A tourist has been charged after throwing a rock at an endangered seal on the Hawaiian island of Maui.
A federal investigation was sparked after a video appearing to show a man throwing a large rock toward an endangered Hawaiian monk seal, known as Lani, sparked widespread anger online and across Hawaii.
The man, now identified as Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, has been charged with violating the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Lytvynchuk was on vacation in Hawaii when the incident occurred on May 5.
“The unique and precious wildlife of the Hawaiian Islands are renowned symbols of Hawaii’s special place in the world and its incredible biodiversity. We are committed to protecting our vulnerable wild species, in particular endangered Hawaiian monk seals, like Lani,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson.
“We pledge that those who harass and attempt to harm our protected wildlife will face rapid accountability in federal court.”
Who is Igor Lytvynchuk?
Lytvynchuk is listed as the president of IL Logistics, Inc., a Seattle based logistics company, according to a filing with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.
Lytvynchuk was identified by online sleuths not long after the original video was posted earlier this month. He has anecdotally been linked with another Seattle-based company, Transridge, which has been targeted with negative reviews on Yelp. Newsweek has been unable to verify if he is involved with the company.
“Do not trust this company, it’s run by people who have no shame in trying to kill animals in broad daylight, I can’t imagine what goes on behind closed doors,” wrote one user from Snoqualmie, Washington.
Another said: “Don’t give animal abusers your business. Only evil people intentionally hurt animals.”
The Attack
According to a criminal complaint unsealed Thursday, Lytvynchuk was seen and filmed on May 5, 2026, walking along the shoreline in the Lahaina area of Maui while following the movements of a Hawaiian monk seal known as Lani, which was pushing a floating log near the shore.
The complaint alleges that Lytvynchuk then picked up a large rock, aimed it at the seal and threw it toward Lani’s head. The rock reportedly narrowly missed the seal’s nose, startling the animal and causing it to rear out of the water.
Witnesses immediately confronted Lytvynchuk and told him law enforcement had been contacted. According to the complaint, he responded that he was “rich enough to pay the fines” before walking away. Witnesses also said Lani remained largely motionless for an extended period afterward.
Lani’s current condition and whether she was injured in the attack is not publicly known. Newsweek has reached out to Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources via email for an update.
The attack was first investigated by local law enforcement before being passed to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
It has drawn sharp condemnation from local officials.
“Like many in our community, I was shocked by what happened,” Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said in a video statement posted to Instagram. “Lani is not just a seal to us, 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,” Bissen said. “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.”
Lytvynchuk was arrested by NOAA agents on Wednesday, near Seattle. He is scheduled to appear at the federal courthouse in Seattle on Thursday, May 14.
If convicted, Lytvynchuk could face up to one year in prison on each charge, along with a term of supervised release. He could also be fined up to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act and up to $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Hawaiian Monk Seals
The Hawaiian monk seal is one of the rarest marine mammals in the world. Hawaii’s Division of Aquatic Resources estimates that only about 1,600 mature seals remain in the wild.
The species was listed as endangered in 1976, and wildlife officials have repeatedly urged both residents and tourists to keep their distance from the animals.