
5/5/22 Controlling Axis Deer
Season 2022 Episode 17 | 56m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
Maui County's problem with axis deer has gotten out of control.
Axis deer have been a problem on the islands of Maui County for a while. But lately, the problem has gotten out of control.
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Insights on PBS Hawaiʻi is a local public television program presented by PBS Hawai'i

5/5/22 Controlling Axis Deer
Season 2022 Episode 17 | 56m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
Axis deer have been a problem on the islands of Maui County for a while. But lately, the problem has gotten out of control.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> THERE'S AN ABUNDANCE OF AXIS DEER IN MAUI COUNTY.
FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, THEY HAVE BEEN AN IMPORTANT FOOD SOURCE FOR MANY RESIDENTS.
BUT THEIR INCREASING NUMBERS ARE HAVING A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE, NATIVE FOREST AND THE WATER SUPPLIES.
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO CONTROL OVERPOPULATION AND LESS OF AN IMPACT OF HAWAI'I'S AXIS DEER?
TONIGHT'S LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVE STREAM OF INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII START NOW.
∂∂ >> Yunji: ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I...I'M YUNJI DE NIES.
AXIS DEER WERE FIRST BROUGHT TO HAWAI'I IN THE 1860S AS A GIFT TO KING KAMEHAMEHA V FROM HONG KONG.
ORIGINALLY BROUGHT TO THE ISLAND OF MOLOKA'I, THE DEER HAVE SINCE BEEN ESTABLISHED ON THE ISLANDS OF LANA'I AND MAUI.
TODAY AXIS DEER NUMBER IN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS ON EACH OF THESE ISLANDS AND THEIR PRESENCE IS DEFINITELY BEING FELT.
WITH NO NATURAL PREDATORS, THE DEER POPULATION CONTINUES TO BALLOON, AND THEY ARE HAVING DEVASTATING IMPACTS ON AGRICULTURE, NATIVE FORESTS, AND WATERSHEDS.
THEIR UNCHECKED GRAZING HAS CONTRIBUTED TO MASSIVE EROSION AND LED TO SOIL RUNOFF, CONTAMINATING STREAMS AND COASTLINES.
FOR SOME IN MAUI COUNTY, THE DEER ARE AN IMPORTANT FOOD SOURCE, BUT HUNTERS COMPLAIN OF ACCESS ISSUES.
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THE AXIS DEER PROBLEM?
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.
YOU CAN EMAIL US OR CALL US WITH YOUR QUESTIONS.
WE ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE CONVERSATION ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.
NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.
TROY HELMER WAS BORN IN ALASKA AND MOVED TO MAUI IN 1979.
HE IS THE PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF THE NONPROFIT, MAUI HUNTERS AND SPORTSMEN'S CLUB BASED IN MAKAWAO.
HE IS AN AVID BOW HUNTER AND AN ADVOCATE FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO MORE HUNTING LANDS ON MAUI.
JAMIE WOODBURN IS THE PRESIDENT AND ALONG WITH HIS WIFE THE CO-FOUNDER OF THE MAUI OLIVE COMPANY.
FOUNDED IN 2011, THE COMPANY HAS ORCHARDS IN UPPER KULA AND IS THE FIRST FARM TO PRODUCE EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL IN HAWAII.
HE RUNS THE ONLY COMMERCIAL OLIVE MILL IN THE STATE.
JEFF BAGSHAW IS THE COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH SPECIALIST FOR THE DLNR DIVISION OF FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE WORKING IN THE MAUI NUI BRANCH SINCE 2014.
HE HAS BEEN WORKING IN CONSERVATION ON MAUI FOR THE LAST 34 YEARS AND PREVIOUSLY WORKED FOR THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AT HALEAKALA.
AND JOINING US VIA ZOOM IS YUKI LEI SUGIMURA.
SHE REPRESENTS UPCOUNTRY ON THE MAUI COUNTY COUNCIL AND IS THE LEADER OF THE AXIS DEER TASK FORCE THAT WAS FORMED IN 2021.
A GRADUATE OF BALDWIN HIGH SCHOOL AND UH MANOA, SHE IS CURRENTLY SERVING IN HER THIRD TERM ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
WE DO APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THIS ISSUE.
JEFF, WE SAID TENS OF THOUSANDS AT THE START.
WE SAW A LITTLE BIT OF THAT VIDEO BUT WE WANT TO SHOW MORE.
THESE POPULATIONS ARE QUITE ENORMOUS.
HOW BIG ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
>> THE NEW NUMBERS ARE MORE ACCURATE NUMBERS.
EVERYONE -- THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TOSSING AROUND ABOUT HOW MANY THERE ARE.
WE'VE SETTLED ON AT LEAST 60,000.
POSSIBLY AS HIGH AS 70,000.
SOME PEOPLE WILL SPECULATE MORE, BUT THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE CAN CONFIRM.
SO A LOT.
