Rich tourist detained after rock-throwing at Maui’s endangered monk seal
A Seattle man threw a large rock toward an endangered Hawaiian monk seal on Maui, narrowly missing the seal’s head and then told bystanders he didn’t care about the consequences because he’s rich; he was detained by authorities. Harassing or harming monk seals is illegal and can lead to fines or criminal charges. The Maui Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement is investigating and may hand findings to NOAA for possible federal action. The incident, captured on video and sparking online outrage, involves the seal named Lani and underscores wildlife protection rules on Hawaii’s beaches.