.
When you support a recipient of the
Earth Friends Challenge, your investment is highly leveraged to make
resources go farther. Philanthropic
investment in conservation has a better
return on investment than any other.
It preserves our “lifeboat.”
For more information about the
Earth Friends Conservation Fund, visit
www.earthfriends.com. Thank you.
* Source: Giving USA C
National Wildlife Federation News
Les Welsh
loha everyone. The
National Wildlife
Federation continues to strengthen
its partnership
with our Hawai‘i
affiliate, the Conservation Council for
Hawai‘i, as we work together to protect Hawai‘i’s endangered wildlife
and wild places. Earlier this year,
NWF published an acclaimed article,
“Ancient Partnerships” in National
Wildlife about the key relationship
between native Hawaiian plants and
the birds that pollinate them. And in
just the last 6 months, our efforts to
help protect the Hawaiian monk seal
has included a Ranger Rick adventure
wherein Ranger Rick and his buddies
go surfing and learn about the seal.
We also featured the monk seal as
part of our National Wildlife Week
program on posters, playing cards,
and other educational materials for
keiki and adults. We created a
“Choose Your Cause” webpage to
raise funds specifically for our work
in Hawai‘i on the monk seal’s behalf,
followed by a national membership
appeal and blogs (by yours truly) to
further support this work.
A
We are developing Hawai‘i
messaging for our “Keep the Wild
Alive” campaign – E ho‘omau i ke
ola o nä mea ‘ähiu. And we are very
proud to be a member of the Aloha
Kanaloa Coalition, co-sponsoring a
major public service announcement
for television that ran statewide
during this year’s Merrie Monarch
Festival in April. If you have not seen
it yet, please take a look at
www.alohakanaloacoalition.org.
CCH staff and board members
joined me and many others at NWF’s
annual meeting in May, where we
introduced a policy resolution urging
President Obama and the Congress to
do everything in their power to support critical habitat designation and
fully fund recovery actions for the
seal (see resolution in this issue). We
are also working in Washington, DC
with our partners there to ensure full
recovery funding. A feature article
about the Hawaiian monk seal will
be published in National Wildlife
later this year. Stay tuned.
Right: Students of Hanalei Elementary
School on Kaua‘i enjoy reading about
Ranger Rick’s adventure in Hawai‘i.
Photo by Maka‘ala Ka‘aumoana
Below: Mom and pup, French Frigate Shoals.
Photo by Mark Sullivan
Rick Flory is the Founder and President
of the Earth Friends Conservation Fund.
Kölea • 9
From the Executive Director
Aloha to Sharkbite (T15M), who survived a shark attack, but not a
fish hook. He was humanely euthanized in May of this year due to
an infection and failing health following surgical removal of the fish
hook. Photo by Barbara Billand
News from the Conservation
Council for Hawai‘i
is published by the Conservation Council
for Hawai‘i, a 501(c)(3), nonprofit
environmental organization.
© 2012 Conservation Council for Hawai‘i
Editor: Marjorie Ziegler
Layout & Design: Helga Jervis
Printing: Valenti Print Group
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 2923
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96802
Marjorie Ziegler
loha everyone. Mahalo nui loa
for your continued support of the
Conservation Council for Hawai‘i.
We appreciate your kökua very much.
Together, we can make a positive difference for Hawai‘i’s native plants and animals, and the wild places we all depend
on for our well-being.
In response to the recent monk seal
killings and opposition to proposed
expanded critical habitat and recovery
actions, CCH convened a meeting of nongovernment organizations to coordinate an
appropriate response and community outreach, which led to the formation of a
monk seal working group. As a member of
the new Aloha Kanaloa Coalition, we cosponsored a public service announcement,
which aired on KFVE during the Merrie
Monarch Festival in April, and throughout
May (www.alohakanaloacoalition.org).
Mahalo nui loa to co-sponsors of the PSA,
Koa Kaulukukui, Trisha Kehau Watson,
Matt Yamashita, Rob Kinslow, Walter
Ritte, Karen Holt, Vicky Holt Takamine,
Cal Hoe, Kawai Hoe, KFVE, and everyone else who made the PSA possible.