>> Yunji: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE IMPACTS.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THAT MANY, YOU KNOW, THESE HERDS, HOW BIG ARE THESE HERDS AND THE IMPACT THAT WE SEE?
>> THE HERDS CAN VARY IN SIZE.
THEY CONGREGATE AT TIMES AND SOMETIMES THEY SPLIT UP.
IN THE NATURAL HABITAT, THESE ARE FEMALE DOMINATED HERDS THAT GET TOGETHER DURING BREEDING SEASONS.
HERE IN THE ISLANDS, IT SEEMS TO BE A MIX.
IT'S ABOUT WHERE THE FOOD -- THE AVAILABILITY OF FOOD IS, AND THEY MOVE TOWARDS THAT.
>> Yunji: I'M LOOKING AT THIS VIDEO RIGHT NOW.
THESE ARE NOT SMALL NUMBERS.
>> THAT WAS TAKEN ON MOLOKAI.
THAT'S ON THE WINDWARD SIDE.
BECAUSE I WAS ON THAT HELICOPTER RIDE.
TAKING SOME OF THE STILL PHOTOS WHILE DAN WAS TAKING THE FOOTAGE.
>> Yunji:LET'S LOOK AT MAUI AS WELL.
I THINK WE HAVE VIDEO OF MAUI COUNTY.
IT'S COMING RIGHT UP, I'M TOLD.
WHEN YOU SEE THOSE POPULATIONS RUNNING ON THOSE HILLSIDES, THIS IS PRETTY INCREDIBLE.
TELL US ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE.
>> THAT'S ON MAUI.
THAT'S JUST AFTER EVERYDAY OCCURRENCE.
WHEN OUR CREWS ARE FLYING OUT TO DIFFERENT, REMOTE AREAS, POINT THE PHONE DOWN AND TAKE FOOTAGE.
THAT'S IN THE CENTRAL AREA.
>> Yunji: THAT' PRETTY REMARKABLE.
JAMIE, TELL US ABOUT WHAT KIND OF AN IMPACT THESE ANIMALS HAVE ON YOUR ORCHARDS?
>> THE IMPACT'S BEEN INCREASING OVER THE LAST FOUR, FIVE YEARS.
AND WE'RE PARTIALLY FENCED.
WE'RE NOT TOTALLY FENCED SO THEY HAVE BASICALLY UNRESTRICTED ACCESS.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE IT'S SPORT FOR THE DEER.
THEY'LL COME DURING A CERTAIN SEASON AND START RUBBING ON THE TREES.
RUB THROUGH THE BARK.
AND SOME CASES JUST PUSH THE TREES OVER.
THE OTHER DAY WE DID A COUNT.
WE HAVE ABOUT TWO THOUSAND TREES, AND OVER 1600 OF THEM HAVE BEEN SCRAPED SEVERELY.
AND IT SETS THE TREE BACK IN TERMS OF ITS PRODUCTION AND ITS GROWTH RATE.
AND IT'S ULTIMATELY GOING TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE YIELD IN HARVEST WE'LL GET PER TREE.
WE'VE GOT TO FENCE THE ORCHARD SO THAT WE CAN SUSTAIN IT.
OTHERWISE, WE'LL LOSE IT.
>> Yunji: YUKI, WE MENTIONED THAT TASK FORCE AT THE TOP THAT YOU ARE SPEARHEADING THAT WAS FORMED LAST YEAR.
WHAT ARE THE FINDINGS SO FAR, AND WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO ACHIEVE WITH THAT GROUP?
>> SO THE GOAL WITH THE TASK FORCE IS TO CONTROL, MANAGE AND TO FIND RESOURCES, WHICH IS FUNDING TO HELP MITIGATE THE PROBLEM, AND THAT HAS BEEN THE VERY BEGINNING.
THAT'S BEEN OUR MISSION AND OUR GOAL.
SO WE PUT TOGETHER A GROUP OF PEOPLE.
THERE'S ABOUT 35 PEOPLE WHO ARE PART OF THE TASK FORCE.
I CALL IT ALPHABET SOUP.
WE HAVE FEDERAL, STATE AND COUNTY OF DIFFERENT DIVISIONS.
TO TALK ABOUT THIS, WE HAVE A HUNTING GROUP.
WE HAVE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GROUP.
WE HAVE AN ECOLOGICAL GROUP.
WE HAVE A LEGISLATIVE BRANCH AND COMMUNICATIONS.
WE'RE GOING INTO OUR FOURTH MEETING.
WE KIND OF JUST STARTED.
I THINK EVERYBODY WAS FOCUSED ON THIS PROBLEM, AND WE ALL UNDERSTAND THE SERIOUSNESS.
AND SO FOR US, WE HAVE GONE AFTER IN OUR DIFFERENT REALMS FUNDING SOURCES.
THE COUNTY OF MAUI HAS PUT UP MONEY.
