‘We’re very sorry’: Disney actress apologizes after posting video touching a turtle on Maui
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – An actress known for her roles in multiple Disney productions is apologizing after she recently posted a video gently touching resting turtles in Hawaii.
Actress China Anne McClain is at the center of the fallout. Her sister Sierra McClain was filming.
In a now-deleted video once posted to her Instagram page, she’s seen walking up to to the turtles and begins touching them.
One environmental activist says that’s likely a violation of federal protection laws, however state officials say that might not be the case.
The video was posted sometime over the weekend, and quickly went viral for the wrong reasons.
It was taken in Paia on the north side of Maui, though Hawaii News Now hasn’t been able to confirm the exact location.
In an update put out by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources late Monday afternoon, McClain and her sister apologized and said the video was taken two years ago.
“I was not fully aware of the situation until today, and I certainly wasn’t aware of the laws,” McClain told the DLNR.
“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 Hawaii. We’re very sorry,” she added.
Her father and manager, Michael McClain, added, “All our family loves and respects Hawaii and we apologize for inadvertently causing this pain.”
Before it was deleted, the caption of the video said in part: “Just found this turtle gem… Found so many other pics from this beautiful healing place that I might share. Don’t be shocked if I pack up and move to Maui one of these days.”
Thousands of people saw it and shared it. It racked up nearly half a million views. One of them was Gov. Josh Green, who commented on it saying: “Aloha China, I urge you to educate yourself on Hawaii’s laws and the importance of protecting our marine life before visiting our islands.” Gov. Green’s comment went on to say “Please delete this video and do better.”
Hundreds more in the comments called for McClain to face steep fines for breaking the law.
However, the DLNR said, “Touching turtles is not necessarily breaking the law, unless law enforcement agencies determine that the actions are a ‘take.’ For example, if a person’s actions in some way harm a turtle or alter a turtle’s behaviors, there are a variety of state and/or federal laws that a person could be charged with.”
It’s unclear if the McClains will face any penalties for their actions.
“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,” state officials said.
Todd Steiner founded the Turtle Island Restoration Network, and has worked to protect turtles around the world.
He says Hawaii is one of the few places where turtles actually come on shore to rest, thermoregulate and digest.
“Just like any Hollywood actresses that probably doesn’t wanna be bothered after they eat, sea turtles are in the same boat,” Steiner said.
He says that while green sea turtles are usually calm animals, they do have very strong jaws. Hawksbill turtles, which are also found in Hawaii, do bite.
And either way, you should avoid getting close.
“We can pass on diseases as well as disturb the animals. You really don’t want to have direct contact with these animals as much as in your heart it would feel nice, but yeah, just don’t it,” Steiner said.
Copyright 2025 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
SPONSORED
Most Read
Latest News
“I was not fully aware of the situation until today, and I certainly wasn’t aware of the laws,” China Anne McClain told the state land department.
Life Surge Honolulu: A powerful one-day event to ignite your passion and kingdom impact
Police investigating shooting on H-2 Freeway
Motorcyclist dies after crash on Pali Highway
More rallies in Hawaii as DOGE cuts hit NOAA in the islands
16-year-old arrested and charged in connection to Kalihi shooting
Police arrest, charge Hilo couple in connection to alleged theft of rental vehicle
Changes for TheBus routes start Sunday
Water main break closes portion of Moanalua Road
Applications open for new affordable senior residence
First Alert: Hold onto those hats!
Coming Soon: ‘Grease’ at Diamond Head Theatre
New mural honors crash victim while raising awareness against impaired driving
With education secretary confirmation, Hawaii teachers fear possible cuts to programs
Man, 22, arrested after alleged violation of privacy in Waikiki
State surveys flock owners, bird rescuers on avian flu preparedness
Japanese two-way player mesmerizes Hawaii baseball fans
Former Disney star under fire for touching honu
KHON2
by: Cameron Macedonio
Posted: Mar 3, 2025 / 05:25 PM HST
Updated: Mar 3, 2025 / 06:10 PM HST
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Former Disney Channel star China Anne McClain, as well as her sister Sierra and father, who also serves as the sisters’ manager, are under fire after an Instagram post where one of the sisters are touching a local honu, while the other sister recorded.
The now-deleted post received thousands of comments, many of them pleading for the video’s removal and for the sisters to apologize, including a comment from Gov. Josh Green.
“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 Hawaiʻi and I came across it in my phone and decided to post it,” China told the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
While touching turtles is not necessarily against the law, unless the intent is to harm the turtle, there are multiple laws at the state and federal laws that a person could be charged with, according to the DLNR.
Get Hawaii’s latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You
“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.
Upon notification of the video, the DLNR made multiple calls and sent e-mails to the McClain sisters, their management, publicists, record labels and production companies to ensure the deletion of the post.
“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,” said DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources Administrator Brian Neilson.
