Whale Carcass Removed From Kahuku Coast

Written by Lisa Kubota - lkubota@kgmb9,com

July 17, 2008 05:40 PM

Crews finally removed the sperm whale carcass that washed up in Kahuku two weeks ago. The massive cleanup included NOAA Fisheries, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Hawaii Pacific University. Workers donned special suits for the dirty work but there was no way to avoid the overwhelming odor.

"We were climbing sometimes under the whale, on top of the whale, around the whale, at one point nearly inside the whale putting these straps and shackles in place," said David Schofield from NOAA Fisheries.

The whale, which weighed up to 10 tons, was stuck on a lava bench. Heavy machinery helped drag it onto the beach.

"This was the most difficult (removal) that I've been involved with and I've been doing this for about 10 years," said Jeff Walters, from the DLNR's National Marine Sanctuary Program.

A fire department helicopter checked for sharks. None were spotted but warning signs will remain up. Swimmers should stay out of the water a mile in either direction along the coast until at least Friday afternoon.

"Sharks have been sighted as early as yesterday," said Walters. "(A) 12-foot shark, we're not sure of the species, but it came right in close to the carcass."

An excavator grabbed pieces of the whale and put them in a container to be hauled away.

"It wasn't that easy ... like picking up jello," said David Ching, the excavator operator.

Students from HPU will be able to determine things like the whale's age and diet. Since the carcass is badly decomposed scientists won't be able to find out what killed the endangered animal.

"In this case we don't have tissue samples but of course we have a number of bones. Our goals are to learn as much as we can about these animals out in the sea from these unfortunate events," said Kristi West, assistant professor at HPU.

The whale was buried on private property nearby in a huge hole 25-feet deep. Authorities asked a kahu to perform blessings for the removal and burial.

The project is expected to cost $10,000 to $15,000 and will be paid for with state and federal funds.

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