TOMORROW WE HAVE A COUNCIL MEETING TO VERIFY $1.5 MILLION THAT MAYOR VICTORINO PUT IN AS ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO HELP WITH EXACTLY WHAT JAMIE WOODBURN IS TALKING ABOUT, FENCING, TO HELP MITIGATE THE CONTROL OF AXIS DEER.
AND WE HAVE MORE MONEY THAT WE PUT IN.
BUT IT'S THIS KIND OF REALLY AGGRESSIVE STEPS FORWARD THAT I THINK WAS NEEDED.
I HEARD FROM THE OTHER WORKING GROUPS THAT WERE FORMED IN PREVIOUS -- FROM 2002, I THINK, OR '03.
AND PART OF THE PROBLEMS WAS THERE WASN'T FUNDING.
WE MADE SURE THAT ALL THE GOOD IDEAS, WE HAD FUNDING SO WE CAN HELP THE FARMERS, HELP THE RANCHERS TO MITIGATE THE CONTROL.
AND MARCH FORWARD WITH LEGISLATION TO SEE HOW WE CAN ACTUALLY DO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PORTION OF BEING ABLE TO HAVE SLAUGHTERHOUSE AND PROCESSING THE MEAT AND HAVING THE USDA APPROVAL SO WE CAN MARCH FORWARD.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO DO THE CHALLENGES.
>> Yunji: TROY, LET'S BRING YOU HERE AS A HUNTER.
PATRICK FROM KAPAHULU HAS A COMMENT.
WE LOVE YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS SO DO KEEP THEM COMING.
PATRICK SAYS WE NEED TO CULL THE HERD BY ABOUT TWO-THIRDS.
IT'S INHUMANE FOR THE DEER.
TELL US ABOUT CULLING THE HERD.
HOW EASY OR DIFFICULT ARE THESE ANIMALS TO HUNT?
ONCE YOU HAVE KILLED ONE, THEN WHAT?
>> THEY'RE DIFFICULT TO HUNT.
THEY'RE HIGH-STRUNG.
THEY'RE VERY NERVOUS ANIMALS.
TO CULL THE HERD, A NORMAL PERSON THAT HUNTS HAS ONE OR TWO A DAY.
DEPENDING IF YOU USE A RIFLE.
IF YOU'RE USING A BOW, IT COULD BE LESS.
TRYING TO CULL THE HERD, YEAH, IDEALLY THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
WE NEED TO ELIMINATE 20,000 DEER A YEAR TO KEEP THE DEER SUSTAINABLE AT A LEVEL WHERE THEY'RE NOT INCREASING OR DECREASING.
SO THAT'S A LOT OF ANIMAL TO TRY TO KILL AND TO MAINTAIN AND TO BUTCHER.
>> Yunji: RIGHT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT PROCESSING.
BECAUSE KILLING THE DEER IS ONLY STEP ONE.
>> RIGHT.
YOU GOT TO KILL THE DEER, THEN BUTCHER IT.
BLEED IT OUT, GUT IT AND YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO PROCESS THE MEAT.
BRING IT HOME.
HAVE FREEZERS AND PLACE TO STORE IT.
THEN YOU CAN MAKE ALL KINDS OF STUFF.
PERSONALLY, I MAKE DIFFERENT KINDS OF STUFF.
I MAKE SMOKED MEAT.
WE MAKE JERKY, WE MAKE SAUSAGE.
AND EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE IS GROUND BURGER.
GROUND BURGER YOU CAN USE IN EVERYTHING.
IT'S VERY GOOD, AND IT'S SUPER LEAN.
AND A REALLY GOOD, SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE THAT WE DON'T WANT TO SEE GET WASTED.
>> Yunji: JAMIE, I WANT TO GO BACK TO YOU.
WHAT KIND OF MITIGATION MEASURES OTHER THAN THE FENCING HAVE YOU PUT INTO PLACE?
DO YOU EVER HUNT THEM THEMSELVES OR BRING IN HUNTERS TO TRY TO HELP?
>> WE TRIED TO BRING IN SOME HUNTERS.
WE HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH THE LEGALITY OF GETTING PERMITS FROM DLNR FOR NIGHT TIME HUNTING, WHICH IS WHEN THEY'RE MOST ACTIVE.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING PEOPLE ON SITE.
I UNDERSTAND WE COULD BE HUNTING DAYTIME, BUT THE DEER TYPICALLY AREN'T OUT DURING THE DAY.
AND OUR BIGGEST ISSUE IS IF WE CAN CONTROL OR MINIMIZE ACCESS, THEN MAYBE WE CAN START TO PRESSURE THE DEER.
SOME OF THE HUNTERS THAT WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH SAID ONCE YOU START PRESSURING THE DEER, THEIR BEHAVIOR PATTERNS WILL CHANGE, AND THEY'LL GO TO OTHER AREAS.
THAT'S THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF FENCING FROM OUR STANDPOINT.
WE'VE GOT NEIGHBORS THAT ARE ADJACENT TO THE ORCHARD.
