{"id":226829,"date":"2026-05-11T04:19:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T04:19:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/226829\/"},"modified":"2026-05-11T04:19:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T04:19:15","slug":"seattle-tourist-beat-up-hawaiian-after-viral-video-shows-him-tossing-rock-at-endangered-seal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/226829\/","title":{"rendered":"Seattle tourist beat up Hawaiian after viral video shows him tossing rock at endangered seal"},"content":{"rendered":"

A local Hawaiian is being hailed a hero for pummeling a Seattle tourist caught hurling a huge rock at a beloved monk seal<\/a> \u2014 and even earned a special recognition from the state government for the vigilante ass-whooping. <\/p>\n

The entitled tourist, 37, allegedly approached the endangered seal \u2014\u00a0known by Hawaiians as Lani \u2014\u00a0and tossed a massive rock at her as she swam along the shoreline off Front Street in Lahaina on Tuesday, according to social media posts and the Hawaii Department of Natural Resources<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After other beachgoers learned of the visitor\u2019s disgusting, caught-on-camera act, at least one enraged local went after the seal abuser and repeatedly punched him, according to video shared on social media. <\/p>\n

\"ManA 37-year-old Seattle tourist caught on camera tossing a huge rock at a beloved Hawaiian monk seal\u00a0was reportedly pummeled by an enraged local man following the troubling incident. Courtesy Kaylee Schnitzer<\/p>\n

The viral clip of the act of citizen justice <\/a>shows a shirtless man approaching the Seattle man from behind and knocking him down in a flurry of blows.<\/p>\n

The footage quickly scored thousands of likes and comments praising the local for helping dish out karma.<\/p>\n

The beat-down also grabbed the attention of state Sen. Brenton Awa, who showed off a letter of recognition for the anonymous seal advocate during a state meeting.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome 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,\u201d Awa said. \u201cOur attorney over here wants to make it clear we don\u2019t condone violence, but we did make a letter of recognition for Mr. Ambassador of Aloha.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I do just want to say that from our caucus, we see this all the time with people with a different type of mentality coming in and destroying our stuff, essentially, in this case, animals. But we\u2019d like at least the airline to play this type of video on all flights incoming so people don\u2019t do this kind of stuff,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

The destructive tourist, who hasn\u2019t been publicly identified, was detained for questioning following the outrage, the Hawaii Department of Natural Resources said.<\/p>\n

He was later released after he requested legal counsel. No criminal charges have been filed against him yet, authorities said.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me be clear, this is not the kind of visitor we welcome on Maui,\u201d Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said in a video posted to social media. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bissen, who is a former judge and prosecutor, said the alleged heinous attack on the endangered marine mammal struck a personal chord for many in the community.<\/p>\n

Lani, the monk seal, has become a symbol of Maui\u2019s recovery <\/a>following the\u00a0devastating Lahaina wildfires.<\/p>\n

\"AnMaui Mayor Richard Bissen said the alleged heinous attack on Lani struck a personal chord for many in the community. Instagram \/ @countyofmaui<\/p>\n

\u201cSince Lani\u2019s return to Lahaina following the 2023 wildfires, members of the Mayor\u2019s team and residents alike have watched over and cared deeply for her,\u201d Maui County said in an Instagram post.<\/a><\/p>\n

In comments under the video of the beatdown, many users rushed to say the tourist had it coming. <\/p>\n

\u201cOnce he threw the rock, his fate was sealed,\u201d one user wrote. <\/p>\n

\u201cPretty bad when the whole state of Hawaii after you,\u201d another user said. <\/p>\n

If charged, the man could face a $50,000 fine and possible jail time for violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which protects Hawaiian monk seals. <\/p>\n

The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources\u2019 enforcement division has turned the case over to federal prosecutors with NOAA\u2019s Office of Law Enforcement for possible prosecution under federal wildlife protection laws.<\/p>\n

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