A surprise visitor: Monk seal welcomes Waimea Bay finishers

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A monk seal helped to greet swimmers during a race on the North Shore Saturday.

They were participating in the North Shore Swim Series, an open-water swimming festival made up of four races stretching from Haleiwa Beach Park to Sunset Beach.

Saturday’s race kicked off at 9 a.m. at Chun’s Reef and covered 1.6 miles, ending at Waimea Bay.

Witnesses say they spotted four seals in the water that morning, including a mother and pup.

It is required by law to keep at least 50 feet away from monk seals.

To report a sighting, contact the Hawaii Marine Animal Response at (808) 256-9840.