The coast of Lahaina, on Maui, was the scene of an affront that has set social media ablaze. A 37-year-old tourist from Seattle was caught throwing a rock at Lani, a Hawaiian monk seal of which only 1,600 remain in the world.
According to witnesses and NOAA reports, when confronted, the man responded arrogantly: “I’m rich, I can pay whatever fine you want”.
Mayor Richard Bissen has already warned that these visitors “are not welcome”. The tourist is being held and faces a possible 50,000-dollar fine and jail time for violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act.