In a recent bout of social media upheaval, the actions of film and television stars China and Sierra McClain have sparked both apologies from the sisters and an intervention by Hawaiian authorities. After sharing an Instagram post where China McClain was seen touching a sea turtle while Sierra recorded, a cascade of comments flooded in, questioning the respect for local wildlife and cultural sensitivities. The post, now removed, had attracted significant attention, including from Governor Josh Green, M.D., who urged its removal.
The DLNR said, "On its face their activity may not have been a violation of state or federal rules that protect endangered or threatened species like turtles, but it certainly ignored wildlife viewing guidelines developed by NOAA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the DLNR." The grand fiasco unfolded when the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) of Hawai‘i reached out to the actresses, their manager and related parties for the post's takedown, as detailed in an article on the Department of Land and Natural Resources website.
The McClain sisters issued heartfelt apologies for the confusion caused by their actions. China McClain expressed to the DLNR, "I was not fully aware of the situation until today, and I certainly wasn’t aware of the laws. The video was from two years ago when we visited Hawai‘i and I came across it in my phone and decided to post it." She further conveyed her reverence for the local culture and fauna: "It’s the people I don’t want to hurt. I understand respecting culture, and I understand the pain that comes with not having your culture respected. Those are never lines that we cross intentionally, so that part of this situation is hurting us right now. I adore these beautiful turtles, and the people of Hawai‘i. We’re very sorry," McClain said, as reported by the DLNR website.
The DLNR asserts that while the McClain sisters' behavior wasn't necessarily against the law, it wasn't in line with expected guidelines. Government agencies have made considerable efforts to inform visitors and residents about the importance of maintaining distance and respecting wildlife. According to DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources Administrator Brian Neilson, "Although we understand it was probably not intentional, this is not a pono way to interact with Hawaiian wildlife. We encourage the sharing of positive behaviors on social media to inspire others to appreciate and protect our beautiful surroundings."
Despite their lapse in judgment, Sierra McClain pledged future mindfulness, "We have an immense amount of respect for the residents of Hawai’i and their intent to safeguard their land & their wildlife, and we plan to take the necessary precautions in the future when traveling," she noted in the apology. The incident has brought to light the broader implications of social media behavior, especially when depicting interactions with protected species and culturally significant sites, as per DLNR.
