Aloha Capt. Tara,
I send you a huge mahalo for all your efforts to support our conservation and recovery efforts for the Hawaiian monk seal!! Not only in the past for providing transport with your vessel to monitor seals, tag pups, and intervene with sick animals, but also for responding so promptly and completely regarding the seal of concern at Honopu.
I thank-you for continuing to search for the seal, to offer transport out to Honopu, and then for finding the seal on Thursday and swimming in yourself to examine and photograph it The photographs reveal a female seal, R313, which recently returned to the north shore after pupping. It is most likely that the multiple sightings we had at Honopu of an underweight seal, were of her as she was molting. Your photos show her scars and clean coat demonstrating her identity and completion of a molt, which is a physiologically taxing event.
A portion of the proceeds from our Eco Adventures goes to fund our non-profit organization, Kauai Reef Conservation, which is dedicated to the preservation and protection of the coral reef ecosystem through Research, Outreach and Education.