Maui man accused of harassing whale, dolphins in West Hawaii
The Department of Land and Natural Resources said 65-year-old David Jimenez of Maui was cited this morning at Kealakekua Bay after enforcement officers received numerous calls reporting alleged wildlife harassment.
Jimenez was allegedly actively pursuing an adolescent humpback whale and dolphins inside Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park.
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DLNR enforcement officers on Sunday received a video recording of a man snorkeling close enough to the adolescent humpback whale to almost touch the whale’s fin.
The DLNR said officers recorded Jimenez today actively pursuing a pod of spinner dolphins.
DLNR recorded a video, in which they say Jimenez, in the black dive suit, was leading a group chasing the dolphins. Both whales and dolphins are protected by state and federal laws.
Jimenez refers to himself as “Dolphin Dave,” on Facebook, and allegedly told officers he’s not going to stop swimming with whales and dolphins “because it’s magical and others do much worse things.”
Jimenez was cited with prohibited acts in regard to an endangered whale species and harassing wildlife in a state park.
He’s scheduled to to appear in Kona District Court at 8:30 a.m. on May 11.
