A man seen throwing a rock toward an endangered Hawaiian monk seal did so to protect turtles and is “devastated” that people might think he wanted to hurt wildlife, his defense attorney has said.
According to a criminal complaint—available to read below—unsealed last week, Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, of Covington, Washington, was filmed on May 5, 2026, walking along the shoreline in the Lahaina area of Maui while following the movements of a Hawaiian monk seal known as Lani. The incident gained widespread attention after a witness posted video footage online.
The complaint alleges that Lytvynchuk then picked up a large rock, aimed it at the seal and threw it toward Lani’s head. Authorities said the rock narrowly missed the seal’s nose, startling the animal and causing it to rear out of the water.
Lytvynchuk’s attorney, Myles Breiner, has publicly defended his client. “I want to be resoundingly clear to the public — he never intended to injure the monk seal,” Breiner told KHON-TV.
Breiner said Lytvynchuk believed he was trying to protect sea turtles that were resting on rocks near the shoreline.
“He wanted to scare the seal away from the honu he saw there,” Breiner said. “Apparently, there were two large turtles and one had already been knocked off the rock by the seal.”
According to Breiner, Lytvynchuk was unaware that Hawaiian monk seals are endangered and was influenced by previous experiences with aggressive sea lions while fishing in Washington state.
“Sea lions are very aggressive,” Breiner said. “They’ll take your bait, they’ll take your fish — that’s been his experience.”
Asked in a separate interview if Lytvynchuk was apologetic, Breiner told Hawaii News Now, “absolutely, no, he’s devastated at the notion that people thought he wanted to injure the seal.”
“He was doing something good by scaring it away.”
Newsweek left a voicemail at a number listed for Lytvynchuk and sent an email on Friday.
Lytvynchuk’s first court appearance is scheduled to take place in Honolulu on May 27.
Backlash
The incident was initially investigated by local law enforcement before the case was referred to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and has drawn condemnation from local and federal officials.
“Like many in our community, I was shocked by what happened,” Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said in a video statement posted to Instagram. “Lani is not just a seal to us, she is part of our ocean ohana in Lahaina. Many of our residents know her, watch over her, and care deeply about her well-being.”
“Let me be clear, this is not the kind of visitor we welcome on Maui,” Bissen said. “We welcome respectful visitors that understand that our cultural environment and wildlife must be treated with care and aloha. Behavior like this will not be tolerated.”
“The unique and precious wildlife of the Hawaiian Islands are renowned symbols of Hawaii’s special place in the world and its incredible biodiversity. We are committed to protecting our vulnerable wild species, in particular endangered Hawaiian monk seals, like Lani,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “We pledge that those who harass and attempt to harm our protected wildlife will face rapid accountability in federal court.”
Who Is Igor Lytvynchuk?
According to a filing with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, Lytvynchuk is listed as the president of Seattle-based logistics company IL Logistics, Inc.
Lytvynchuk is a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Ukraine, Hawaii News Now reported, citing his attorney. He has surrendered his passport and is considering making donations to wildlife protection efforts, Breiner said.
Following the incident involving Lani, Lytvynchuk was assaulted by another man, which was also recorded and shared online. Breiner said he does not plan to press charges over the matter, though he was “beaten pretty bad.”
“There were no broken bones, but he has welts all over his back, his head, shoulders,” Breiner said.
Hawaiian Seal Monks
Hawaiian monk seals are a critically endangered species, with around 1,600 currently in the wild, according to Hawaii’s Division of Aquatic Resources. Seal hunting expeditions during the mid-19th century reduced populations to near extinction levels, though they have recovered since.
They are protected under the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and Hawaii state law. It is illegal to disturb, harass, feed, or otherwise harm a monk seal, and violations can result in fines or criminal penalties.
Their range spans the main Hawaiian Islands as well as the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, according to the NOAA. On rare occasions, they have also been observed at Johnston Atoll, located nearly 1,000 miles southwest of Hawaii within the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument.
Read the Hawaiian Monk Seal Lawsuit in Full
