Hawaiian monk seals are the rarest seal that inhabits US waters, with about 1,400 remaining. Protected by the Endangered Species Act, these beautiful, endemic seals are rarely seen in the main Hawaiian Islands. Recently, we were fortunate to have an opportunity to visit the "Forbidden Island" of Ni‘ihau. This pup and its nearby mother were two of the 10-15 seals we spotted resting on the beaches all around, along with unimaginable amounts of plastic and debris washed ashore from near & afar.