Today on Endangered Species Day, we recognize the unique native species that make Hawaiʻi unlike anywhere else on Earth.
From mauka to makai, protecting these plants and animals means protecting the future of our islands.
Swipe to learn how to help if you see a native, endangered species at risk. 🌺🐢🪶
#endangeredspecies #endangeredspeciesday #hawaiianmonkseal #hawaiiangoose #hawksbillturtle
Reminder: Lobster season is closed May through August 🦞
For the full fishing rules and regulations please go to DLNR.Hawaii.gov/dar
#hawaiilobster #hawaii #fishing #lobster
Makai Watch is a community-based program that helps protect Hawaiʻi’s nearshore ocean resources through volunteer training, outreach, and observation efforts.
Each year, DLNR hosts a Coordinators Gathering for Makai Watch communities to share their experiences, successes and ideas for overall growth of the program.
#makaiwatch #hawaii
Each year, the County of Hawaiʻi Department of Parks and Recreation, in collaboration with The Kohala Center, temporarily closes Kahaluʻu Beach Park for a 10-day rest period to protect cauliflower coral during their annual spawning event. These corals reproduce by broadcasting gametes into the water column—a synchronized process that happens just once a year. This year, DAR assisted The Kohala Center’s ReefTeach program and their team of trained observers with spawning observations, helping to document this critical life stage.
Coral reefs in Hawaiʻi have been heavily impacted by marine heatwaves and mass bleaching events over the past decade; during the 2015 event alone, more than 75% of cauliflower corals were lost. In response, ReefTeach has been working to educate the public about the importance of coral ecosystems and how best to protect them.
This year, as the full moon began to wane and just after sunrise, the corals began to spawn. What appears to be cloudy water is actually millions of coral gametes released into the ocean. Within hours, these gametes combine to form swimming larvae, which will eventually settle onto a suitable surface on the reef floor where they grow into new coral recruits. With favorable conditions, these young corals will mature and contribute to the reef for years to come.
#coral #coralspawning #fullmoon #coralbiology
Come join us at the PIOEC for our After Hours Speaker Series featuring a virtual trip to Hōlanikū in Papahānaumokuākea.
Join biologists from DLNR and NOAA for this virtual trip to Hōlanikū, also known as Kure Atoll, located 1,400 miles northwest of Oʻahu at the furthest reaches of Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary. Participants will explore Hōlanikū through a series of 360˚ photos filled with videos of native seabirds and interviews with staff from DLNR and the non-profit Kure Atoll Conservancy about the work they do to maintain our most remote seabird sanctuary. Tiana Bolosan (Wildlife Biologist, DLNR Forestry & Wildlife) and Cascade Meyer (National Marine Sanctuary Foundation) will join Dr. Josh Atwood (Education Specialist, DLNR Forestry & Wildlife) to share their personal experiences working on Hōlanikū and to answer audience questions. Following the presentation, participants will have the opportunity to use a large touch screen to further explore Hōlanikū, and to use a virtual reality headset to step inside 360˚ videos taken on the atoll. This talk is part of the Year of Our Coastal Kuleana, a year-long celebration of Hawaiʻi’s coasts. Learn more at dlnr.hawaii.gov/coasts.
🕟When: May 28th, 5:30-7:30pm
📍: Pacific Islands Ocean Exploration Center; 1 Aloha Tower Dr Suite #1101 (center courtyard), Honolulu, HI 96813
💙For more detailed information and the RSVP form you can visit https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/about/pacific/visitor-center.html, which includes the PIOEC public Google events calendar.
OR Use the link or search “NOAA ONMS visitor centers” and scroll down to the Pacific Islands Region visitor centers.
Photo: DLNR/Kure Atoll Conservancy
#papahanuamokukea #oceanconservation #humpbackwhales #americansamoa
👉 Register: sanctuaries.noaa.gov/about/pacific/visitor-center.html (see Google Calendar at bottom)
Our beloved monk seals have been in the news quite a bit this week.
On Sunday, May 3, 15-year-old Kaiwi (RK96) gave birth to her seventh pup. Kaiwi was born on Oʻahu and has successfully raised pups along the Kaiwi Coast in previous years.
For the next five to seven weeks, the pair will stay together while the pup nurses and gains the necessary strength to survive when mother Kaiwi departs. During this time, the pup is vulnerable and dependent on its mother for survival. Human disturbance during this period can have serious and lasting consequences.
Tuesday, May 5, DLNR DOCARE (Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement) was notified of a case of Monk Seal Harassment in Lahaina, Maui.
In accordance with the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), which provides protections for Hawaiian monk seals, DOCARE will be turning over the state investigation of this incident to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement (NOAA-OLE) for further review and action.
On Wednesday, May 6, DLNR received reports of a deceased monk seal washed ashore in Nānākuli. This seal is believed to be an independent case from those mentioned above. The carcass was retrieved by Hawaiʻi Marine Animal Response and delivered to NOAAʻs Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center for necropsy. There were no apparent signs of trauma or injury upon initial inspection.
