Post by James Curry on Feb 7, 2006 10:36:57 GMT -5
www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/articles/2006/02/05/features/features13.txt
Pig hunting 'a spiritual tradition steeped in reverence for land'
Sunday, February 5, 2006 8:19 AM HST
by Karen Anderson
Stephens Media Group
For Hano Grace and his ohana, hunting wild pig is not just a sport, but a spiritual tradition steeped in reverence for the land and the cycles of nature.
More importantly, it's is about hunting for food, says the fourth-generation pig hunter from South Kona.
"It's meat for the table; it's how we grew up," said Grace. "Hunting was introduced to us by our great grandparents. It was survival."
One of nine siblings growing up in Opihihali, Grace learned to hunt pig with his father when he was a small child. He now lives in Captain Cook, while his brother Gordon remains in Opihihali where he has spent his entire life cultivating taro and hunting pig.
"We have four generations of pig hunters in our family," said Grace. "Growing taro was our livelihood and we hunt pig only for food."
Arriving with the Polynesians some 1,600 years ago, pigs (puaa) were brought onboard the canoes along with dogs, chickens, taro, plants, seedlings and other essentials for survival. Hawaii's feral pigs today are a mix of Polynesian pig, European boar and domestic pig. Pigs roam the lands at every elevation, from 10,000 mauka all the way to sea level.
Notably, the Hawaiian word for the pie-shaped land division that extends from mauka to the sea is "ahupuaa" -- which literally means "temple of the pig."
"The pig is significant to the people of Hawaii from a religious point of view," said Jon Sabati of Honaunau, a Big Island TV documentarian and hunter. "It's deep. The tradition carries on in the present day."
When hunting, most Hawaiian hunters track pigs using dogs that follow the scent on the trail left by glands on the back of the pigs' feet. The best pig-hunting dog is a crossbreed -- whether a lab, golden retriever or poi dog. A pig hunt can be a dangerous situation for a dog. That's why some dogs are equipped with full-body harnesses or neck harnesses to prevent a deadly stabbing by the pig's tusks.
"Some people hunt with 10 dogs, but I prefer one or two at the most," said Grace. "A dog is like a horse, you train them how you want them, with tender-loving care at puppy age. It's not just any dog off the street."
The tracker dog leads the way while the barking dogs keep the pig at bay until the hunters arrive. Responsible hunters are selective, killing only those pigs that are suitable for meat. If a small male pig is cornered, the hunter will usually castrate it and let it go. When the castrated pig is fully grown in a few years, it will make the best catch, says Grace.
"Every hunter's goal is to catch a male pig that's been castrated. It is the best for eating and has good texture of meat. Females that are nice and fat are good also, but for us, we only take the female if we have to because we want to let it breed."
Oftentimes a hunter will leave a personalized "ear mark" or signature cut on the ear of a castrated pig so that a future hunter will know who to mahalo upon snagging the prized male.
"It's a tradition to show that you're giving back," said Sabati.
Additionally, hunters will render the pig less dangerous by removing a boar's top tooth or "filer tooth" that grows perpendicular out the side of the jaw. This is the tooth that sharpens the tusk and also prevents it from curving around. The most dangerous boar is the one with a tusk that sticks out an inch-and-a-half in length like a knife ready to stab. The curved tusk, on the other hand, is relatively harmless in comparison.
Grace uses a shotgun for pig hunting, aiming directly for the pig's temple. Once a pig has been killed, the hunter will usually "field dress" the pig on site, removing the innards, then skinning and butchering it. To avoid a gamey flavor, proper dressing technique is crucial. Sometimes the pig is slung on the hunter's back like a backpack for the trek back. The meat is shared with neighbors and friends for everything from smoked pork and pork chops to kalua pig. Most Hawaiian pig hunters prefer the taste of wild pig over domestic.
"Wild game tastes better, is healthier and is hormone free," said Grace.
According to Grace, low-lying pigs are different from the mauka pigs. For one thing, mauka pigs are quite hairy while sea-level pigs are relatively bald. Some feral pigs feed on mac nuts and fruit, while upper-elevation pigs feed on the hapuu fern.
The best time to hunt pig is early in the morning. Pigs are active both day and night, especially on nights when the moon is bright. Hence, the morning of a full moon is the least desirable time to hunt pig because pigs are less likely to be out and about after a full night of activity. On the Big Island, it is illegal to hunt pig between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Additionally, pigs are smarter than dogs. The bigger the pig, the more akamai it is to the hunter and dogs, Grace said.
"They are smart to the trap. They are not dumb. My brother had a pet pig that was his friend. It could roll over, sit and speak. And it loved Hershey's candy," he said.
Grace and his fellow hunters, like Roland Tavaris of Hilo, consider themselves stewards of the land. When hunting, they take time to remove alien species of plants, propagate seeds, participate in reforestation projects and teach young people ethics and safety.
Pigs, they say, get a bad rap for devastating the forest.
"It's all about keeping the population in balance and that's where the hunter comes in," said Sabati. "Pigs actually benefit the native plants. They root up the ground like a rototiller and you can see the new growth coming up. They collect the spores of the hapuu fern on their backs and disperse them in the mud."
For Sabati, Grace and their fellow hunters, hunting pig involves a special relationship with nature.
"Even if we don't catch a pig, it's still a good day," said Sabati. "It's quality time with family and friends, we're alive and we're taking care of the 'aina."
