HONOLULU — The Hawaiian monk seal pup born at Kaimana Beach was named Pualani, according to the Hawaii Marine Animal Response. 

Before being named, the Hawaiian monk seal pup was known as PO5. The mother monk seal, Kaiwi, gave birth to the pup on April 14 and less than two weeks later, it was determined that the young monk seal is a girl. 

The Hawaii Marine Animal Response worked with the Waikiki Elementary School’s 4th grade class to name the monk seal pup, using genealogy, the location and time of the birth, and physical and personality characteristics. The same students also helped name Koalani, who was born at Kaimana Beach last year, to Rocky. This year, the 4th grade class mentored the school’s kindergarten class and together they came up with the name Pualani. 

Pualani is the fourth monk seal born at the popular Kaimana Beach since 2017. Rocky gave birth twice at the beach — first to a female pup, Kaimana, and then to a male pup, Koalani. In 2021, Kaiwi gave birth for the first time at Kaimana Beach to a male pup named Lōliʻi.  

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and state agencies put up a fence around most of Kaimana beach to protect the monk seals and beachgoers. People are required by law to stay 150 feet away from the monk seals, even when they are in the ocean. Officials asked the public to swim at other beaches.

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.