A 37-year-old man from Seattle was detained in Maui after the Department of Land and Natural Resources said Instagram postings appeared to show him throwing an object toward a hawaiian monk seal swimming off the Lahaina shoreline. The man has not been criminally charged, and the state investigation is being turned over to NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement.
DLNR Maui Investigation
DOCARE officers responded after Maui Police Department Dispatch reported a case of monk seal harassment. The man matched the suspect description, and a DOCARE officer detained him on Maui.
He declined to make a statement and requested counsel of an attorney. The case now moves from the state investigation to NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement for further review and action.
Kaimana Beach Fence Breaches
The Maui case came as officials on Oʻahu reported several breaches of the temporary fence at Kaimana Beach that marks the resting area for Kaiwi and her pup. Kaiwi is a 15-year-old female monk seal that gave birth on Kaimana Beach on May 3, 2026, and she and her newborn pup were there again on May 4, 2026.
Jason Redulla, the DOCARE chief, said the public should stay clear of the area. “This is a very crucial time in the life of this pup, so for these people to be breaching the area and getting close is not a good idea at all,” he said.
Jason Redulla Warning
Redulla also pointed to the risk if a seal feels threatened. “If the mother seal perceives any human or pet to be a threat, she may attack. This is what happened during a 2022 encounter between a swimmer and mother seal at Kaimana Beach. The swimmer suffered lacerations to her face, back and arm,” he said.
He added that fines in earlier monk-seal cases have reached “several thousand dollars,” and said, “To keep people and pets safe, and to protect our endangered marine life, we ask the public’s help by showing respect for these animals and following all guidelines for safe viewing.” Hawaiian monk seals are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and state law, and it is illegal to disturb, harass, feed or otherwise harm one.
For public reporting, DLNR listed 800-853-1964 as the contact number tied to these incidents.
