Louisiana Couple Fined For Touching An Endangered Monk Seal During Honeymoon In Hawaii

Jul 17, 2021

A Louisiana couple decided to spend their honeymoon in the beautiful state of Hawaii in June 2021. From cascading waves in the ocean to the breathtaking sunset on the beach, it was the perfect romantic getaway, and the couple made sure to document parts of their honeymoon and upload them to social media. They had gotten married in Kapalua, Maui and later visited a beach on Kauai. What should have been the happiest time of their lives turned out to be a time filled with public scrutiny and legal issues due to the couple’s own wrongdoings.

There was trouble in paradise for the wife, Lakyn, after she decided to touch a monk seal, which is an endangered Hawaiian species, and uploaded the clip to TikTok. Thanks to the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Hawaiian monk seal population is protected. Surely enough, the video went viral in July 2021, and people were upset with her lack of consideration and her disregard for the law. Lakyn and her husband Stephen have since been fined for their behavior.

The couple has received plenty of backlash for their wrongdoings, with much of the anger coming from disappointed Hawaii residents. Now aware of the severity of their actions, Lakyn and Stephen have apologized and have made the wife’s TikTok account private. The short clip sparked outrage due to Lakyn violating both state and federal law since she touched and bothered the Hawaiian monk seal. There are only around 1,400 Hawaiin monk seals left in the wild.

The video of this wife touching the endangered species has been taking over the internet, infuriating many people who watch it, especially Hawaiian residents. In the video, Lakyn was seen touching a monk seal in June at a beach on Kauai. After she touches the peaceful creature, it immediately raises its head and snaps at her, causing Lakyn to scream and run away. The video has since been uploaded to TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, and has been garnering plenty of views and plenty of angry comments.

On July 13, 2021, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported the couple has received a lot of backlash. Lakyn has also set her TikTok account to private. “We’re deeply sorry,” Stephen told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. “We love Hawaii and the culture. We didn’t mean to offend anyone. We respect the culture.” He also explained that since it was the couple’s first time in Hawaii, they were unaware of the laws surrounding the monk seal but realized “that’s no excuse.”

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported that touching or harassing a Hawaiian monk seal is considered a Class C felony under state and federal laws. Violators can face penalties of up to five years in prison and up to a $50,000 fine. According to the news outlet, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recommends that the public view monk seals from at least 50 feet away. The NOAA, the American regulatory agency responsible for monitoring and researching the ocean, is currently investigating the incident and has since assessed an undisclosed fine to Stephen and Lakyn for disturbing the monk seal.

What do you think about this video? Do you agree that this couple should have been fined for their actions? Let us know, and be sure to pass this on to your friends and family, too.