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| Ka`u born Monk Seal teenager Kamilo has been making trouble in Kona, playing with triathletes practicing for this Saturday's Ironman. The six-month old male was born at Kamilo near South Point and is caged for release in a remote setting. Photo by Julia Steelman |
The two incidents follow reports over the last month concerning the monk seal teenager interacting with fishermen, beachgoers and swimmers along the Ka`u, South Kona an Kona Coast, including hauling out on boat ramps and at Kailua Pier. After biting triathletes, the seal was captured by wildlife biologists who decided to cage him for a short time before releasing him back into the wild, perhaps at a more remote location than Kailua-Kona where more than 2,000 triathletes will compete in the Ironman this Saturday.
The youngster, one of less than 200 endangered monk seals living in the inhabited Hawaiian Islands, is named after his birthplace Kamilo and is tagged HO5. Kamilo is also identified by a bleach mark on his back.
According to the West Hawai`i Today story by Carolyn Lucas-Zenk this morning, veterinarian Michelle Barbieri and a biologist flew from the Marine Mammal Center on O`ahu to capture Kamilo. Barbieri told Lucas-Zenk that swimmers said that neither triathlete nor Kamilo harassed one another. She explained that teen seals are super interested in playing with anyone.
Kamilo is now in a cage, under Barbieri’s care, and could be freed within 48 hours. Lucas-Zenk reported that “the decision is taking longer than usual because of the federal government shutdown, which has furloughed numerous federal workers, including those with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Marine Mammal Center works in collaboration with NOAA.”
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| Kamilo nursing with his mom on the Ka`u Coast. Photo by Justin Viezbicke of NOAA |
The article also quotes Doug Perrine, a volunteer and Kona photojournalist who specializes in marine wildlife:
“As he has worked his way around South Point and up the Kona Coast, learning how to catch fish in deep water and survive shark attacks, he has returned to the shoreline each day to rest and digest his meal. Instead of other seals, he has encountered large seal-like mammals that often pursue him and attempt to play with him as though he were a puppy dog, rather than a wild animal.
“These uninformed, or sometimes just selfish, people have surrounded him and even tried to pet him, apparently unaware that monk seals normally bite in the course of play and when threatened. People have repeatedly disrupted his needed rest, but even worse have allowed him to imprint on humans, rather than other seals, at his impressionable young age. Effectively, the residents and visitors to this island have given this beautiful, young, rare animal a death sentence,” Perrine told Lucas-Zenk.
Perrine warned in his discussion with West Hawai`i Today that: “Kamilo has one last chance to survive and remain on our island, where he is vitally needed for the genetic diversity of our tiny population of monk seals. If humans can control their own desires, and give this seal the space he needs — leaving the water or clearing the beach when necessary to give him room — then he may seize his slim chance of survival and make his contribution to our marine ecosystem. If our behavior does not change, he will be removed from our island, and his survival will be less certain.”
Monk seals are protected by State of Hawai`i law, the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act and The Endangered Species Act. Humans are required to stay a mimimum of 150 feet away from any monk seal.
State fines begin at $250 per incident with possible imprisonment of up to one year. Federal Endangered Species Act penalties are up to $50,000 and imprisonment for one year with $25,000 in civil fines per violation. Sightings and violations can be reported to 808- 220-7802, 987-0765 or 888-256-9840. See more at www.westhawaiitoday.com.To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Feed the Hunger Foundation offers grants, loans to produce food locally and will meet with the Ka`u Community on Monday, Oct. 21. Photo from Feed the Hunger Foundation, www.feed-hunger.com |
Denise Albano, president of the organization, said that “Among the wide-ranging entities that Feed The Hunger Foundation invests in are young farmers who work to bring new technology and resilience to food production and groups of food producers sharing infrastructure such as tractors, cold storage, packaging areas and storefronts. Additionally, two of our top goals are to help build a diverse agriculture and aquaculture base, and to improve the food distribution system,” she added.
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| Denise Albano brings Feed the Hunger opportunities to Ka`u on Oct. 21. Photo from www.feed-hunger.org |
Feed the Hunger received $1 million from the Economic Development Administration of the Department of Commerce. Patti Chang, chief executive officer of Feed the Hunger, said, “There are many who would like to contribute to the movement for a self-sufficient food system in Hawai`i but many are in need of funding to get their projects off the ground. We are able to consider applications from any entrepreneur who shares our desire to advance Hawai`i’s food system,” she added. Loans are granted on an ongoing basis and applications may be made at anytime. For information about FTHF, visit www.feed-hunger.com. For further information and to apply for a loan, contact Albano at denisealbano@feed-hunger.com. To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
THE NAMING OF THE NEW KA`U GYM & DISASTER SHELTER will come before the County Council, most likely next year. Public input on naming the gym was set to come before the council on Oct. 15, but has been delayed, said County Council member Brenda Ford. A group of Ka`u High alumni and other community members planned to attend the meeting to put forth the name of Laurence Capellas, Jr. However, Ford notified them that she has put the bill on hold until "the State Department of Education finalizes its memorandum of agreement with the county," which will manage the gym and shelter. She said she will inform those interested in the naming of the new facility once the agreement is done. To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
PAHALA POOL HOURS EXTEND ON WEEKDAYS to 4 p.m. starting on Oct. 27 when South Swell swim season is pau. Until then, weekday pool hours will be until 3 p.m. Pool hours are: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Adult Water Fitness from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. with open swim on Tuesdays and Thursdays, followed by Adult Lap Swim, 10 a.m. to noon, and Public Recreational Swim, Monday - Friday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. On weekends the pool is open from 9 a.m. to noon for recreational and adult lap swim and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for recreational swim.
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| Pahala pool opens daily, including weekends. Weekday hours expand on Oct. 27. Photo by Tanya Ibarra |
FRIENDS OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK has announced that Sunday Walk in the Park this weekend is cancelled due to the federal government partial shutdown. Instead Friends will host a free Walk With Friends for members at the Pu`u Maka`ala Natural Area Reserve. Botanist Tim Tunison leads an exploration of this rainforest teaming with life. The reserve is habitat for rare native plants and animals preserving biodiversity of Hawai`1i. The wet forest is home to large old `ohia trees, sandalwood and huge hapu`u tree ferns. Call 98703703 to register. Walk is limited to a dozen participants. See http://www.oldgrowthfoerest.net/dedicated-forests-state/hi-hawaii-county-puu-makaala-natural-area-reserve/
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
CANCELLED PROGRAMS AT HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK this week include today’s `Ohe Kapala: Bamboo Stamp presentation and workshop, which was set for this morning at Kilauea Visitor Center, which is shut down during the federal government closure. To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
PLANTATION DAYS PARADE this Saturday at 9 a.m. on Maile and Hu`apala Streets in Pahala will be followed by an opening pule by Kahu Debbie Wong Yuen, as well as displays and activities by organizations representing many ethnic groups. Na`alehu Hongwanji, Hawaiian Civic Club, Pahala Seniors, Friends of the Library, Hawaiian groups with music, hula, arts, crafts and dance, Puerto Rican heritage and music are among the offerings. The 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. event at Pahala Plantation Manager's House is sponsored by the Ka`u Multicultural Society. Call Darlyne Vierra at 640-8740.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.
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