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State officials are urging residents and visitors to stay out of the water along Molokai's south shore near the remains of a humpback whale that died July 10.
According to the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources, the whale died after spending more than two months in a reef pocket off the island with her calf.
The calf has since left the area and has not been seen, but tides are carrying the whale's remains through areas used by fishers and commercial tour operators.
At the recommendation of Kia'i Kanaloa Molokai, a group of Molokai cultural practitioners that partners with the division in caring for marine life, the whale's remains will be left where they have come to rest.
Community members will continue monitoring the site, while tissue samples collected during the response are being analyzed to help determine the cause of death.
Officials are asking the public to stay out of the water near the remains, avoid touching any carcass material or blubber that washes ashore, and be alert for large predators that may be feeding in the area.
Signs of whale remains may include oil slicks, pieces of blubber on beaches, rocks or in the water, and a strong smell of decay.
The public is being reminded that all marine mammals, living or dead, are protected under federal and state law, and removing any part of the whale is prohibited.
The whale, known to researchers as "Twinning" through the Happywhale photo-identification catalog, and her calf settled into a naturally occurring reef pocket west of Kaunakakai in May. Over six weeks, NOAA, DLNR and community partners conducted nine response missions using herding techniques, acoustic playbacks and bubble barriers in an unsuccessful effort to guide the pair back to open water.
In line with Hawaiian cultural tradition, the koholā will be given a Hawaiian name.
Anyone who sees the whale's remains or has concerns about marine wildlife can call the NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline at (888) 256-9840. Suspected violations can be reported to DLNR's enforcement line at (808) 643-DLNR (3567).