AND REALITY IS ONCE WE PUT UP OUR FENCE, THOSE DEER ARE GOING TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND SO WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR NEIGHBORS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WE ARE FENCING.
AND THERE MIGHT BE AN INCREASE IN DEER ACTIVITY.
LIKE YUKI WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, IT'S MUCH MORE THAN JUST FENCING.
IT'S A MANAGEMENT, IT'S A BALANCE.
TALK ABOUT CULLING OUT 20,000.
THAT'S JUST TO KEEP IT AT THE LEVEL THAT IT'S AT NOW, WHICH COULD OR COULD NOT BE -- FROM STANDPOINT, FROM MY STANDPOINT, THAT'S PRETTY HIGH.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS DROP DRAMATICALLY.
A LOT OF ISSUES.
>> Yunji: JEFF, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT 20,000 NUMBER?
HOW MANY ARE BEING KILLED RIGHT NOW ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AND CULLED, IF YOU WILL?
WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO GET TO 20,000?
>> DEER THAT WE HAD FROM LAST YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE ABOUT 10 TO 12,000.
SO NOT EVEN HALF, AND 21,000 IS THE ESTIMATE OF TAKING ABOUT 30%.
WE NEED TO DO THAT FOR AT LEAST TEN YEARS.
WE CAN DROP TO 20% AFTER THAT.
THE PRIMARY PROBLEM, AS MENTIONED BEFORE, IS IN THEIR NATIVE HAS BEEN HABITAT, THEY HAVE NINE DIFFERENT KINDS PREDATORS FROM LIONS TO TIGERS, WOLVES AND EVEN PYTHONS.
IN HAWAI'I NONE.
THE CHIEF ISSUE IS IN THEIR NATIVE HABITAT, 48% OF ALL THE FIRST BORN YEARS, THEY DIE WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR.
35% IN THE SECOND YEAR.
IN HAWAI'I, 95% OF ALL FAWNS SURVIVOR.
THAT'S OUR PROBLEM.
BECAUSE WE'RE NOT HUNTING THE WAY PREDATORS WOULD.
SO THAT NUMBER MAINTAINING -- IF WE FALL BEHIND ANY YEAR, IT JUST KEEPS BLOSSOMING AND GROWING.
THAT'S WHY WE SEE THE EXPLOSIVE NUMBERS.
>> Yunji: AN EXPONENTIAL GROWTH.
ALICE SAYS HOW MANY DEER ARE THERE ON EACH ISLAND ON MAUI COUNTY?
YOU GAVE US THAT OVERALL NUMBER.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT ISLAND BY ISLAND?
>> I'LL HAVE TO DIG THROUGH MY NOTES.
>> I HAVE SOME NOTES.
>> Yunji: WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU IN A MINUTE.
YUKI HAS A NUMBER FOR US.
>> NUMBERS THAT MAYBE JEFF CAN VERIFY.
FOR MAUI, ABOUT 60 TO 70,000.
FOR MOLOKAI, ESTIMATES THAT WE HEARD IS ABOUT 60,000.
AND LANAI IS 27,000 TO 35,000.
LANAI HAS A VERY GOOD CONSERVATION DIVISION.
MOST OF THE ISLAND IS OWNED BY MR. ELLISON.
THEY HAVE A LOT MORE CONTROL OVER THEIR ISLAND, WHICH MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.
THESE ARE THE NUMBERS WE'VE BEEN HEARING, AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER TO CULL BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY WAS LOOKING FOR.
AS TO WHERE WE NEED TO GO SO WE CAN SUSTAIN THIS AND MANAGE IT.
>> Yunji: TROY, I WANT TO BRING YOU IN.
THIS QUESTION FROM DAVID IN HAIKU.
HE'S HEARD THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH SLAUGHTERHOUSES ON MAUI.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE ARE ANY.
DO THE AXIS DEER HAVE TO BE SENT TO THE MAINLAND FOR PROCESSING?
IS THAT TRUE?
>> NO.
YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO PROCESS WILD GAME AT A USDA INSPECTED SLAUGHTERHOUSE.
SO YOU HAVE TO DO IT IN YOUR OWN HOUSE, IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD.
YOU CAN'T TAKE IT SOMEWHERE TO SLAUGHTER BECAUSE IT'S A WILD ANIMAL.
>> Yunji: LET'S SAY YOU WANT TO TURN THIS INTO BUSINESS BECAUSE YOU HAVE PLENTY OF STOCK.
IF YOU CAN FIGURE HOW TO HUNT THEM, AS SKITTISH AS THEY ARE, IS THERE MONEY TO BE MADE?
COULD THIS BE SOMETHING TO DRIVE THE ECONOMY?
>> YES, THERE IS.
THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT'S DOING IT.
MAUI NUI IS DOING IT.
THE PERSON THAT'S IN CHARGE, I DON'T WANT TO MENTION HIS NAME.
HE'S DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB.
HE'S UTILIZING EVERY BIT OF THE DEER.
