Hawaii is blessed to have the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal grace us with its presence on the main islands. These images are from the island of Kauai where the monk seals come up to rest on the beach after weeks hunting in the ocean. They are usually solitary animals. I had the rare opportunity to see two on Poipu Beach on the south shore of Kauai about a year ago. The more recent images are from the north shore of Kauai on a beach called Ke'e Beach. The monk seals are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and should not be approached or harassed. They are quite tolerant of people and will frequently be seen resting on popular beaches. Resting on the beach for several hours (sometimes days) is essential to their survival in the ocean. Image #9 was taken just before we put up the ropes around the seal to protect it from the public. Seals have been known to bite so it is best to keep your distance and notify lifeguards or park staff when you see a monk seal arriving on the beach.