On Tuesday morning (May 5), a 37-year-old man from Seattle was caught on camera throwing a rock at an endangered monk seal while visiting Maui, Hawaii. After the incident, video then surfaced of residents taking matters into their own hands and teaching him a lesson. Additionally, local and state officials are also seeking federal prosecution and penalties for the man.
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During the incident, Maui resident Kaylee Schnitzer, 18, recorded the man as he allegedly harassed a Hawaiian monk seal. The animal, known as “Loni the Monk Seal,” was swimming off of Maui’s Lahaina shoreline at Shark Pit.
Schnitzer, who was taking photos nearby, witnessed the man throwing a rock-like object towards a Hawaiian monk seal. They are an endangered species and protected under both state and federal law: Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Officials require people to keep at least 50 feet away from the animals. It is illegal to disturb, harass, feed, or otherwise harm a monk seal. Violations can carry fines and possible jail time.
In videos, Schnitzer and another witness yelled at the man, “What are you doing?” Speaking with Hawaii News Now, she said, “What he was picking up was like a rock the size of a coconut. It wasn’t no small rock. It was the size of a coconut. And he threw it right, directly aiming towards the monk seal’s head.”
Schnitzer and the other witness immediately called the state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and watched as the monk seal swam toward nearby rocks. She said, “It laid on a rock and its head in the water and its tail in the water, belly up, just laying there.”
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State And Local Officials Vow To Prosecute Seattle Man Who Threw Rock At Monk Seal
The Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement’s (DOCARE) Maui Branch responded to the call. Upon arrival at the scene, a DOCARE officer detained and questioned the man. He has since been widely identified on social media platforms as Igor Lytvynchuk. He is a 37-year-old tourist from Seattle, Washington and is reportedly the owner of a shipping company.
According to DOCARE, the officer let the man go after he invoked his legal rights. He declined to make a statement while requesting legal counsel. Since the incident, no criminal charges have been filed. However, DLNR said it was investigating the incident, and DOCARE turned the case over to federal investigators with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Office of Law Enforcement (NOAA-OLE) for further review and action in accordance with the MMPA.
Additionally, officials, from Maui’s mayor to state senators, are pushing for a federal investigation and justice. Hawaii State Senator Brenton Awa has spoken out. And on Thursday (May 7), Maui Mayor Richard Bissen condemned the incident and vowed to prosecute the Seattle man. He told Hawaii News Now:
“Let me be clear, this is not the kind of visitor we welcome on Maui. 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.”
In a post on Instagram, he continued:
“Mayor Richard Bissen speaks out in support of Lani, a beloved Hawaiian monk seal and cherished member of Lahaina’s ocean ʻohana. A former judge and prosecutor, Mayor Bissen has dedicated his life to protecting not only the people of Maui County, but also the wildlife and natural resources that make these islands so special. Since Lani’s return to Lahaina following the 2023 wildfires, members of the Mayor’s team and residents alike have watched over and cared deeply for her, making recent events especially personal for many throughout the community. Mayor Bissen affirmed that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated and remains committed to ensuring justice is served for Lani.”
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