Federal officials are investigating two suspicious deaths of young Hawaiian monk seals on Molokai in June, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

On June 25, NOAA said, an unidentified, juvenile male seal was found dead at Pakaa beach on the west end of Molokai. On June 18 another juvenile male seal, RJ26, was found dead on the east end of Molokai near mile marker 22. RJ26 was born at Kalaupapa in April 2017.

These two deaths in June are in addition to the death of RJ42, which was reported in May on the island. NOAA said this brings the total of Hawaiian monk seal deaths believed to be from human-inflicted trauma on Molokai to eight since 2009.

Anyone with information on the death of the seals, or to report seals (and dolphins, whales and turtles) in trouble, can call NOAA’s hotline at 888-256-9840.

Hawaii island

Highway roadwork will disrupt traffic

Drilling on Highway 130 between Shower Drive and Ainaloa Boulevard will prompt traffic modifications beginning Wednesday, continuing throughout August.

The state Department of Transportation said contra-flow lanes will be in place Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to accommodate geotechnical core drilling machinery needed to make geological assessments.

Core sampling is being done in preparation for design of the Keaau-Pahoa Road (Highway 130) Operational and Safety Improvements Project, and will help determine the project’s scope and cost.