I also want to thank everyone who
shared their monk seal photos and stories
for this newsletter and educational outreach materials. I learned about Hö‘ialona
– a sweet seal with an amazing story.
Abandoned at birth by his mother, rescuers found him just in time, hungry, and
trying to suckle a rock. He was moved to
Kaua‘i, to Moloka‘i, to San Diego, and
finally to the Waikïkï Aquarium in
Honolulu. At some point, biologists dis-
A
10 • Kölea
covered he had cataracts. Raised by
humans nearly all his life and not able to
see very well, no wonder Hö‘ailona
formed such a strong bond with the people of Moloka‘i.
Your generous support allows us to
continue our advocacy and outreach on
behalf of the Hawaiian monk seal. Please
kökua if you can. We are currently
fundraising to cover our share of the
monk seal reward and PSA, generate new
education and outreach materials, and participate in community events to raise
awareness and support for the seal’s
recovery.
On other fronts, I facilitated a panel
discussion at the Sierra Club’s Forces for
Good Symposium at the State Capitol in
January. The panelists focused on
Governor Abercrombie’s watershed protection initiative, Hahai no ka ua i ka
ululä‘au – The rain follows the forest.
Mahalo nui loa to Guy Kaulukukui and
Emma Yuen of the Hawai‘i Department of
Land and Natural Resources, Christy
Martin of CGAPS (Coordinating Group
on Alien Pest Species), and Mark Fox of
The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i.
CCH also convened a meeting of the
Environmental Legislative Network – an
informal network of environmental and
Native Hawaiian organizations involved in
the state legislative process. ELN participants identified their high-priority bills for
the 2012 session, and prepared for the
onslaught of anticipated bills to exempt
projects from environmental review and
cut administrative corners. Fortunately,
most of these bills were deferred.
Mahalo nui loa to CCH volunteers
CCH Office:
250 Ward Avenue, Suite 220
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96814
Phone/Fax: (808) 593-0255
Email: info@conservehi.org
Website: www.conservehi.org
President: Hannah Springer, Hawai‘i
Vice President: Julie Leialoha,
Hawai‘i
Secretary: Maka‘ala Ka‘aumoana,
Kaua‘i
Treasurer: Rick Barboza, O‘ahu
Directors:
Lida Pigott Burney, Kaua‘i
Koalani Kaulukukui, O‘ahu
Robin Kaye, At-Large (Läna‘i)
Executive Director: Marjorie Ziegler
NWF Regional Representative:
Les Welsh
NWF Region 12 Director:
Julia Reed Zaic
Mindi Allison, La‘akea Carvahlo,
Michelle Higashi, Bianca Isaki, Jenny
Lee, Jonathan Leland, Joel Mark, Jonee
Peters, Amy Sojot, Wayne Tanaka, and
others for mailing CCH wildlife posters to
the schools, and to Wailani Broad, Markus
Faigle, Annette Kaohelaulii, Jenny Lee,
and Wayne Tanaka for manning the CCH
table and conducting fun interactive nature
activities for kids on World Wetlands Day
at Kawainui Marsh and at the “Save
O‘ahu Farmlands” Rally.
And, last but not least, thank you to
the National Wildlife Federation for
awarding CCH a grant to help increase
our capacity and community outreach,
and for partnering with us to help
save the Hawaiian monk seal.
2012 Science Fair Science Fair Winners!
E
ach year, the Conservation Council for Hawai‘i
participates in the Hawai‘i State Science and
Engineering Fair as an agency judge. This year’s fair took
place on April 2-4, 2012 at the Hawai‘i Convention
Center. We reviewed projects that focused on protecting
Hawai‘i’s native plants, animals, and ecosystems, and
provided CCH awards of gift certificates, books, posters,
and educational wildlife products.
Congratulations to these students for their excellent
projects this year!
A Hawaiian monk seal is injured by a
cone that fell off a hagfish bucket
trap used by California and Oregon
fisheries to supply Asian markets with
fake eel skins for accessories,
and food. These cones are
increasingly showing up as
marine debris in Hawai‘i.
Photos by Cynthia Vanderlip
• Rebecca Weible, Castle High School, for her project
“Human Impact on Seagrass” in the Senior Research
Category. Rebecca’s teacher is Karen Kimura, and her
mentors are Mark Heckman and Kimberly Peyton.
