Ho‘ailona, the Waikiki Aquarium’s resident Hawaiian monk seal, has returned after several years away.

The Waikiki Aquarium announced the seal’s return earlier this week and invited the community to a special homecoming party scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday.

“We’re incredibly excited to welcome Ho‘a back to Hawaii,” said Dr. Judy Lemus, interim director, in a news release. “This is a joyful moment for our staff, members, and community as we celebrate the care, science, and collaboration that made his return possible.”

Ho‘aiolana — known affectionately as Hoa for short — is a male monk seal who took up residence at the Waikiki Aquarium after developing cataracts in both of his eyes.

Born on Kauai in 2008, Ho‘a had been rescued after abandonment at birth.

The National Ocean

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