30 swimmers accused of harassing dolphin pod off Hawaii Island

A joint investigation between state and federal officials is now underway.

[darrellpasion]

I'm not surprised who's harassing the pod of dolphins. The usual suspects. ⛄️ 😅

[Cangr]

Make them do community service. Have them clean up the streets before they leave.

[nadinelynch]

As a Kanaka Maoli. This is why the natives say please respect the Aina and animals. Which disrupting the animals are against the law. I think people need to start paying a ticket for breaking that law to learn it doesn't pay to break it.

[grplrhashi]

Top 5 Must dos visiting Hawaii
1.Respect Hawaiian and Local culture
2.Turn your back to the Ocean
3.Always buy a round-trip ticket
4.Swim with rocks in your pockets
5.Remember your just a guest

[jonh.]

Why isn't the boat/tour company mentioned and charged? Those tourists didn't get out there themselves. They were likely sold a "swim w/dolphins" tour package. Who is more to blame, the tour selling it, or the tourist who doesn't know the laws about it?

[Waynes-xtgr]

I dare you guys do the SAME THING to a tiger shark or great white!!!! bother them and its THEIR KAUKAU time with you!!!!

[cjsmith]

Too many tourists. Difficult to launch boat now. No local parking and all the turtles left.. they should only be allowed in the National Park near by.. they ruined that place

[charlynnchock]

That's why they get lickens, where are the fines, make um big, , monies will help perpetuate.. Then make them clean they beach

[lnite]

tourist. Why not "I didn't know" is not as excuse. At least it never has been.

[AtortAerials]

The problem is Hawaii expects people to know these things coming to the islands and of course they don't. It's the Hawaii tourism authority's responsibility be putting these videos on the flights over mandatory having them watch so they get educated on Ocean safety and how to behave in and out of the ocean. I can't tell you how many times I've had a toll tourist to keep away from monk seals and honu and even sitting on honu! They utterly clueless The real kicker is when you see locals doing stuff like this who should know better! And yes, locals do this all the time too.

[kawikadee]

Why not teach them a lesson and fine them $100 each the state will make bucks, and the idiots will learn a lesson.

[breakeverychain]

So dumb. Literally if the dolphins felt threatened they would have swam under them at 20mph and left.

[naomimuranaka]

Were they part of a ocean cruise? Maybe the company owners let them do these harassing.

[DeWin]

They're all lucky that the dolphins didn't turn it around on the swimmers and attack them.

[HwnDragon]

Omg 😵 travelers need infomercials on the airlines before they land!!

[ther]

so these guys get caught... but we didnt televise those last year and the year before for harassing turtles, on oahu and maui....

[jimmckinnon]

I think I'll go pet the box jellyfish.

[kakelinga]

The boat company knows better. They advertise swimming with dolphins and the tourists don't know any better. If the boat company doing the tour tells them it's okay, they figure it's okay. They need to to after these boat tour operators and owners.

[dkhnova]

What happened next? Were the people charged with a crime? Were they sentenced?

[dorthymcbride]

Damn it! Stop using go pro for stupid likes! Leave them alone!! KAPU!