HONOLULU (NEWSnet) — Hawaii officials on Monday cited a Maui man seen on video snorkeling for allegedly harassing a humpback whale and pod of dolphins.

David Jimenez, 65, of Maui, Hawaii, allegedly pursued an adolescent whale, getting close enough to touch it. 

The state's Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement also observed Jimenez pursuing a pod of spinner dolphins. The officer said the man was leading a group chasing the dolphins.

State and federal laws protect whales and dolphins. 

Jimenez has been charged with two violations. 

He says he will not stop swimming with sea mammals because it is "magical and others do much worse things."

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