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COURTESY KAUAI MARINE MAMMAL RESPONSE PROGRAM
Hawaiian monk seal RK30, who was recently attacked at Salt Pond Beach on Kauai.
COURTESY DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Shylo Akuna
A 19-year-old Eleele man was charged today with harassing a pregnant Hawaiian monk seal on Kauai.
Shylo K. Akuna was charged with prohibited take of a monk seal, disorderly conduct and violation of county park rules. He was scheduled to be arraigned at Fifth Circuit Court at 1 p.m. today. The offense, take of a monk seal, is a Class C felony. Akuna faces penalties of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.
A video posted on social media showed a man repeatedly punching the 17-year-old monk seal identified as RK30 at Salt Pond Beach at about 7:15 p.m. Tuesday. She is pregnant with her seventh pup.
Biologists checking on the monk seal observed her resting on the west side of the beach with no apparent injuries. RK30 has suffered previous injuries, including from a shark attack, entanglement in fishing line, and from a boat propeller.
Officers from the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement arrested Akuna near Eleele Thursday afternoon.
Conservation and Resources Enforcement Division Chief Thomas Friel has said the video and several eyewitnesses helped identify a suspect, resulting in Akuna’s arrest.
The video of the attack drew outrage from many around the country on social media.
“These are really wonderful creatures and so we want to treat this crime with the most serious intention. And we will pursue the highest level of penalty for anyone caught and convicted of a crime of harming Hawaiian monk seals,” said DLNR Chairwoman Suzanne Case at a news conference Thursday.
This deviant obviously suffers from a human identity crisis. Studies of violent criminals, especially killers, have identified juvenile cruelty to animals as an leading indicator of future similar behavior towards people.
Put this guy away before that happens, or bear the guilt of not doing so.
agree but as the TV reports have noted,a few Native Hawaiians have done this kind of thing several times before and have claimed that they have the right to do whatever they want to defile the sea and land. If he is prosecuted, look for him to threaten everyone along with seals with more damage.
Allie if you cannot back your statement up with facts, like Trump you are only talking through your anus. Insinuating that Native Hawaiians stating that they have a legal license to do things not pono. Yep braddah was Hawaiian, but his actions displays how unHawaiian he has become. For someone who is an advocate for Education that makes such an uneducated statement truly reflects your intelligence and your desire to be a button pusher validated by amount of times other bloggers replying negatively with the majority of your mana`o.
One Hawaiian to another Hawaiian: You going down………
Bigisand, Don’t put Allie and Trump in the same category, it’s offensive to Mr. Trump.
I said a few Native Hawaiians and I was saying what the KGMB report said. And this man was not the first to do what he did. Check the archives hon. to hide the truth.
Pathetic comment allie. And, as ever, it is one that is grounded in your undying contempt for our host culture. Shame.
I am indigenous and I know host cultures. The man beating up the seal was not in anyway part of a host culture. Enough with the shibai out here.
A few years ago, didn’t someone kill a seal in the Anahola area and claim it was his right as a native Hawaiian to harvest and eat the seal?
Yes and he lost in Federal Court. He could not show that seals were part if the Hawaiian diet.
Yes, another indication of Hawaiian’s belief that they can do what they want, no matter the law or moral virtue of doing instead the right thing.
yup..check the SA archives
give him the max sentence.
Shylo K. LOSER! 5 years is not enough. King Kamehameha would have his head.
Cannot he mentally retarded.
Snip him before he multiplies.
Did they ever catch the person who killed a monk seal pup on Kauai around December 2014?
Maybe because the laws have changed regarding “take of a monk seal”, this 19 year old may get a harsh sentence. But it may be hard for the court because in 2009, some idi*ot judge sentenced a man on Kauai who shot (4 times at close range) and KILLED a monk seal to “90-day sentence in a detention center and was charged a $25 processing fee”. They say it was because the man was “old”. Yet, I would say the judge committed a crime with that kind of ridiculous sentence.
Sad that he lives amongst us!
So sad they are the ones who give the Hawaiian’s a bad name. Lock him up and throw the key away. He does not deserve anything less/he should get the max. sentenced he deserve.
Like I posted earlier, it shows how unHawaiian he has become. As a Native Hawaiian it sickens me and my Hawaiian family who was brought up living pono and making pono.
He would argue that as a Hawaiian it was his right to do as he did, and that you’re unHawaiian for failing to support him. And that is what a lot of people experience. So, who is unHawiian I wonder?
one?
Glad the seal is okay but wonder if she has psychological issues caused by that person. Mahalo for NOAA and DLNR for catching him. Now our justice system must prevail.
No leniency. Give him the max penalty.
It will be interesting to see if the judge in this case will have the guts to give him the max penalty if found guilty or will he be a wimp and let him off with a slap on the wrist. The way the judges work here in Hawaii I think he will be a wimp.
The presiding judge should give the maximum sentence to deter others from even thinking about harming these helpless animals again. Wish the news would publish the presiding judge’s name to make it easier to voice our opinions to.
I think he was beating up the seal because the seal was way more good looking than this stupid Hawaiian that’s not so Hawaiian.
seal reminded him of a former girlfriend.
Young and very stupid. Probably thought it was funny. Probably not laughing now.
Shylo K. Akuna. The “K” stands for King Idjiot.
Yayyyyyyy ! We caught the idiot! 5 years in prison and a 50 thousand dollar fine?? Let’s make it 10 x’s the penalty…..give him some time to sober up! Is there a picture of this clown?
I wonder why he did this? Anyone know?
We hawaiians do not mistreat any animal. How dare he claim sovereignty for such a heinous crime? He is not a true hawaiian.