Due to declining numbers in population, Hawaiian monk seals are not a common sight on Oahu. To arrive at this location, we drove and hiked a few hours across the island and saw not one, not two, but six monk seals resting on the beach. The winter waves had been pummeling the shoreline causing me to wonder how the seals even managed to maneuver through the shorebreak and land on the beach. They seemed more than happy to have made their way up the beach and all were in full on relaxation mode, enjoying the sun and the isolation of the beach.
Hawaiian monk seals are endangered creatures. With only about 1,000 seal remaining, seeing them is always a treat. At the end of this long hike in the sun, we found this small seal happily resting on the rocks, taking break from the powerful winter waves. We watch out for these seals, making sure they are given space and respected so as to preserve their health. Sometimes, though, they’ll surprise you in the water. Looking over your shoulder while you’re taking a picture, or swimming curiously out of a cave, seeing them underwater is a stunning experience. They are incredibly fast and quite nimble for their size and shape.
