Visitors harassing wildlife will face consequences

Mayor: Those who don’t respect culture ‘really don’t need to come’

A recent increase in videos and social media posts of visitors "behaving badly" by illegally touching and disturbing endangered Hawaiian monk seals or sea turtles have sparked community concern and a call to action by local officials.

"This is really, really bad behavior," Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino said Friday afternoon during a news conference. "For those visitors who don't respect our protocols and respect our culture and respect our people, I will say to them, 'You really don't need to come and if you're here, go, because that's not the kind of visitor I want. I don't want you coming to my home and acting like that and I wouldn't do that to you.' "

While many people tour the islands with the intent of having a nice vacation while respecting the people and culture, Victorino said that there are some tourists "harassing monk seals and chasing sea turtles" on Instagram or TikTok posts, which have gone viral.

There was also an incident of a man standing on the King Kamehameha I statue on Hawaii Island.

"Visitors behaving badly, we hear more and more of this each and every day," Victorino said. "So I ask everyone to please, please start to behave yourself when you come here."

Endangered marine wildlife, such as monk seals, are protected under state and federal laws and regulations, said Jason Redulla, chief of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement, during a separate news conference on Friday.

According to Adam Kurtz, the marine wildlife management coordinator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries, people must remain at least 50 feet away from "critically endangered" Hawaiian monk seals, and 150 feet away if it's a mother monk seal with a pup.

NOAA and DLNR both recommend a distance of 10 feet from turtles, 50 yards from dolphins and small whales and 100 yards for humpback whales.

"These laws are put into place to protect and preserve these species for generations to come," Kurtz said. "We know that when you are out in the water and you see these animals, it can be a very exciting experience and you want to document that experience, and you can get a great picture to post on your social media while also being respectful of the wildlife, respectful of the local culture while also following the law."

Touching and harassing protected marine animals is considered a felony and can result in up to five years in prison and a $50,000 fine.

"Going forward, DOCARE officers have been instructed to investigate cases of wildlife harassment and refer them to county prosecutors for prosecution," Redulla said. "Our officers cover about 700 miles of shoreline in addition to millions of acres of state land; we cannot be everywhere at every time and as a result, we rely on witnesses to report people who are too close or harassing our wildlife."

Over the past two weeks, Redulla said that about 31 tips have been reported to the DLNRTip App about the recent incidents of Hawaiian monk seal harassment; 10 tips regarding turtle harassment, mainly touching, swimming or feeding turtles; and two tips involving people pursuing spinner dolphins.

Brian Neilson of DLNR's Division of Aquatic Resources said that efforts are being made to increase education and awareness on "viewing etiquette" through public outreach and coordinating campaigns with airlines to "address this important issue."

Hawaii Tourism Authority's chief brand officer, Kalani Ka'ana'ana, said Friday that the organization will continue to network with various groups to educate visitors on laws that protect wildlife and about respecting the culture; HTA has invested in educational campaigns since 2018.

In a Facebook post earlier this week, Gov. David Ige said, "I want to be clear that this behavior is absolutely unacceptable.

"Visitors to our islands -- you're asked to respect our people, culture and laws protecting endangered species that are found nowhere else in the world," Ige said in the post. "For those who don't, make no mistake, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Hawaii is a unique place that is home to many. We ask that you be considerate of all the people, and creatures, living here."

To report illegal activity, call the NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-196 or the DOCARE hotline at 643-DLNR (3567).

* Dakota Grossman can be reached at dgrossman@mauinews.com.