Monk seal pup born at Waikiki beach to be relocated

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The newest Waikiki monk seal pup is being relocated to a more remote location.

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said the new pup was born to RK96 (Kaiwi) in May.

Kaiwi’s pup is now nearing weaning age, and soon, the 15-year-old seal will leave the pup on its own to learn how to swim, hunt and navigate the ocean, NOAA said.

Right now, the Kaiwi and her pup are located at one of the busiest beaches on Oahu, Kaimana Beach.

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NOAA said large crowds can be risky and life-threatening for young seal pups.

Relocating the seal to a quieter beach reduces the risk of dangerous human-seal interactions and will help it grow independently, rather than getting used to people, NOAA said.

Officials advise the public to continue to give Kaiwi and her pup plenty of space, at least 150 feet, while the nursing period comes to a close.

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Additional resources to help monk seals can be found here: