Hawaiian Monk Seal, limited edition fine art print

Hōʻailona, Hawaiian Monk Seal, by Caren Loebel-Fried, is an 11x14", limited edition fine art print from an original hand-pulled, hand-colored block print. The materials used in this museum quality print are all of the highest quality, printed on acid-free, 100% cotton paper, with archival, pigment-based inks. Each piece is signed and numbered by the artist, backed by a white acid-free board, and packaged in a clear re-sealable art bag with a description and a certificate of authenticity on the back.

Caren’s illustrated books include Manu, the Boy Who Loved Birds, A Perfect Day for an Albatross, Naupaka, Lono and the Magical Land Beneath the Sea, Hawaiian Legends of Dreams, Hawaiian Legends of the Guardian Spirits, Pua Polu, the Pretty Blue Hawaiian Flower, Tree of Souls, Library of Dreams, and Legend of the Gourd.

Caren learned the ancient art of block printing from her mother. She volunteers and researches on Midway Atoll, Kīlauea Point, and other wild places around the Hawaiian Islands. Caren creates art for many organizations, supporting the work they do on behalf of wildlife, conservation, and the perpetuation of Hawaiian Culture.

Caren’s award winning illustrated books include Manu, the Boy Who Loved Birds, A Perfect Day for an Albatross, Naupaka, Lono and the Magical Land Beneath the Sea, Hawaiian Legends of Dreams, Hawaiian Legends of the Guardian Spirits, Pua Polu, the Pretty Blue Hawaiian Flower, Tree of Souls, and Legend of the Gourd.

The Hawaiian Monk Seal is called ‘Ilio‐holo‐i‐ka‐uaua in Hawaiian meaning, ‘the dog that runs in rough waters’. Endemic to Hawaiʻi, the Hawaiian Monk Seal has lived for over 13 million years, longer than even some of the islands themselves. The Hawaiian Monk Seal can grow to 450 pounds and 7 feet long. The seal is critically endangered, the most endangered mammal in the world, with only about 1000 individuals left. The Hawaiian Monk Seal is the first in Caren’s series on the endangered species of Hawaiʻi.

“The Hawaiian Monk Seal has become my muse, and I have loved watching them basking on different Hawaiian shores over the years. Recently, while camping at Kiholo Bay on the Big Island, I was delighted to see a dark-furred adult foraging in the ocean. He picked his way along the reef at the shore in the early morning, right next to our campsite. What a thrill it was to see a Hawaiian monk seal just doing his thing in the wild.

“I have spent time observing Hōʻailona, the young Hawaiian Monk Seal who was adopted by the Waikiki Aquarium. At the underwater viewing area, as children came to the glass, Hōʻailona swam to them with curiosity. Over and over, he put his whiskered, puppy face close to the children’s smiling faces. It was powerful and touching to see this young Hawaiian Monk Seal so keen on interacting with the human children. Hōʻailona is truly an ambassador for his species, and is the perfect model for Conservation Council for Hawaiʻi’s poster, reaching all the schools across Hawaiʻi.”

This print was created for Conservation Council for Hawaiʻi’s annual wildlife educational poster, which is distributed to every public, private, charter, and Native Hawaiian Language immersion school in the state. Conservation Council for Hawaiʻi was established in 1950 and has become one of the largest and most effective wildlife organizations in Hawaiʻi. Conservation Council for Hawaiʻi is dedicated to protecting native Hawaiian plants, animals, and ecosystems for future generations. For more info about CCH, visit: www.conservehi.org, or call them at: 808-593-0255. Proceeds from sales of this print go to CCH and protecting the Hawaiian Monk Seal.