History of Hawaiian monk seal in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 18, 2026

The Hawaiian monk seal is a vulnerable earless seal species native to the Hawaiian Islands. Belonging to the Phocidae family, these seals face numerous threats, leading to their endangered status. Conservation efforts are crucial to protect their populations and habitats.

1905: Naming of Monachus schauinslandi

In 1905, the Hawaiian monk seal was scientifically named Monachus schauinslandi by Matschie.

1909: Hawaiian Islands Reservation Creation

In 1909, President Theodore Roosevelt created the Hawaiian Islands Reservation that included the Northwest Hawaiian islands.

November 23, 1976: Endangered Species Designation

On November 23, 1976, the Hawaiian monk seal was officially designated as an endangered species and is now protected by the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

1977: Repenning and Ray's paper

In 1977, Repenning and Ray proposed that monk seals were the most primitive living seals, based on certain unspecialized features. This idea has since been superseded.

1981: Headstarting Project Began

In 1981, a headstarting project began, collecting and tagging female Hawaiian monk seal pups after weaning and placing them in a large, enclosed water and beach area with food and lacking disturbances.

1984: Project Began at French Frigate Shoals

In 1984, a project began at French Frigate Shoals to collect severely underweight female Hawaiian monk seal pups, place them in protective care, feed them, relocate them to Kure Atoll, and release them as yearlings.

2001: Toxoplasmosis Impact

Since 2001, toxoplasmosis has killed at least eleven Hawaiian monk seals.

2004: Population Recovery

As of 2004, the growing Hawaiian monk seal population on the main islands was approximately 150.

2006: Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Established

In 2006, a Presidential Proclamation established the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, creating the largest marine protected area in the world and affording the Hawaiian monk seal further protection.

2006: Pup birth

In 2006, twelve Hawaiian monk seal pups were born in the main islands.

2007: Pup birth

In 2007, thirteen Hawaiian monk seal pups were born in the main islands.

June 11, 2008: Official State Mammal Designation

On June 11, 2008, a state law designated the Hawaiian monk seal as Hawaii's official State Mammal.

June 2008: Caribbean monk seal declared extinct

In June 2008, the Caribbean monk seal (N. tropicalis), last sighted in the 1950s, was officially declared extinct.

2008: Pup Count

As of 2008, 43 Hawaiian monk seal pups had been counted in the main islands.

June 2010: Seals Hauled Out

In early June 2010, two Hawaiian monk seals hauled out on Oʻahu's popular Waikīkī beach.

2010: Population estimate

In 2010, it was estimated that only 1100 Hawaiian monk seal individuals remained.

March 4, 2011: Seal Beached at Waikīkī

On March 4, 2011, a Hawaiian monk seal beached at Waikīkī by the Moana Hotel.

2011: Draft Environmental Impact Statement

In 2011, the National Marine Fisheries Service issued a controversial draft programmatic environmental impact statement intended to improve protections for the Hawaiian monk seal.