• Cana Tagawa, Niu Valley Intermediate School, for her
project “Trash Vortex in the North Pacific” in the Junior
Display Category. Cana’s teacher is Janet Itano
Join CCH Monthly Giving Program
s a member of the Conservation
Council for Hawai‘i, you have the
option of making an automatic donation
of at least $10 to CCH each month by
credit card. By doing so, you will help
to ensure that our conservation work
continues uninterrupted. You will never
have to worry about renewing your
membership because it will never
expire. And you will help us save precious time and resources by not having
to mail renewal notices every year.
Please join the CCH Monthly
Giving Program by providing the
relevant information on the enclosed
remittance envelope and mailing it back
to us. We will automatically charge your
donation to your credit card once a
month. The charge will appear on your
monthly credit card statements. The first
100 members to sign up for the Monthly
Giving Program will receive a Hawaiian
monk seal plushie. It’s that simple.
Mahalo nui loa.
A
CCH is on Facebook
Your purchase supports wildlife conservation in Hawai‘i. Mahalo nui loa!
Order Form
‘I‘iwi and ‘öhi‘a lehua 27-oz water bottle ($30)
______
Amount
Enclosed
$_______
‘I‘iwi and ‘öhi‘a lehua tote bag ($15)
______
$_______
______
$_______
“Hawai‘i The Islands of Life” by Gavan Daws ($30)
______
$_______
“In the Wake of Dreams Reflections of Hawai‘i”
by Paul Berry ($20)
______
$_______
“Hawai‘i Wildlife Viewing Guide” by Jeanne L. Clarke ($20) ______
$_______
‘Ïlioholoikauaua (Hawaiian monk seal) plushie ($12)
______
$_______
‘I‘iwi (Hawaiian scarlet honeycreeper) plushie
with sound ($12)
______
$_______
Nënë (Hawaiian goose) plushie with sound ($12)
______
$_______
Mölï (Laysan albatross) plushie ($12)
______
$_______
Mölï (Laysan albatross) small plushie key chain ($10)
______
$_______
‘Öhi‘a lehua & pueo note cards; 3 of each ($10)
______
$_______
Donation to Conservation Council for Hawai‘i
______
$_______
“The Hawaiian Monk Seal” by Patrick Ching ($20)
______
$_______
“Oxtail Soup for the Island Soul” by Peter S. Adler ($20)
______
$_______
Monk seals and friends note cards – 8 different cards ($15) ______
$_______
(Prices include handling and shipping)
Manu o Kü tote bag ($15)
Quantity
New Items!
Name: ________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address: _______________________________________________________
heck out the Conservation Council
for Hawai‘i on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/pages/ConservationCouncil-for-Hawaii/112107682206461.
C
We hope you like us!
I am paying by: ❐ Check # _________ ❐ Credit Card (Visa or Mastercard only)
Please make check payable to: Conservation Council for Hawai‘i
Credit Card # ___________________________ Expiration Date: ______/_______
Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.
Mail to Conservation Council for Hawai‘i, P.O. Box 2923, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96802
Kölea • 11
Conservation Council for Hawai‘i
Hawai‘i’s Voice for Wildlife
Ko Hawai‘i leo no nä holoholona lohiu
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 1229
HONOLULU,
HAWAII
Conservation Council for Hawai‘i
P.O. Box 2923
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96802
Address Service Requested
Printed in Honolulu on 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper with soy-based ink
“
The killing of Hawaiian monk seals on Moloka‘i
is an indication of a dangerous trend
that must be stopped.
Our elders are saying that these
seals are not Hawaiian.
Our young people are calling
these seals an invasive species
brought in by government. The
seals are now the easy targets
of blame for the many ills
of our depleting fisheries.
These seals are not invasive; they are like
the Hawaiian people who are struggling to
survive in their own lands. Hawaiians need
to see themselves when they see a Hawaiian monk seal.
How we treat the seals is how we can expect to be treated as Hawaiians in Hawai‘i.
Walter Ritte, December 23, 2011, Moloka‘i, Hawai‘i
”
Photo by Kathleen Ho
We need to stand up for the truth:
These seals are not only Hawaiian,
but have been here longer than the
Hawaiians.