HONOLULU (KHON2) — It’s a mysterious image making the rounds on social media. Though the photo is blurry, you can tell it is some kind of animal.
“It’s like a big cat of some sort. I’m not too sure what it is, but it’s big,” Donovan explained.
Donovan said he first saw it and took the photos on May 23 around 6:15 p.m.
According to Donovan he was standing in the back of the Hawaii Imin International Conference Center when something on the ridge across from him caught his eye.
“It’s crazy, there it was,” Donovan said. “And then I’ve been coming there every day after work trying to find it again.”
He said he finally saw it again today around 11:15 a.m.
“It was just sitting there,” Donovan replied. “[It] looked like it was looking for something to eat.”
The purr-plexing image of the creature created a ripple effect of questions and unease for many including those who live and work nearby.
“We heard there’s a mountain lion and I do not think those are born in Hawaii,” Sophie Malooli, a student who lives nearby, said chuckling.
“I was a little nervous and also really excited,” UH student Marty Kaaua said. “I’m also really nosey so that’s why I ended up here.”
“I’ve been working here for about a year. We haven’t seen anything yet, but some of the guys said they seen something,” Keoni Fuertes, a construction crew member said. “I think it’s alarming. Kinda scary.”
The Department of Land and Natural Resources confirmed they received a call about a large cat near the East West Center at UH.
“[The Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement] has sent officers to check it out. Thus far, after a couple of hours on scene in search of the animal, there have been no sightings,” the Department of Land and Natural Resources said in a statement.
For the nearby community, all they can do is hope that the feline is handled appropriately and with care.
“I hope they find out where it came from for sure,” Malooli added. “And I hope there’s a humane way they can handle it as well.”
Donovan said he’ll rest more easily once they find it.
“I hope they catch it, cause. Yeah, it definitely can pull one of us,” Donovan said.
This is not the first time witnesses have caught what they believe to be a large wildcat on camera. In 2022, there were several sightings of what was believed to be a mountain lion on Hawaii Island.
DLNR could not confirm if that was true. Though there were multiple videos, the animal was never found.