HONOLULU (KHON2) — Hōʻailona, a beloved Hawaiian monk seal, is finally back at the Waikīkī Aquarium after years of being away.
Sometimes referred to as “Hōʻa,” the monk seal has served as a friendly reminder of our duty to protect and preserve the species, of which there are only about 1,600 left.
Hōʻa’s homecoming has been widely anticipated by the aquarium, with Interim Director Dr. Judy Lemus celebrating his return.
“We’re incredibly excited to welcome Hōʻa back to Hawaiʻi,” Lemus said. “This is a joyful moment for our staff, members and community as we celebrate the care, science and collaboration that made his return possible.
Hōʻa was born on Kauaʻi in 2008, but was abandoned shortly after birth. He was rescued by NOAA scientists, who did try to release him into the wild but were unsuccessful in doing so.
He was then deemed as “non-releasable” before he moved to the Waikīkī Aquarium, his new permanent home.
However, Hōʻa was away for several years as he went to the University of California, Santa Cruz to participate in physiological research.
To celebrate his homecoming, the aquarium will be having a special welcome home party on Sept. 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The celebration will have educational opportunities, arts and crafts, mermaid photo opportunity, face painting and more. There will also be a Hawaiian cultural blessing at the Monk Seal Deck at 10:30 a.m.
If you can’t make it to the homecoming party, Hōʻa can be visited during aquarium hours daily. For more information, visit the aquarium’s website.