Hawaii’s shores are brimming with wildlife, from breaching whales to honu sunbathing on the sand. But only one marine animal sighting consistently makes the news. That’s because spotting a Hawaiian monk seal is a rare and special occurrence.
Federal and state laws have helped protect the endangered species, whose numbers are steadily growing. Conservation efforts have also played a crucial role in the population increase. The Marine Mammal Center’s hospital and conservation program, Ke Kai Ola, is among the nonprofit organizations at the forefront. The only hospital dedicated to saving Hawaiian monk seals is now celebrating 10 years of hard work.
Population milestone
When the Marine Mammal Center opened Ke Kai Ola in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island in 2014, the Hawaiian monk seal population was less than 1,100 and declining by 6% a year.
“They were steadily approaching extinction, and there was no suitable long-term rehabilitation facility,” says Sophie Whoriskey, DVM, associate director of Hawaii conservation medicine at the Marine Mammal Center. “We knew something had to be done, and we stepped in to help.”
Rehabilitation pool pen. Photo © Heather White Images
The one-of-kind hospital provides medical care for sick, injured, or malnourished Hawaiian monk seals, giving them the space to recover until they're ready to return to the wild. Over the last 10 years, the Marine Mammal Center has treated about 50 Hawaiian monk seals, and their efforts to help the species are having a positive impact. In 2022, the Hawaiian monk seal population surpassed 1,500 for the first time in 20 years, and their numbers now stand at 1,600. Reserachers at NOAA Fisheries, an office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, estimate about 30% of Hawaiian monk seals are alive today because of its recovery efforts, which include rehabilitation activities like the ones taking place at the Marine Mammal Center.
A second chance at life
The Marine Mammal Center treats four to eight Hawaiian monk seals at Ke Kai Ola every year. Since they’re such curious animals, they often get entangled with ocean trash and fishing nets or accidentally swallow fishing hooks.
“We use specialized tools to retrieve the hooks under anesthesia,” says Whoriskey. “The goal is to get these seals back to their ocean home as quickly as possible.”
The most common patients are young, malnourished pups. Most recently, scientists rescued three Hawaiian monk seal pups from Manawai (Pearl and Hermes Atoll) in Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. They were all underweight, and experts determined they wouldn’t be able to survive without intervention.
Hawaiian monk seal pups rest during treatment in a rehabilitation pool pen. Photo © The Marine Mammal Center, NOAA Permit #24359
After a month of a strict treatment regime at Ke Kai Ola, including adding multivitamins and electrolytes to their feedings, all three Hawaiian monk seals improved. And their success story is just one of dozens.
“Some of our former patients that were rescued as pups have been spotted having pups of their own in the wild,” says Whoriskey. “Seeing these patients heal, return to the ocean, and then thrive is an incredibly rewarding experience. It reminds me of why the work of Ke Kai Ola is so important.”
Champions of conservation
While Ke Kai Ola is a hospital, the Marine Mammal Center also focuses on outreach. Its education program inspires students to protect both Hawaiian monk seals and their local environment.
Hawaiian monk seals spend most of their time swimming in the sea, but they relax and give birth on sandy beaches. These beaches are also a refuge from predators, including sharks. But rising sea levels are eroding the shoreline; they’ve already lost 50% of their breeding beaches in the Hawaiian Islands.
“Reducing your carbon footprint can help protect Hawaiian monk seal habitat,” says Whoriskey. “Little changes can make a big difference!”
And if you spot a Hawaiian monk seal resting on the beach, it’s federal law to give the animals space. The public should keep a safe distance of at least 50 feet from Hawaiian monk seals and at least 150 feet from monk seal mothers with pups.
“If a seal is reacting to you, you’re too close,” says Whoriskey.
Just keep swimming
In September, Ke Kai Ola held a “seal-abration” to mark a decade of ocean conservation. The community festival celebrated all the Center’s accomplishments at Ke Kai Ola but also highlighted how their job is far from over.
Hawaiian monk seal pup DT12 explores a rehabilitation pool pen . Photo © The Marine Mammal Center, NOAA Permit #24359
“We’re making progress in the right direction, but a population of 1,600 is still alarmingly small,” says Whoriskey. “Our work remains urgent, and there’s still much more to be done.”
If you’d like to help, consider volunteering. The Marine Mammal Center is accepting volunteer applications through Dec. 1 for various opportunities on the Big Island.
A helping hand
Whether they’re wild or captive, animals of all species may occasionally require human help. Read how some organizations across the Islands are taking care of their needs.
lanai's feline paradise
The Lanai Cat Sanctuary is known as “The Furr Seasons” with its 3.5 acres of open space for hundreds of cats to run and play. Learn how this safe, caring home for free-roaming cats protects Lanai’s ecosystem.
the heroes of homeless pets
As a foster-based animal rescue, Paws of Hawaii relies on the community and a small army of foster families to take in animals in need. Learn how the nonprofit organization helps animals and humans looking to adopt, including HMSA’s Tina Sybinsky, whose life was forever changed by a special pup named Archie.
under the sea
Shark diving is a popular activity for humans, but is it safe? We take a deep dive and explore the benefits of swimming under the sea with the apex predator.