Please kōkua by:
- Do not swim near mother and pup, mother monk seals can be aggressive and will bite if they feel their pup is threatened!
- Stay at least 50 feet away from all monk seals
- Remain behind any posted signs, cones, or barriers
- Keep dogs on a leash and well away from seals
- Use an alternate beach during the nursing period
- Stay at least 150 feet away – half the length of a football field – from mothers with pups
- Use a camera zoom or binoculars instead of approaching
Hawaiian monk seals are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and MMPA, as well as state law. It is illegal to disturb, harass, feed, or otherwise harm a monk seal. Violations may result in fines or criminal penalties.
Permit#23459
UPDATE ON INVESTIGATION INTO ROCK THROWN AT MONK SEAL AND BREACHES OF SEAL RESTING AREAS
The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is investigating social media postings on Instagram that appear to show an adult male throwing an object toward a monk seal while it was swimming in the water off the Lahaina shoreline.
In accordance with the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), which provides protections for Hawaiian monk seals, DOCARE will be turning over the state investigation of this incident to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement (NOAA-OLE) for further review and action.
At this time, the alleged suspect has not been criminally charged, so DOCARE will not be releasing any information on his identity.
On Oʻahu, there have been several reports of members of the public breaching the temporary fence at Kaimana Beach that marks the resting area for Kaiwi (RK96), a 15-year-old female monk seal, and her pup. Kaiwi gave birth on the beach May 3.
“This is a very crucial time in the life of this pup, so for these people to be breaching the area and getting close is not a good idea at all,” said DOCARE Chief Jason Redulla.
“If the mother seal perceives any human or pet to be a threat, she may attack. This is what happened during a 2022 encounter between a swimmer and mother seal at Kaimana Beach. The swimmer suffered lacerations to her face, back and arm,” Chief Redulla cautions.
“From past monk-seal-related incidents, we know that some of the NOAA fines have been substantial, totaling several thousand dollars,” added Chief Redulla.
“To keep people and pets safe, and to protect our endangered marine life, we ask the public’s help by showing respect for these animals and following all guidelines for safe viewing.”
More at:
https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2026/05/06/nr26-59/
Hawaiʻi has approximately 40 species of sharks and they are all unique in their own way.
Many of the more common, inshore sharks, especially those of the family Carcharhinidae, are hard to distinguish from each other. But most have some kind of characteristic that helps in identification.
Act 51 makes it illegal to knowingly capture, entangle, or kill a shark in state marine waters. This law applies to all shark species found in Hawaiian Waters.
Can you identify all of the sharks highlighted here?
*This post does not include all shark species in Hawaiʻi
#sharks #sharksofhawaii #wildlife #hawaii #speciesID
A brand new Hawaiian monk seal pup has been born at Kaimana Beach 🦭💙
Officials say the pup was born Sunday evening to Kaiwi, a well-known mom seal that frequents Oʻahu’s south shore. With only about 1,600 Hawaiian monk seals left in the world, every birth is a huge moment for this endangered species.
But this is also a critical time for safety and recovery. The next 5 to 7 weeks are essential as the pup learns to nurse, swim, and survive.
If you visit the area:
• Stay at least 150 feet away from the mom and pup
• Keep dogs far away and leashed
• Stay behind all posted signs and barriers
• Avoid swimming nearby
If you spot a monk seal, call the NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline: 📞 888-256-9840
Mahalo to the teams helping protect these incredible animals every day.
@hawaiimarineanimalresponse@noaafisheries #hawaiianmonkseal #kaimanabeach #Waikiki #Hawaii #endangeredspecies
This weekend, Kaiwi (RK96), a 15-year old Monk Seal, gave birth to her newest pup on Kaimana Beach.
Please kokua by keeping a respectful distance to protect both our community and this endangered species.
You can help by:
- Keep dogs on a leash and well away from seals
- Use an alternate beach during the nursing period
- Stay at least 150 feet away from mothers with pups
- Stay at least 50 feet away from all monk seals
- Remain behind any posted signs, cones or barriers
- Avoid swimming near a mother and pup
- Use a camera zoom or binoculars instead of approaching
Report all sightings of Hawaiian monk seals to the NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline at 888-256-9840.
Legal Protections:
Hawaiian monk seals are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act, as well as state law. It is illegal to disturb, harass, feed or otherwise harm a monk seal. Violations may result in fines or criminal penalties.
Holomua believes that nearshore management grounded in generational knowledge and perspectives can sustain our resources while maintaining lawai‘a traditions.
Guided by community insight, we move towards a new approach for collective and pono management.
Join us for a Talk Story Session on Hawaiʻi Island.
RSVP at the link in bio!
#holomua #holomuamarineinitiative #communitydrivennearshorestewardship #marinestewardship