NOTHING'S GETTING WASTED.
I GIVE HIM KUDOS FOR THAT.
LITERALLY NOTHING GETS WASTED.
SO SEEING THAT -- I JUST DON'T LIKE SEEING IT GET SHOT AND LEFT ON THE GROUND.
TO ME, THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
>> Yunji: WHAT'S THE GOING RATE FOR A POUND OF THIS MEAT?
AND WHO'S BUYING IT?
>> WELL, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO SELL IT.
THAT MAUI VENISON DOES HAVE DEER BURGER FOR $26 A POUND.
SOME PRIMER CUTS GO UP TO $45, $46 A POUND.
IT GETS PRETTY EXPENSIVE.
ANYBODY ELSE, WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO SELL IT.
IT'S NOT LEGAL TO SELL WILD MEAT.
I PERSONALLY GIVE IT AWAY TO ALL MY FRIENDS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE.
THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT'S INTERESTING, IN 1959, THERE WAS ONLY NINE DEER BROUGHT TO MAUI.
SO THIS ALL STARTED FROM NINE DEER.
THERE WERE SIX DOES AND THREE BUCKS.
SO YOU FIGURE IT WENT FROM NINE TO 60,000 IN 63 YEARS.
IT'S 2022 NOW.
SO IT'S 63 YEARS.
THAT'S A HECK OF A JUMP FROM 9 TO 60,000.
>> Yunji: IT CERTAINLY IT.
THE QUESTION IS, WHY WASN'T THIS ADDRESSED EARLIER IF YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF GROWTH?
FROM THE STATE'S SIDE?
FROM DLNR'S PERSPECTIVE, WHY HAS IT GOTTEN SO OUT OF CONTROL?
>> FROM THE STATE'S SIDE, UM, ALL WE CAN DO IS FOSTER.
AND WE DO THAT IN ANY WAY WE CAN.
ON MAUI, ONE UNIQUE THING, THERE'S NO BAG LIMIT.
YOU CAN HUNT ANY TIME.
THERE'S NO SEASON AND THERE'S LIMIT.
THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR DECADES.
SO OUR JOB IS JUST TO PROVIDE THE ABILITY TO HUNT ON STATE LANDS.
NOW, WE CAN'T, UNFORTUNATELY, CONTROL OTHER LANDS.
WE CAN TRY TO HELP IF WE'RE ASKED BY A LANDOWNER, BUT IF I CAN SHOW A MAP BRIEFLY, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL SAY, WHY DOESN'T THE STATE DO -- WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE?
IF YOU CAN SEE THAT ON CAMERA.
THE BROWN AND GREEN AREAS, THAT'S ABOUT 20% OF THE LAND ON MAUI.
ONLY ABOUT 20%.
THE REST IS PRIVATE LAND.
AND THE DEER -- I'LL TRY TO PLAY WEATHERMAN HERE.
DEER ARE MOSTLY IN THIS REGION WHERE THE PRIVATE LAND IS.
SO THE PROBLEM, WHEN PEOPLE SAY WE NEED MORE ACCESS, WE NEED MORE ACCESS -- ANY OF THE BROWN AREAS ARE HUNTING AREAS THAT ARE FOR FOLKS WHO'VE GOT A HUNTING LICENSE AND A PERMIT.
BUT IF IT'S ON STATE LAND, IT'S KIND OF LIMITED IN WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP.
>> Yunji: WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD BE THE WAY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THAT?
ARE YOU HOPING THAT THE TASK FORCE CAN GET SOME KIND OF WAIVER TO HAVE ACCESS?
YOU CAN'T REALLY GO ON PRIVATE LAND, NO MATTER WHAT.
>> NONE OF US WANT TO LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE THE GOVERNMENT SAYS, WE'RE GOING TO DICTATE WHO HAS ACCESS TO YOUR LAND.
IT'S ONE PERSON AT A TIME OR ONE PARCEL LANDOWNER AT A TIME.
AS YUKI WAS SAYING, LANAI WORKS.
IT'S ONE LANDOWNER.
THAT'S PRETTY EASY.
ON MAUI, WE HAVE ABOUT 80,000 ACRES OF HUNTING LAND.
THE DEER ARE NOT NECESSARILY ON THAT LAND.
WE'RE WORKING TO ADD ABOUT 20,000 MORE ACRES.
AND BECAUSE THAT'S -- EACH PARCEL THAT WE TRY TO MAKE AN AGREEMENT WITH THAT LANDOWNER, BECAUSE THERE'S SENSITIVE ISSUES, WE CAN'T SAY THIS LAND OWNER IS READY.
BUT STAY TUNED.
WE'LL TRY TO ADD THAT SO THAT IT IMPROVES ACCESS.
THAT'S THE LIMIT OF WHAT WE CAN DO, IS PROVIDE ACCESS AND MEANS TO HUNT.
>> Yunji: TROY, YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING?
