Trial Set for November in Hawaii Monk Seal Attack Case
Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, of Washington state, has been scheduled for a November 16 jury trial after being charged with harassing an endangered Hawaiian monk seal named Lani in May 2026. The incident occurred when Lytvynchuk allegedly threw a rock at the seal in the Lahaina area of Maui, an act captured on video that gained national attention on social media. The case highlights federal protections for endangered Hawaiian monk seals, with potential penalties including up to one year in prison per charge and fines exceeding $100,000.
A federal magistrate judge has set a November 16 trial date for Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, who is accused of throwing a rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal known as Lani on May 5, 2026, in Maui's Lahaina area. According to the complaint, Lytvynchuk picked up a large rock and threw it toward the seal's head while witnesses were present; the rock narrowly missed and startled the animal. Lytvynchuk is charged with harassing and attempting to harass an endangered Hawaiian monk seal under federal wildlife protection laws. His attorney claims Lytvynchuk intended to protect sea turtles he believed were nearby and was unaware the monk seal was endangered, having confused it with aggressive sea lions from his fishing experience in Washington. If convicted, Lytvynchuk faces up to one year in prison for each charge, plus fines up to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act, $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and $100,000 under the Criminal Fine Improvements Act. The incident gained widespread attention after being posted on social media by a Maui local and a Fox 13 Seattle reporter.
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Judge Sets Timeline for Hawaii Tourist's Monk Seal Attack Case
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