The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the killing of a protected Laysan albatross, or moli, earlier this month on the windward side of O‘ahu. The injured bird was brought into Sea Life Park on Jan. 5 after reportedly being found in the Keolu Hills area in Kailua, and died two days later. It had been shot by a .22 caliber pellet. “It saddens me that someone would indiscriminately kill such a majestic native bird,” said Special Agent George Phocas, who said the albatross is struggling to make a comeback in areas such as Ka‘ena Point. “True sportsmen and gun users in Hawaii fulfill their kuleana to everyone — and especially to the ‘aina — by first learning the rules and the proper skills and standards,” he said. Killing an albatross is bad luck, he said, as well as illegal: the bird is protected by both federal and state law. Anyone who has information about the incident is asked to contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (808) 861-8525, or the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Hotline at 643-3357.