Hawaii is in uproar after a video went viral on social media showing a man randomly throwing a large rock at a seal off the coast of Lahaina, Maui. The monk seal, which was nowhere near the man and was apparently minding its own business, shows the rock missing the animal by a few inches and reacting with alarm.
A 37-year-old Seattle man allegedly threw a rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal in Maui and when confronted allegedly said “I don’t care, I’m rich. Fine me with whatever you want. I can pay for it.” He was detained and the case has been referred to federal investigators pic.twitter.com/JOyqe36Eep
— SEATTLESUBMISSIONS (@SEATTLESUBMISS) May 7, 2026
Onlookers are visibly stunned, and you can hear gasps as the man launches his rock. A woman yells out:
“What are you doing?! Why would you throw a rock at it?! Hello?! You f–kin haole! He just threw a rock!”
Though not caught on video, angry locals are said to have confronted the man, who is alleged to have responded: “I don’t care, I’m rich. Fine me with whatever you want. I can pay for it.” Related videos appear to show angry Hawaiians pursuing the man and beating him:
— readingthetl (@readingthetl) May 7, 2026
“Definition of a psychopath”
But, in a satisfying development for anyone who loves animals and hates a-holes, a fine may be the least of this guy’s long-term worries. The individual in the video was detained by cops and identified as a 37-year-old man from Seattle. He invoked his right to an attorney and made no comment in police interview, and now authorities are exploring criminal charges.
Department of Land and Natural Resources Chief Jason Redulla gave a media briefing in which he said “federal enforcement” is potentially being pursued:
“We are preparing to complete our investigative report and turn our investigation over to the federal government, NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement, so that they can pursue potential federal enforcement action with this case on Maui.”
Throwing a rock at any seal (or any animal) is the act of a deeply sick individual, but passions amongst Hawaiians are particularly high for the monk seal, which was named Hawaii’s official state mammal in 2018. This is one of the most endangered seal species in the world, with only an estimated 1,600 left alive.
Dudes a DSM-5 definition of a psychopath.
— Jaywhysee (@CathroJennifer) May 8, 2026
Strict conservation efforts are underway in the hopes that the monk seal can avoid extinction – and psychos from Seattle hucking rocks in their direction is the last thing they need.
The man in question has already been widely identified online, with his logistics company having apparently pulled down all his socials. However, without any official charges having been filed it’d be irresponsible to name someone just because social media is convinced they have their man. One thing’s for sure, Hawaiians are going to make this guy regret he ever set foot on Maui.
Published: May 8, 2026 03:49 am