From a very young age, I was a hunter in Haleakala and later when I became a police officer on Molokai, I was an avid pig and deer hunter. In fact, I supported my family with the meat from these animals. I have seen how destructive these animals can be on the fauna and flora in our rainforest and dryland forest. As I got older and wiser I guess, I realized the damage these animals were doing not only to the forest but the land by overeating the foliage causing runoff of soil into the ocean. On Kahoolawe which I occupied and reclaimed it for the Hawaiian people in 1975 (and will be returned in two years after they cleared a portion of the bombs), goats have caused large areas of erosion. Of course the fires from the bombing and draughts took its toll on the island. Here on Maui we are trying to control the deer that are causing major damage to crops and slowly working themselves into the watersheds. All kinds of fencing projects are starting to control these animals. For the forests and mountains, it is most important to the Kanaka Maoli because this is what is called "Wao Kanaka," the place where the gods live. All the plants in the forest represent the god Kanaloa and that's why it has to be protected for the future of the Native Hawaiian race and others. You see people who come to Hawaii must realize that the culture takes precidence over everything else. Because you have hunted pigs or wild game for a long time, does not give anyone the right to destroy our islands.
I would like to tell you a true story that happened to me several years ago. A dancer for our Hula Halau (hula school) was dancing a chant that I wrote about Haleakala and Poliahu (the snow goddess). For almost a year I requested to use the Silver Sword (ahinahina) leaves for adornments that our dancer would be performing at the Merry Monarch Festival on the Big Island. After getting permission from Washington D.C., I decided that the plant was endangered and substituted the leaves of the Protea flower which served the purpose well. I was sending a signal to everyone, no matter if you were a native Hawaiian, some things needs protection. The health of the forest reflects the health of our environment and we as humans depend on its resources for our sustenance and well being.
Charles "Uncle Charlie" Maxwell
I feel that the Pigs and goats etc... should be managed. Why not let the hunting go on in some areas and not others. I also feel that the areas the endangered plants and species are in should be fenced off and the goats eradicated from the area. I am highly against "any" wasting of meat that could feed families. Why don't you folks see if the hunters will help you irradicate as in $ per head and they can still keep their right to access the mountains when the eradication is over. The problem with some environmentalists is that they overlook the fact that Hawaiians have the right to access the mountain for gathering la`au lapa`au (medicinal herbs). I'm highly against stopping Native Practitioners from mountain and sea access. You can have educational classes for native practitioners as to the importance of closing the gates yet still allow them access. The historical significance of Hawaiians to the Pig is also an issue. Religiously, Kamapua`a was the Pig God and also represented, rain, harvest, etc. He doesn't represent waste. In everything, there is good and bad. To totally eradicate the pig from the forest is to take a part of our culture away and although the Hawaiians raised their pigs, that was then, and now to feed the pigs is too expensive for hunters and (due to Western inflation) they use this to help support their families. My mana`o (thoughts). I am concerned about insensitive environmentalist who think nothing of disreguarding our lifestyle and culture to get their message across, instead they bring their own cultures and expect us to allow our ways to fade for their own convenience. Please note, I am an Environmentalist myself but I am also a Hawaiian Practioner who will not back down where my culture is concerned. I am not a hunter, nor are any of my immediate family but I support the hunters and managed eradication not total. I agree that Hawaii is quietly dying that is why it is very important for you to keep the mountain and sea access open for the native people. Do you know that people were not allowed to the summit of Maunakea to practice their religion? Yet, the astronomers were allowed to reach the summit that day. Don't only nurture our forest, nurture our people too or else you will be part of the problem. How about putting the Hawaiian people on the endangered species list?
I am a native practitioner of lauhala, gathering limu, bamboo (for instruments), native plant enthusiast and propagator, a Hawaiian studies educator, I have been contemplating the issue for a while. One of the parents of the students I used to teach Hawaiian Studies to asked me to help them (the hunters) get the message accross, not to totally eradicate all wild pigs. Maybe it would be a good idea to approach it in a way that they can benefit from the situation and maybe everyone will be happy. Start off in a small area and work your way outward but keep the access rights open and yes, education is the key to the success of all this. From my understanding (and I may be wrong), the hunters that I know are okay with managed eradication but not total. I understand there are some who are selfish and won't give in on both sides but if you can talk this out and have more discussions with the hunters on these issues, maybe you folks can come to some kind of agreement that everyone will be happy with. It is crucial to conference on this more, and that is why I'm so glad you brought it up. I did tell them (the hunters) that I do have concerns about the native plants and fauna. Also, there are other animals like mongoose, jackson cameleons, etc. that also need to be looked at where endangered species are concerned. I'm am living in Moku O Keawe (Island of Keawe, Hawai`i) and have concerns about many environmental and cultural issues here. I agree the discussion of these issues are paramount if anything is going to be protected and preserved.
Momi Subiono