HONOLULU (KHON2) — Along Hawaiʻi’s shorelines, motherhood is visible in ways few species allow. Hawaiian monk seals give birth and nurse their pups on open sand, in full view of the same beaches used by visitors and locals.
Two mothers, Kaiwi and Rocky, show how family lines continue across islands and years. Their stories offer a rare look at care, risk and survival in the wild, especially for Hawaiʻi’s fragile ecosystem.
There have been many births from Kaiwi and Rocky over the years, and it’s not always easy to keep track. So, here’s the family trees for Hawaiʻi’s most beloved monk seal matriarchs…