Hawaiians are upset after a photo of a man urinating atop the Kilauea volcano went viral online.
The act, which was deemed as inappropriate and disrespectful, has caused a huge uproar, with many social media users stating that it underlines the importance of cultural education. In the photo, the man can be seen urinating while the volcano was still erupting.
The man, who has been identified in the now-viral photo has since deactivated his Instagram account.
Photo via Geophysical Institute
According to NDTV, Hawaiian activist Kumu Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu said: “Many foreigners do not understand how we Kanaka feel about our relationship to the places and spaces here in the islands that we live in.”
He also claimed that the location holds a significant symbolism for the people of Hawaii, who are all furious after seeing the offending photo.
In a statement, the Hawaii National Park expressed their disappointment saying: "This seems to depict the improper disposal of human waste in a developed area, which is in violation of Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
"It also demonstrates a lack of understanding and disregard for the cultural significance of Kilauea.”
Local legend holds that Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes, calls Kilauea her home.
However, this is not the first time an incident like this happened. It was reported that a man who had just moved to Hawaii posted a video of himself peeing on Mauna Kea in November.
Aiyo!
