CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
A Hawaiian monk seal pup sleeps at Kaimana Beach on June 8.
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Yes, they are terribly cute. But Hawaiian monk seals are also an endangered, protected species, and the rules dictate that their human neighbors and visitors not interfere with them.
The tourist couple on Kauai who paid a fine likely could have benefited from a prompt about the law before they posted a video on TikTok, documenting that they touched a seal.
The fact that they then ran away suggests they knew it was not a good idea; still, clear signage would be appreciated, and is plainly needed.