Ikaika

Ikaika (strong one) is a two year old Hawaiian monk seal.
He was born in Waimanu Valley on the island of Hawaii.
I ran across him hauled out at Honaunau, the Place of Refuge,
resting with several turtles on the beach. He seemed healthy and curious-
unusually tolerant of humans.
Hawaiian monk seal numbers have been declining at a rapid rate.
On the brink of extinction, they are being monitored by caring biologists.
These seals are solitary creatures that have existed for millions of years.
Let us do what we can to insure that they will remain into the future.