A Seattle tourist is facing massive backlash in Hawaii after he was caught on video allegedly throwing a large rock at a beloved endangered monk seal — only to later get jumped by an angry local in footage that quickly went viral online.
The incident happened Tuesday near Front Street in Lahaina, Maui, where the endangered Hawaiian monk seal known as Lani was resting near the shoreline.
According to Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources, the 37-year-old tourist allegedly approached the seal and hurled a large rock toward her while she was in the water.
The disturbing act was caught on camera and immediately sparked outrage both online and across the local community.
But things escalated even further moments later.
After beachgoers learned what had happened, video circulating on social media appeared to show a shirtless local man confronting the tourist from behind before knocking him to the ground and repeatedly punching him.
The viral clip exploded online, with thousands of viewers praising the unidentified local for defending the beloved seal.
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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.
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) May 10, 2026
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
The incident even caught the attention of Hawaii state Sen. Brenton Awa, who jokingly referred to the local man as an “Ambassador of Aloha” during a public meeting while displaying a letter of recognition for him.
“Some of us have seen environmental activists — 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.
He also clarified that officials do not officially condone violence.
Still, Awa said many locals are frustrated by tourists disrespecting Hawaii’s wildlife and environment.
“We see this all the time with people with a different type of mentality coming in and destroying our stuff,” he said.
Maui Mayor Richard Bissen also publicly condemned the tourist’s alleged actions.
“Let me be clear, this is not the kind of visitor we welcome on Maui,” Bissen said in a statement posted online.
“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.”
According to officials, the tourist was detained for questioning after the incident but later released after requesting an attorney. So far, no criminal charges have been filed.
However, authorities say the case has now been turned over to federal wildlife investigators for possible prosecution under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
If charged, the man could reportedly face fines up to $50,000 and possible jail time.
The seal involved in the incident, Lani, has become something of a local symbol in Maui since returning to Lahaina after the devastating 2023 wildfires.
Residents say the community has grown deeply protective of her.
Online, many commenters made it very clear they felt little sympathy for the tourist after the viral beatdown.
“Once he threw the rock, his fate was sealed,” one person joked online.
Another wrote, “Pretty bad when the whole state of Hawaii after you.”