A two-year-old vacation video sparked a social media kerfuffle over the weekend, prompting a stern admonishment by the governor, an apology from a family of entertainers and a reminder by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources that protected sea creatures are not for touchy-feely click bait.

What You Need To Know

  • Actress and singer China McClain (House of Payne, Black Lightning), said she did not know that touching a sea turtle was potentially illegal when she made contact with one while visiting Hawaii with her family a couple of years ago
  • The video drew more than 2,000 comments — many from people upset by her supposed cultural insensitivity and ignorance of the law — before McClain took it down on Monday
  • DLNR reported that it had reached out to the sisters, their managers, publicists, record labels and production companies on Monday to ask that the post be taken down. Both sisters apologized and said they did not understand the impact the video would have
  • DLNR clarified that touching turtles is illegal when law enforcement agencies determine that the actions constitute a “take,” i.e., that a person’s actions in some way harm a turtle or alter a turtle’s behaviors. Such action may be subject to federal or state sanctions

 

Actress and singer China McClain (House of Payne, Black Lightning), said she did not know that touching a sea turtle was potentially illegal when she made contact with one while visiting Hawaii with her family a couple of years ago. When she recently found the video her sister, Sierra — also an actress and singer — shot of the encounter on her phone recently, she had no idea the blowback that would follow once she shared it to her 7 million Instagram followers.

The video drew more than 2,000 comments — many from people upset by her supposed cultural insensitivity and ignorance of the law — before McClain took it down on Monday. Among those who commented was Gov. Josh Green, who urged McClain to educate herself about Hawaii’s laws and the importance of protecting endangered marine life before visiting.

“Please delete this video, and do better,” Green wrote.

DLNR reported that it had reached out to the sisters, their managers, publicists, record labels and production companies on Monday to ask that the post be taken down. Both sisters apologized and said they did not understand the impact the video would have.

“I was not fully aware of the situation until today, and I certainly wasn’t aware of the laws,” McClain told the department.

“It’s the people I don’t want to hurt,” she said. “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 Hawaii. We’re very sorry.”

Said Sierra McClain: “We have an immense amount of respect for the residents of Hawaii and their intent to safeguard their land and their wildlife, and we plan to take the necessary precautions in the future when traveling.”

The sisters’ father, Michael McClain, a music producer, said he appreciated the state for reaching out to make them aware of the situation.

“All our family loves and respects Hawaii and we apologize for inadvertently causing this pain,” he said.

DLNR clarified that touching turtles is illegal when law enforcement agencies determine that the actions constitute a “take,” i.e., that a person’s actions in some way harm a turtle or alter a turtle’s behaviors. Such action may be subject to federal or state sanctions.

“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 and the DLNR,” the department said in a statement released on Monday.

DLNR advised the public to keep at least 10 feet away from sea turtles; avoid touching, chasing, feeding, or interfering with adults and hatchlings; and avoid blocking access to or from the ocean.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.