>> I WAS TRYING TO THINK ABOUT THIS AND THE RESOLUTION OF THE WHOLE PROBLEM IS SO WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT.
THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF IS, ALL THE LANDOWNERS ALWAYS SAY LIABILITY, LIABILITY, LIABILITY.
THAT'S ALL I HEAR.
SO WE NEED TO EITHER CHANGE THE LIABILITY LAWS OR WE GOT TO TRY TO SEE IF MAYBE WE CAN HAVE SOME KIND OF TAX INCENTIVES FOR LARGE LANDOWNERS THAT ALLOW HUNTERS TO GO ON THEIR PROPERTY OR ON THE MAINLAND, THERE'S LAND VOUCHERS OR LANDOWNER TAGS.
THE HUNTERS, ALL THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE TALKED TO ARE WILLING TO PAY A SMALL FEE TO HUNT THE AXIS DEER.
AND EVEN IF IT'S DOES ONLY.
JEFF WAS SAYING WE NEED TO CULL OUT THE DOES MORE THAN THE BUCKS.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO SHOOT THE BUCK.
IDEALLY, YOU WANT TO PUT THE BIG BUCK ON THE WALL.
BUT IT DOESN'T HELP AND IT'S INSUFFICIENT.
YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO HIM BETWEEN FOUR AND FIVE DOES TO EVERY BUCK.
>> Yunji: WOW.
YUKI, HOW IS THE TASK FORCE TRYING TO NAVIGATE SOME OF THESE ACCESS ISSUES WITH THE PRIVATE LANDOWNERS?
>> I WILL TELL YOU THAT AS PART OF THE 35 PEOPLE THAT ARE PART OF THE TASK FORCE, WE HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM THE LARGE LANDOWNERS, WHICH ARE THE RANCHES.
THEY LIVE OR RESIDE IN WHAT I CALL THE BREADBASKET, WHICH IS MY DISTRICT.
AND I WILL SAY THAT I HONESTLY HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH THEM.
THEY ALL ARE -- MANY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT LIABILITY.
AND THEY DO HAVE HUNTERS THAT HUNT ON THEIR LAND.
IT'S NOT LIKE THEY DON'T, BUT IT IS A LIST OF HUNTERS THAT THEY HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OVER THE YEARS, IT SOUNDS LIKE.
AND EVEN TO GET ON THAT LIST, THERE IS SOME GIVE AND TAKE IN TERMS OF HELPING THEM ON THE RANCH OR DIFFERENT THINGS.
BUT THEY ARE ACTIVELY WORKING TOGETHER AND TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS.
BUT AGAIN, LIABILITY IS A BIG CONCERN BECAUSE, AS YOU CAN GUESS, THAT'S GOING TO BE THE DEEP POCKET THAT PEOPLE WILL GO AND SUE THEM EVEN IF THERE'S A PIECE OF PAPER THAT SAYS, WE WAIVE OUR RIGHTS TO WHATEVER.
SO THERE'S LEGAL THINGS THAT ARE A BIG CONCERN.
I STAND BY THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LOT TO LOSE.
AND GOVERNMENT, WE CAN'T TELL THEM THAT THEY NEED TO OPEN UP THEIR LAND.
>> Yunji: JAMIE, YOU ARE A PRIVATE LANDOWNER.
YOU WOULD BE FACING SOME OF THOSE LIABILITY ISSUES.
>> YEAH.
I WANTED TO ASK YUKI ABOUT AS PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM THAT WOULD MANAGE THE DEER AND THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE AND DEPARTMENT OF AG OR DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ISSUES, ARE THERE PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING AT TRYING TO MAKE THAT PROCESS EASIER SO THAT LET'S SAY A LARGE RANCH WANTED TO GO IN DIVERSIFY AND BEGIN TO HARVEST DEER FROM THEIR PROPERTY, IT SOUNDS LIKES THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE INSPECTION AND KILLING OF THE ANIMAL IS A MAJOR OBSTACLE.
>> YEAH.
WHAT ABOUT THAT?
>> YEAH, IT IS A MAJOR OBSTACLE.
WE TRIED TO WORK ON IT THROUGH THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
WE'RE GOING TO TWEAK IT FOR THE NEXT.
WE WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL.
WE'RE NOT GIVING UP ON THAT, BUT SLAUGHTERHOUSES, THERE IS THE PERSON THAT YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THAT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY BEEN ABLE TO WORK ON THE DEER PROBLEM.
WORKS WITH THE RANCHES.
HAS AN ONGOING GROUP OF PEOPLE, AND I RECENTLY TALKED TO HIM.
I SAID, OH, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
HE SAID HE WAS HIRING BUTCHERS.
BECAUSE HE'S GOT THE SYSTEM DOWN.
HE HAS THE USDA.
EVERYTHING THAT HE NEEDS TO DO, HE'S FIGURED OUT HOW TO DO IT.
AND WE PROBABLY NEED TO SIT DOWN WITH HIM SO WE CAN LEARN FROM HIM.
