Chapter XV: Welcome to your new home, please watch your first step.

Our six new crew members have departed the ship. At noon today we arrived at Nihoa Island after an uneventful night of lots of seals sleeping. After a brief safety meeting we launched the small boat and prepared to release our seals two by two.

It was a pretty simple process:
1. Place stretcher net in front of cage.
2. Open Front of Cage.
3. Open Back of Cage.
4. Have vet play with rear flippers to encourage forward movement.
5. Have seal cooperate by walking onto stretcher net.
6. Wrap seal up in stretcher net.
7. Carry seal to boat.
8. Lower boat.
9. Take seal to Nihoa.
10. Show seal new beach.
11. Let seal hop over the side to freedom.

It worked wonderfully well. In just about an hour and a half all the seals were swimming around their new surroundings checking out the new beach and crystal clear waters.

The whole transport went really well thanks to all the scientists, volunteers, crew, and officers aboard the ship who all went above and beyond to help these seals have a smooth and safe ride. We really thank everyone on board for their aid. It was nice to see everyone turn out to see the pups off this morning.

Now, it is up to the pups and Nihoa. Hopefully they will be able to find a safer haven with more abundant food than the seals that were left behind at French Frigate Shoals. We will be monitoring them with satellite tags and follow up with visual observations next year.

So this will likely be my last blog entry for this cruise. I am sure that one of the other gifted authors will keep it going for the last couple of days of work. Tomorrow, Tenaya, Chad, Bob, Jenny and I are going to try to get off to camp on Nihoa for the next week to study the seals living here. The swells are up so landing can be extremely treacherous. Wish us luck. Thanks to everyone who has been reading this (I know there are at least a few). We hope you all learned something and got a chance to share our fun and adventure. I just want to say I have enjoyed working with everyone that has been on the is cruise...they have all been wonderful colleagues and friends. They busted their butts for these seals and projects. I wish them the best of luck in everything and hope they are all well.

So...I guess on that note I say Aloha! Be well, take care.
Charles

P.S. Kehaulani, if you are reading this, we are sorry you can't be here for this part of the journey. But we will follow your guidance and acknowledge Nihoa and the Kupuna buried there every day. We will ask for guidance and wisdom and protection.

KU PAKU KA PALI O NIHOA I KA MAKANI
THE CLIFF OF NIHOA STANDS AS A RESISTANCE AGAINST THE WIND.
SAID OF ONE WHO STANDS BRAVELY IN THE FACE OF MISFORTUNE.