Brad Ryon, the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration’s Fisheries protected resources management liaison, said the mother and pup at Maha‘ulepu were separated yesterday, and that may also mean the cycle toward total weaning is well underway. At the Sheraton, where
Brad Ryon, the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration’s Fisheries protected resources management liaison, said the mother and pup at Maha‘ulepu were separated yesterday, and that may also mean the cycle toward total weaning is well underway.
At the Sheraton, where mother and daughter have been resting after twice recently moving back to the beach fronting Kiahuna Plantation for short periods after initially calling parts of Poipu Beach Park their temporary home, are likely more than a week away, more likely nine to 10 days away, from their weaning period, Ryon said.
The latest movements of the mother and suspected daughter were from the Kiahuna beach area Saturday, over to the Sheraton Kauai beach area, back to Kiahuna briefly, and as of yesterday to the western end of the Sheraton Kauai beach, he explained.
Ryon couldn’t be complementary enough about the work of the volunteers and staff of Sheraton Kauai, and the visitors who have watched endangered animals try to keep their species going.
The Sheraton people have been “very good hosts,” even supplying extra staff to help at the volunteer tent that was erected on the beach fronting the Sheraton after the monk-seal family hauled out there, he said.
“Ninety-nine point nine percent of the visitor remarks are favorable,” and the guests repeatedly thank the Kaua‘i volunteers for sharing their knowledge with the visitors, as well as sharing binoculars so they can get a closer look at the new family, Ryon continued.
As the Sheraton monk-seal family is nearing the weaning period, volunteer-training classes are now held only on request, taking around 45 minutes to complete, he said. Those interested in attending a volunteer-training session should find one of the orange-vested volunteers in or near the tent on the beach. Training is offered “on the spot,” he said.
Besides his official liaison title, Ryon is considered “event coordinator” for the dual births, while Millie Johnson is the contact at Maha‘ulepu.
She has been scheduling volunteers to monitor the new Maha‘ulepu family, being careful to schedule veteran volunteers who understand the special needs of the remote area visited mostly by residents rather than visitors, Ryon concluded.
Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) and dfujimoto@pulitzer.net
