Molokaʻi Resident’s Viral Monk Seal Encounter Shifts Local Attitudes

A monk seal named RU99 appeared on a Molokaʻi homeowner’s property, drawing thousands of online followers and prompting a noticeable change in community conversation about the endangered species.

On the night of May 31, a year-old Hawaiian monk seal identified as RU99 hauled ashore in the yard of longtime Molokaʻi resident Hawaiiloa Mowat, prompting the homeowner to share the encounter on social media where it garnered over 14,000 followers. The seal, nicknamed “Lino-boy,” has repeatedly returned to the Kapaʻakea homestead area throughout the summer, providing a rare glimpse of the species for island residents.

Volunteer seal data collector Liz Campbell notes that the animal’s online presence is altering the local dialogue about monk seals, which have faced sporadic illegal killings and a series of suspicious deaths, including a bullet-injured seal (RL80) that ultimately died from a broken jaw caused by fishing gear. NOAA officials recently confirmed another seal carcass on Moʻomomi Beach, though its cause of death remains undetermined.

While some Molokaʻi fishers argue that seals compete for fish, many locals rely on subsistence hunting and view the seals with suspicion. Conservationists hope the viral attention will counteract misinformation and foster greater protection for the endangered species, of which roughly 1,600 remain in the wild.