A tourist accused of hurling a large rock at a beloved endangered seal in Hawaii was met with an unexpected response moments later when an enraged local rushed in and attacked him in front of stunned beachgoers.
The disturbing incident unfolded along the shoreline near Front Street in Lahaina, Maui, where witnesses said a 37-year-old visitor from Seattle repeatedly approached an endangered Hawaiian monk seal known to locals as Lani before hurling a massive a rock directly toward the animal.
The encounter quickly sparked outrage across Hawaii, where Lani has become a familiar and deeply cherished presence for many residents since returning to Lahaina following the devastating 2023 wildfires.
Tourist aimed rock toward seal’s head
According to witnesses, Lani had been resting near the shoreline on May 5 when a tourist moved dangerously close to the seal several times.
Maui resident Kaylee Schnitzer, who filmed the incident, told Hawaii News Now that “He picked up a rock the size of a coconut and he threw it right, directly aiming toward the monk seal’s head.”
While she was recording, Schnitzer can be heard yelling at the man: “What are you doing? Why would you throw a rock at it?”
“We told him that we called the cops, and he was like, ‘I don’t care. Fine me, I’m rich.’ He said that, and he kept walking,” she told Maui’s KHON2.
Endangered species
After the video was shared on social media, it spread rapidly where viewers reacted with fury over the tourist’s gross behavior.
Hawaiian monk seals are considered one of the world’s most endangered marine mammals and are protected under both the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
According to NOAA Fisheries, the remaining population is only about one-third the size it was roughly 60 years ago.
With so few seals left – and Lani already deeply loved by many in Maui – it did not take long for anger to spread across the beach once people realized someone had targeted her.
‘Karma’ served
After beachgoers realized what had happened, at least one local man confronted the tourist physically.
In a separate clip shared online, a shirtless man is seen approaching the Seattle visitor from behind before knocking him to the ground and throwing several punches in rapid succession.
The video, titled “Maui has a way of delivering karma like no other,” quickly exploded online, with thousands of viewers praising the unidentified local for defending the seal.
“As someone who loves and respects Hawaii, I 100% approve of how this lesson was given,” shared one user in the comment section.
“Needs more cracks! God Bless that young man for his service!!!” added a second, while another wrote, “This man is a hero.”
The hero’s identity has not been publicly released, but his actions soon drew attention far beyond social media.
State senator honors man behind punch
The viral beating also caught the attention of Hawaii state Sen. Brenton Awa, who later revealed that the anonymous local had even received a special recognition from lawmakers.
“Some of us have seen environmental activists [sic], I like to call them, who took matters into his own hands to educate what might happen when you mess with our lands or the animals,” Awa said during a state meeting.
“Our attorney over here wants to make it clear we don’t condone violence, but we did make a letter of recognition for Mr. Ambassador of Aloha.”
‘Lani, we have your back’
Meanwhile, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen also weighed in on the conversation.
“Lani is not just a seal to us,” Bissen shared about the mammal, “ocean family,” who has been a treasured symbol of recovery since she returned to Lahaina following the 2023 wildfires. “She is part of our ocean, ‘ohana’ in Lahaina. Many of our residents know her, watch over her and care deeply about her well-being.”
“Let me be clear, this is not the kind of visitor we welcome on Maui. We welcome respectful visitors that understand that our cultural environment and wildlife must be treated with care and aloha. Behavior like this will not be tolerated,” Bissen said, vowing to pursue justice against the man involved.
“Lani, we have your back.”
The suspect
According to the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), the tourist – identified as Ukrainian businessman Igor Lytvynchuk – was questioned by authorities after the attack on the seal but was eventually released after requesting legal counsel.
“At this time, the alleged suspect has not been criminally charged,” but the DLNR reports that “in accordance with the federal MMPA,” the incident is being reviewed for “further review and action.”
We don’t condone violence either but we’re happy that the unnamed local is being rewarded for defending Lani! Please let us know your thoughts on this story and make sure you share it so we can hear from others!
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