BUT, YES, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE UP TO FIGURE OUT THIS SYSTEM.
WE HAVE A SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE TASK FORCE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CHAIRED BY OUR MAUI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PERSON, AND SHE HAS ALL THE CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE SMALL BUSINESSES.
WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS INTO A PROFITABLE BIG GOING FORWARD.
THOSE ARE ONE OF OUR GOALS.
>> Yunji: JEFF, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHERE THESE DEER ARE MOVING.
WE ARE IN A DROUGHT, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE MOVING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY ARE.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE IMAGES.
ARE THERE MORE INTERACTIONS?
WHERE ARE THE DEER GOING?
THIS IS TROY'S VIDEO HERE.
BUT WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE GOING INTO MORE RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT LOOKS LIKE CENTRAL MAUI.
THAT'S MY GUESS.
SPOILER ALERT, TROY AND I LIVE THREE HOUSES AWAY FROM EACH OTHER.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT USED TO BE -- AND I'VE BEEN THERE ALL THE TIME I'VE BEEN ON MAUI.
IT USED TO BE NOW NEVER SAW OR HEARD THEM.
NOW WE HEAR THEM ABOVE THE SUBDIVISION EVERY NIGHT.
THEY WERE ROAMING THE NEIGHBORHOOD THE OTHER NIGHT, WHICH IS PRETTY DIRE NEWS BECAUSE THIS IS NOT JUST FOR ME PERSONALLY, BUT WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT SUBSISTENCE ON MAUI AND FOOD SECURITY, THERE'S A LOT OF BACKYARD GARDENERS LIKE MYSELF, AND THAT'S WHERE MY FOOD COMES FROM, SO THIS IMPACTS EVERYONE.
AS TROY WAS DESCRIBING YOU SEE THEM ALL THE TIME NOW.
I THINK THERE WERE 170 ACCIDENTS REPORTED TO MAUI POLICE DEPARTMENT LAST YEAR.
IT USED TO BE A RARE SIGHTING.
NOW IT'S A DAILY OCCURRENCE.
WE DON'T THINK ABOUT IT WHEN WE SEE THEM DRIVING, EVEN IN THE DAY TIME.
THEY ARE EVERYWHERE.
AS DROUGHT CONTINUES, THEY'LL MOVE IN.
AND IT'S NOT JUST DROUGHT, BUT AS THEIR POPULATION GROWS.
I WANTED TO GET BACK TO ONE THING TROY MENTIONED, WHICH IS HOW WE HUNT AND WHAT WE HUNT.
AND THAT'S THE OTHER PRIMARY PROBLEM BECAUSE WE'RE NOT A WHOLE RANGE OF PREDATORS.
AS HUMANS, WE TEND TO ONLY ADULT.
IF WE HUNT ONLY THE MALES, IT EXACERBATES THE PROBLEM.
THERE ARE SOME ESTIMATE THAT SAY THE POPULATION OF FEMALES MAY BE 70%.
AND THEY CAN BECOME PREGNANT WITHIN SIX MONTHS.
WHEN THEY'RE SIX MONTHS OLD, THEY CAN HAVE THEIR FIRST FAWN.
AND THEY CAN LIVE FOR TEN YEARS IN REPRODUCTIVE YEARS SO THAT'S WHY WE SEE AN EXPLOSION IN THE POPULATION.
IT'S NOT JUST DROUGHT.
AS THEIR NUMBERS GROW, THEY HAVE TO FIND NEW TERRITORY AND NEW PLACES TO GRAZE, AND THAT'S WHY THEY KEEP MOVING IN.
>> Yunji: THERE'S A NUMBER OF COMMENTS FROM FACEBOOK AND FROM PEOPLE CALLING IN.
PAMELA SAYS, HAVE WE THOUGHT ABOUT CAGING AND EXTERMINATE AND HAVING BETTER CONTROL ABOUT THE POPULATION?
I KNOW THAT OTHER ANIMAL POPULATION, AND YOU HAVE TO FORGIVE MY IGNORANCE BECAUSE THIS COULD TOTALLY BE WRONG.
WHAT ABOUT BIRTH CONTROL, FEEDING THE ANIMALS BIRTH CONTROL.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S USED IN BIRD POPULATION, FOR INSTANCE.
A LOT OF CONDOMINIUMS ON OAHU DO THAT TO KEEP THE PIGEONS UNDER CONTROL.
ARE THERE OTHER WAYS THAT COULD BE DONE OTHER THAN HUNTING THEM IN THE MORE TRADITIONAL SENSE?
>> THESE KIND OF IDEAS WERE RAISED WITH THE FIRST MAUI AXIS DEER TASK GROUP BACK IN 2002.
AND EVEN DOING BOUNTIES ON THEM.
AND ALL OF THOSE ARE PRETTY INEFFECTIVE UNFORTUNATELY.
HUNTING IS REALLY THE MAIN WAY.
