Visitor accused of throwing rock at Hawaiian monk seal, faces prison time

A Seattle visitor could face federal prison time after investigators say an Instagram post showed a rock being thrown at a Hawaiian monk seal swimming off the Lahaina shoreline. The Department of Land and Natural Resources said a 37-year-old adult male from Seattle matched the suspect description, was detained by Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers, and the case was being referred to NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement for review and possible action.

The allegation carries serious consequences because Hawaiian monk seals are among the most endangered seal species in the world. NOAA says the animals are endemic to the Hawaiian archipelago and are protected under the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, CITES Appendix I and Hawaii state law. NOAA estimates there are about 1,600 monk seals total, including nearly 1,200 in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and about 400 in the main Hawaiian Islands. The species was pushed near extinction by historic hunting in the mid-19th century, and NOAA says recovery since 2013 has been slow, with the population still only about one-third of its historic size.

The Lahaina case comes as NOAA says reports of people disturbing protected marine wildlife in Hawaii have climbed significantly over the last decade, with several recent incidents spreading quickly on social media. DLNR also pointed to separate complaints on Oahu, where people reportedly breached a temporary fence protecting monk seal Kaiwi, known as RK96, and her newborn pup at Kaimana Beach. DLNR said Kaiwi is 15 years old and warned that a mother seal may attack if she thinks a person or pet is a threat.

The public backlash has sharpened a broader debate over visitor conduct at Hawaii beaches and the strain on enforcement agencies. U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz has urged NOAA to expand public education, noting that Hawaii welcomes about 10 million visitors each year and arguing that awareness efforts have helped the monk seal population recover.

Federal prosecutors have shown they are willing to pursue harsh penalties in past cases. NOAA previously reported that Shylo Akuna was sentenced to four years in prison after beating a pregnant monk seal on Kauai, a case NOAA described as the first conviction under the felony monk seal harassment statute. NOAA says the best response to suspected harassment is to record video or take photos and call the NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline at (888) 256-9840. The Lahaina investigation will test whether this latest incident is an isolated act or another sign that protected wildlife is facing growing pressure on Hawaii’s crowded shorelines.