Both sisters and their father-slash-manager have offered their apologies.
“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,” China said. “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 Hawaiʻi. We’re very sorry.”
“We have an immense amount of respect for the residents of Hawaiʻi and their intent to safeguard their land and their wildlife, and we plan to take the necessary precautions in the future when traveling,” Sierra said.
“We want people to know that China was not aware of the laws, and we appreciate that people and the agencies reached out,” Michael McClain said. “All our family loves and respects Hawaiʻi and we apologize for inadvertently causing this pain.”
DLNR advises that when people see honu, they stay at least 10 feet away from them, avoid touching, chasing, feeding or interfering with adults and hatchlings and avoid blocking their access to or from the ocean.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Primary Menu
Find more Hawaii, Oahu, Maui and Kauai news here
TOP STORIES
MORE STORIES
KHON2 Video
TRENDING STORIES
MORE HAWAII NEWS
Get News App
Get Weather App
Stay Connected
Ukrainians grapple with consequences of Trump’s pause …
Trump pauses U.S. military aid to Ukraine
‘Bows walk-off Northeastern, improves to 10-2
Local businesses prepare for additional China tariffs
Timber over Tinder: Bridegroom’s Oak in a German …
Trump pauses U.S. military aid to Ukraine
US tariffs on Canada and Mexico take effect, as China …
Why Trump’s joint remarks to Congress won’t be a …
A first-term Michigan senator is set to deliver the …
New Orleans rushes to rework Mardi Gras celebrations …
Trump to stand before Congress and offer divided …
Census Bureau under Trump seeks permission to delete …
Hawaii’s giant iguanas aren’t its worst invasive …
Audit reveals Honolulu rail system falls short of …
Love triangle murder guilty verdict explained
Makakilo residents relieved after arrest
‘Bows volleyball moves to third in latest AVCA rankings
Hawaii’s giant iguanas aren’t its worst invasive …
Former Disney star under fire for touching honu
Mural dedicated to high school student killed by …
Makakilo residents relieved after arrest
Diamond Head Theatre announces upcoming shows
It’s Girls Day!
Audit reveals Honolulu rail system falls short of …
46% say tax returns essential for 2025 budgeting
Food2Go: Dumpling Factory
Kupuna Caregiver: Therapeutic TV helps people with …
Hawaii News, Sports, Weather, Live Video: Working for Hawaii
Actresses rebuked for posting video of one of them touching sea turtle while in Hawai‘i
Two actresses and their father/manager contacted Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources officials Monday to apologize for creating a social media outburst by posting a video of one of the women touching a sea turtle while the other videotaped.
The Instagram post by actress China McClain — perhaps best known for her roles on Disney’s “A.N.T. Farm” and The CW’s “Black Lightning” — was taken down by midday March 3 after garnering tens of thousands of reactions and more than 2,000 comments, many of which pleading for the video to be removed and an apology for potential cultural insensitivity.
Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green was among them.
“I was not fully aware of the situation until today, and I certainly wasn’t aware of the laws,” the 26-year-old McClain told Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources. “The video was from 2 years ago when we visited Hawai‘i and I came across it in my phone and decided to post it.”
She has more than 7 million followers on Instagram.
McClain and her actress sister Sierra — best known for her roles in the TV series “9-1-1: Lone Star” and “Empire” on Fox as well as the Netflix original series “Mindhunter” and Tyler Perry’s 2007 “Daddy’s Little Girls” — said they are sorry.
They didn’t understand the impact the video would have.
“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,” McClain said. “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.”
“We have an immense amount of respect for the residents of Hawai’i and their intent to safeguard their land and their wildlife, and we plan to take the necessary precautions in the future when traveling,” added the 30-year-old Sierra McClain.
State and federal agencies charged with protecting marine species such as Hawaiian sea turtles became aware of the post Monday. The state Land Department made multiple phone calls and sent emails to the McClains, their managers, publicists, record labels and production companies to ask that the post be removed.
“We want people to know that China was not aware of the laws, and we appreciate that people and the agencies reached out,” said their father and manager Michael McClain. “All our family loves and respects Hawai‘i and we apologize for inadvertently causing this pain.”
Touching turtles is not necessarily breaking the law unless law enforcement agencies determine that the actions are a “take.”
For example, if a person’s actions in some way harm a turtle or alter a turtle’s behaviors, there are a variety of state and/or federal laws with which a person could be charged.
“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 [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration], the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the [Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources],” said state Land Department officials.
The public is reminded to:
As this incident was not directly witnessed or reported by anyone, it is difficult for state or federal conservation law enforcement agencies to establish intent.
For many years, the agencies have conducted extensive outreach to spread awareness about Hawai‘i wildlife viewing protocols.
Brian Neilson, administrator of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources, said that while 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,” said Neilson.
Facebook YouTube Instagram