Pig hunting 'a spiritual tradition steeped in reverence for land'
Sunday, February 5, 2006 8:19 AM HST
by Karen Anderson
Stephens Media Group
For Hano Grace and his ohana, hunting wild pig is not just a sport, but a spiritual tradition steeped in reverence for the land and the cycles of nature.
More importantly, it's is about hunting for food, says the fourth-generation pig hunter from South Kona.
"It's meat for the table; it's how we grew up," said Grace. "Hunting was introduced to us by our great grandparents. It was survival."
One of nine siblings growing up in Opihihali, Grace learned to hunt pig with his father when he was a small child. He now lives in Captain Cook, while his brother Gordon remains in Opihihali where he has spent his entire life cultivating taro and hunting pig.
"We have four generations of pig hunters in our family," said Grace. "Growing taro was our livelihood and we hunt pig only for food."
Arriving with the Polynesians some 1,600 years ago, pigs (puaa) were brought onboard the canoes along with dogs, chickens, taro, plants, seedlings and other essentials for survival. Hawaii's feral pigs today are a mix of Polynesian pig, European boar and domestic pig. Pigs roam the lands at every elevation, from 10,000 mauka all the way to sea level.
Notably, the Hawaiian word for the pie-shaped land division that extends from mauka to the sea is "ahupuaa" -- which literally means "temple of the pig."
"The pig is significant to the people of Hawaii from a religious point of view," said Jon Sabati of Honaunau, a Big Island TV documentarian and hunter. "It's deep. The tradition carries on in the present day."
When hunting, most Hawaiian hunters track pigs using dogs that follow the scent on the trail left by glands on the back of the pigs' feet. The best pig-hunting dog is a crossbreed -- whether a lab, golden retriever or poi dog. A pig hunt can be a dangerous situation for a dog. That's why some dogs are equipped with full-body harnesses or neck harnesses to prevent a deadly stabbing by the pig's tusks.
"Some people hunt with 10 dogs, but I prefer one or two at the most," said Grace. "A dog is like a horse, you train them how you want them, with tender-loving care at puppy age. It's not just any dog off the street."
The tracker dog leads the way while the barking dogs keep the pig at bay until the hunters arrive. Responsible hunters are selective, killing only those pigs that are suitable for meat. If a small male pig is cornered, the hunter will usually castrate it and let it go. When the castrated pig is fully grown in a few years, it will make the best catch, says Grace.
"Every hunter's goal is to catch a male pig that's been castrated. It is the best for eating and has good texture of meat. Females that are nice and fat are good also, but for us, we only take the female if we have to because we want to let it breed."
Oftentimes a hunter will leave a personalized "ear mark" or signature cut on the ear of a castrated pig so that a future hunter will know who to mahalo upon snagging the prized male.
"It's a tradition to show that you're giving back," said Sabati.
Additionally, hunters will render the pig less dangerous by removing a boar's top tooth or "filer tooth" that grows perpendicular out the side of the jaw. This is the tooth that sharpens the tusk and also prevents it from curving around. The most dangerous boar is the one with a tusk that sticks out an inch-and-a-half in length like a knife ready to stab. The curved tusk, on the other hand, is relatively harmless in comparison.
Grace uses a shotgun for pig hunting, aiming directly for the pig's temple. Once a pig has been killed, the hunter will usually "field dress" the pig on site, removing the innards, then skinning and butchering it. To avoid a gamey flavor, proper dressing technique is crucial. Sometimes the pig is slung on the hunter's back like a backpack for the trek back. The meat is shared with neighbors and friends for everything from smoked pork and pork chops to kalua pig. Most Hawaiian pig hunters prefer the taste of wild pig over domestic.
"Wild game tastes better, is healthier and is hormone free," said Grace.
According to Grace, low-lying pigs are different from the mauka pigs. For one thing, mauka pigs are quite hairy while sea-level pigs are relatively bald. Some feral pigs feed on mac nuts and fruit, while upper-elevation pigs feed on the hapuu fern.
The best time to hunt pig is early in the morning. Pigs are active both day and night, especially on nights when the moon is bright. Hence, the morning of a full moon is the least desirable time to hunt pig because pigs are less likely to be out and about after a full night of activity. On the Big Island, it is illegal to hunt pig between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Additionally, pigs are smarter than dogs. The bigger the pig, the more akamai it is to the hunter and dogs, Grace said.
"They are smart to the trap. They are not dumb. My brother had a pet pig that was his friend. It could roll over, sit and speak. And it loved Hershey's candy," he said.
Grace and his fellow hunters, like Roland Tavaris of Hilo, consider themselves stewards of the land. When hunting, they take time to remove alien species of plants, propagate seeds, participate in reforestation projects and teach young people ethics and safety.
Pigs, they say, get a bad rap for devastating the forest.
"It's all about keeping the population in balance and that's where the hunter comes in," said Sabati. "Pigs actually benefit the native plants. They root up the ground like a rototiller and you can see the new growth coming up. They collect the spores of the hapuu fern on their backs and disperse them in the mud."
For Sabati, Grace and their fellow hunters, hunting pig involves a special relationship with nature.
"Even if we don't catch a pig, it's still a good day," said Sabati. "It's quality time with family and friends, we're alive and we're taking care of the 'aina."
