On Tuesday, 5 May 2026, a 37-year-old tourist from Seattle, Washington, sparked outrage in Hawaii after being caught on videohurling a large rock at Lani, a beloved endangered Hawaiian monk seal. The incident occurred in Lahaina, Maui.
The tourist, who reportedly dismissed pleas from horrified onlookers and even boasted about his wealth and shouted, 'I don't care. Fine me, I'm rich,' has faced an immediate 'street justice' when a local beats him up — an act that was captured on video and widely circulated online.
The man has since been dubbed an 'Ambassador of Aloha' by state officials, while the tourist was later detained and is now under federal investigation for his treatment of the beloved marine mammal.
The incident occurred along the iconic Front Street shoreline, where Lani, a 20-year-old Hawaiian monk seal, was resting in the water. Witnesses described a scene of unprovoked cruelty.
A scandal has erupted in the U.S. after a deranged wealthy man threw a rock at a Hawaiian monk seal — one of the rarest marine mammals in the world.The incident happened on the island of Maui and was caught on video. Witnesses tried to stop the man, but he just laughed and said…pic.twitter.com/03gMKrnzZo
Kaylee Schnitzer, whofilmed the attack, said that the man picked up a rock the 'size of a coconut' and aimed it directly at the animal's head while it swam in the shallows. In the video, Schnitzer can be heard shouting, 'What are you doing?' and 'Why would you throw a rock at it?'
When Schnitzer confronted the man and told him that they called law enforcement, he reportedly said, 'I don't care. Fine me, I'm rich.' and kept walking,The Independentreported.
Lani is more than just wildlife to the residents of Maui; she became a symbol of resilience after the devastating 2023 Lahaina wildfires, being one of the first familiar sights to return to the charred coastline.
Experts who assessed Lani following the attack confirmed that she did not sustain serious physical injuries and has returned to normal behaviour, much to the relief of the community.
Moments later, a local took matters into his own hands. A viral video circulating online shows a shirtless man approaching the tourist from behind and delivering several blows – the term 'street justice' has been used to describe the physical altercation, theNew York Postreported.
Source: International Business Times UK
