We spent only a week in Kauai, HI, but I have way more than a week’s worth of posts – even though they are not written yet. I’ll post this one, the I’ll take a break from HI so I don’t bore you too much. This was our first visit to the local beach. We didn’t have a sandy beach outside our resort, and the one within walking distance wasn’t guarded. So each day we drove five minutes to Poipu Beach where there was a life guard, picnic tables, and a guarded section of the beach that was like a wading pool. This was Day #1 Before we could even hop in the ocean, the lifeguard tower blasted out a warning. “Get out of the water. A monk seal is approaching. Get out of the water!”
Rumor is that she’s dangerous. I think she’s just hormonal. Anyway she cleared the protected beach at Poipu, Kauai, HI. She approached lazily, and no one moved very quickly to get out of the water in response to the lifeguard’s microphone’s voice warning swimmers of her approach. There are only 1,500 left and they live here in Kauai, so they get their way.
My pictures of her turned out blurry. Soon she sped up and swam to the protected shallow waters where kids played protected from the surf by a ledge of unapproachable lava rocks. She lounged on her back soaking up some rays, then dipped under to get cool while the multitudes warmed their heels in the sand.
Day #2 I should have known to take my camera today when we went out for a cup of coffee. I mean we were only going to grab a cup and bring it back to our Diamond Resort home away from home. Right? Of course, WRONG!
After we grabbed our coffee, the car turned towards the beach at Poipu Point again, and there she was. Charming the tourists she flapped her way over to give them a little kiss and a playful tap with her flippers. The life guards ran frantically out of their tower like ants swarming a piece of peanut brittle on the cement. They shooed back the squatting onlookers trying to get a good picture and a chance to rub her tummy. They spent a bit of time penning her in because she moved, then flopped, moved, flopped. They gave her a large playpen with multiple warning stakes with “keep out” ropes marking a perimeter all around her.
Day #3 The next day she was sunning herself when we got to the beach. After enjoying a brief float, I joined the large group of onlookers, and clicked pictures at every angle.
Our Monk Sea Lion is pregnant.
Day #4 By our last visit to Poipu Beach Monk Seals were old news, so I didn’t take any more pictures. She was just sleeping. She did move her flippers much like fingers, and sort of scratch herself. She was laying on her back this time, so I don’t thing that her tracking device bothered her too much.
I hope you enjoyed this brief vacation to Hawaii. I know we did. But it is good to be home, too. Our puppy girl, Kalev, was very glad that finally got back. She was jealous that Manny got to go and she didn’t. I hope you are enjoying a wonderful weekend. 🙂
Marsha Ingrao - Always Write 
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