Tourist accused over rock attack on Hawaii monk seal

Hawaii monk – Federal agents arrested a Washington tourist accused of throwing a coconut-sized rock at an endangered monk seal off Maui.

A tourist accused of throwing a coconut-sized rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal off a Maui beach was arrested by federal agents, triggering outrage on the island and renewed warnings that cruelty toward protected wildlife will face federal consequences.

Federal prosecutors say Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk. 38. of Covington. Washington. was taken into custody Wednesday by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration special agents near Seattle.. He faces federal charges of harassing a protected animal, according to the U.S.. attorney’s office in Honolulu, and was scheduled to appear in U.S.. District Court in Seattle on Thursday.

The case stemmed from a cellphone video that drew widespread condemnation in Hawaii after a witness recorded a man chucking a large rock at “Lani. ” a beloved Hawaiian monk seal.. Prosecutors said the clip shows Lytvynchuk holding a large rock. aiming it. and throwing it directly toward the seal’s head. narrowly missing while still causing the animal to change its behavior abruptly.

In the criminal complaint, prosecutors also described an exchange after a witness confronted the man. The witness reported that Lytvynchuk said he did not care and that he was “rich” enough to pay any fines, as stated in the complaint.

The incident was investigated earlier by state authorities.. A Department of Land and Natural Resources officer reviewed a report of harassment involving a Hawaiian monk seal in Lahaina. the Maui community that was largely destroyed by the devastating wildfire in 2023.. The report was supported by video evidence showing the seal swimming in shallow water while a man watched from shore.

Maui resident Kaylee Schnitzer, 18, told HawaiiNewsNow that she witnessed the moment while taking photographs nearby. She said the rock appeared to be roughly the size of a coconut and that the man threw it while seemingly aiming toward the seal’s head.

Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said the charges carry a message that mistreatment of protected wildlife will not be tolerated. He also connected the case to “Lani’s” significance after the wildfires, saying her return brought a measure of healing and hope during a difficult period for the community.

“Lani is a reminder that humanity and the instinct to protect what is vulnerable are still values people can unite around,” Bissen said in an emailed statement, adding that he called the U.S. attorney in Honolulu to advocate for prosecution.

Federal prosecutors emphasized that Hawaiian monk seals remain imperiled. The U.S. attorney’s office said the species is critically endangered, with only about 1,600 animals remaining in the wild, underscoring the stakes of alleged harm to even one individual.

U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson said the case reflects a commitment to protect vulnerable wild species, describing Hawaiian monk seals as a unique symbol of Hawaii’s place in the world and its biodiversity. The statement highlighted the enforcement priorities tied to endangered species protections.

Under the Endangered Species Act, prosecutors said Lytvynchuk faces potential prison time of up to one year for each charge if convicted. He also could face fines of up to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act and up to $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

The charges also follow a pattern of past attention to monk seal harm. In 2016, a man was seen on video beating a pregnant Hawaiian monk seal in shallow water, illustrating how quickly public outrage can follow footage of mistreatment and how cases can become part of broader enforcement efforts.

Federal and state officials have increasingly treated wildlife harassment as more than a local matter. particularly when protected animals are endangered and incidents occur in sensitive coastal habitats.. In this case. the alleged throw—though described as narrowly missing the seal—was still alleged to have changed the animal’s behavior. a detail prosecutors say matters under the relevant statutes.

For communities still processing the devastation of the 2023 Maui wildfires. reports of monk seals returning to areas like Lahaina carry emotional weight as well as ecological significance.. Officials and residents have framed individual animals such as “Lani” as signs of recovery. which makes enforcement against deliberate or reckless harm more likely to be seen as tied to public values.

If the case proceeds in federal court. it will also test how prosecutors weigh video evidence. witness accounts. and the intent alleged in the complaint.. The dispute over whether penalties can deter future harassment may hinge on how the court views the seriousness of the act and the extent of the impact described in the charging materials.

Hawaii monk seal federal arrest Endangered Species Act Marine Mammal Protection Act Maui wildfire recovery wildlife harassment