Outrage erupts after tourist allegedly throws rock at Hawaiian monk seal

Outrage spread across Hawaii after a tourist was filmed allegedly throwing a rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal

A video showing a tourist hurling a rock toward an endangered Hawaiian monk seal has sparked fierce backlash across Hawaii, with residents and wildlife advocates calling the incident disturbing, disrespectful, and deeply upsetting.

The confrontation unfolded near Lahaina, where bystanders filmed a man throwing a large rock toward a monk seal resting in shallow water. In the footage, the rock appears to land dangerously close to the animal’s head, prompting immediate alarm from those nearby.

Public anger intensified after the woman who recorded the video, Kaylee Ku’ukamaleimakamae Schnitzer, told KHON2 that when confronted, the man allegedly responded, “I don’t care, fine me. I’m rich.”

That alleged remark quickly became the center of the backlash. Across social media, many called the behavior reckless and cruel, while others said it reflected exactly the kind of entitlement locals have long warned about when it comes to visitors disrespecting Hawaii’s wildlife and coastline.

 

 

 

 

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Officials have not formally identified the seal, though many online believe it may be Lani, one of Maui’s most recognized monk seals. Authorities have not confirmed whether the animal was injured.

For many in Hawaii, the outrage goes beyond one viral clip. Hawaiian monk seals are among the rarest marine mammals on Earth, with only around 1,600 left in the wild. The species is protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act, making harassment a serious federal offense.

As outrage continues to grow, many residents say the anger is not just about one man or one video — it is about protecting wildlife that exists nowhere else in the world.