A Hawaiian senator has sparked debate after praising a man who physically assaulted a tourist for throwing a rock at an endangered monk seal. The incident occurred on April 5 on the shoreline off Front Street in Lahaina, Maui, according to the Hawaii Department of Natural Resources.
Video footage shows the tourist, a 37-year-old from Seattle, hurling a large rock at the seal, known locally as Lani. Moments later, an unidentified man approached and punched the tourist in what has been described as a retaliatory attack. The video was shared by state Senator Brenton Awa during a government meeting.
Senator Awa referred to the attacker as an 'activist' and suggested he should receive a letter of recognition for defending the animal. 'Some of us have seen environmental activists who took matters into his own hands to educate what might happen when you mess with our lands or the animals,' Awa said. He added that while violence is not condoned, the incident could serve as a deterrent for future visitors.
The Hawaiian monk seal is an endangered species, with populations now about one-third of historical levels. Lani has been tracked by authorities for around seven years and is well-known to locals. The tourist was taken in for questioning but later released without charge.
Awa proposed that airlines play similar videos on incoming flights to discourage such behaviour. The incident has gone viral on social media, with many locals expressing support for the man who intervened.