NOW, WE HAVE OTHER CONTROL TOOLS, AND AS THE STATE, ON STATE LANDS OR WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE PRIVATE LANDOWNER, WE TRY TO USE ANY TOOL THAT THEY WILL ALLOW.
THAT DOES INCLUDE REMOTE SENSORED CORRALS.
ANIMALS ARE LURED INTO A CORRAL.
YOU WILL SEE IT ON THE CAMERA.
IT DROPS THE DOOR AND TRAPS ALL THOSE INSIDE.
ONE THING I WANTED TO PROMOTE, AND HERE'S WHERE ALL HUNTERS CAN HELP.
ONE THING WE REALLY HAVE TO CHANGE, IT'S A PARADIGM SHIFT, AND IT'S DIFFICULT.
EVEN SOMEBODY WHO'S DRIVING AND I WON'T HIT A MONGOOSE.
AS A HUNTER, IT'S DIFFICULT.
WE HAVE TO GET EVERYONE.
IF ANYONE CAN REMEMBER A CATCH PHRASE, I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO HUNT LIKE A PREDATOR.
PREDATORS DON'T SAY, OH, THERE'S A DOE.
I'M GOING TO LET IT LIVE SO IT CAN HAVE A FUTURE GENERATION.
NO.
ANYTHING THAT MOVES, WE REALLY HAVE TO HUNT EACH AND EVERY CHANCE WE GET.
ANY ANIMAL, WHETHER IT'S A FAWN OR A DOE OR BUCK.
THEY ALL HAVE TO BE CONTROLLED THAT WAY.
IN NATURE, THAT'S WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.
AND THAT'S ON EVERYONE.
>> Yunji: YOU CALLED THAT A PARADIGM SHIFT.
I'M INTERESTED TO GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE.
>> DOES TASTE BETTER.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO HAVE A BIG BUCK ON THEIR WALL.
I'VE KILLED HUNDREDS OF BIG BUCKS.
I'VE KILLED MY FAIR SHARE.
I'M TO THE POINT IF I DON'T HAVE SOMETHING BIGGER, IF THE ANIMAL I'M GOING TO SHOOT ISN'T BIGGER THAN SOMETHING I HAVE, I LET IT WALK NOW.
AND I'M TRYING TO SHOOT THOSE.
I ENCOURAGE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO START SHOOTING DOE'S.
THEY TASTE BETTER.
THE OTHER THING IS WE DO HAVE A LOT OF ACCIDENTS, LIKE I WAS SAYING.
A LOT OF CARS ARE GETTING HIT.
A LOT OF DEER ARE WOUNDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
USUALLY THEY CALL ANIMAL RESCUE, AND DENNIS USUALLY CALLS ME UP AND SAYS, WE'VE GOT A DEER ON THE ROAD.
WE HAVE TO DISPATCH IT.
I DON'T LET ANYTHING WASTE.
AS LONG AS THE ANIMAL IS ALIVE AND WE CAN PICK IT UP.
ANY OF THE BRUISED MEAT GOES TO MY DOG AND ANY OF THE GOOD MEAT WE TRY TO SALVAGE.
SO EVEN THE DEER THAT GET HIT BY THE CAR, AS LONG AS THEY'RE ALIVE, I TRY TO HARVEST.
>> Yunji: PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> TROY MENTIONED THIS EARLIER.
IN OTHER PLACES WHERE AXIS DEER HAD BEEN ISSUE IN AUSTRALIA, ARGENTINA, PARTS IN TEXAS, THEY INSTITUTED A MANDATORY YOU HAVE TO -- IT'S CALLED YOU HAVE TO EARN A BUCK.
YOU HAVE TO HUNT OR KILL AT LEAST FOUR ANIMALS THAT ARE NOT A MATURE MALE BEFORE YOU GET TO TAKE A BUCK WITH THE ANTLERS.
EVERY HUNTER'S GOT TO EARN A BUCK.
IF I CAN PROMOTE ANYTHING, I WOULD SAY PLEASE DEVELOP THAT ETHIC.
YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE YOURSELF RESPONSIBLE FOR EARNING A BUCK.
>> Yunji: JAMIE, I WANT TO BRING YOU BACK IN.
WE SAW THE VIDEO OF YOUR TREES.
TREES BEING DAMAGED.
WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT OTHER FARMERS ABOUT HOW THEIR CROPS ARE IMPACTED?
>> OTHER FARMERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES.
BASICALLY ANY TRUNK THAT THEY CAN GET THEIR HORNS ON TO, TO RUB THE VELVET OFF.
BUT WHAT'S HAPPENED NOW IS IT'S EXPANDING TO VEGETABLE FARMERS AND CROP FARMERS.
NOT JUST ORCHARDS.
PEOPLE THAT HAVE IN GROUND CROPS.
ONCE THAT TAKE OFF IN KULA AND LOWER KULA, THERE'S GOING TO BE EVEN A GREATER PROBLEM BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE GUYS ARE GOING TO GIVE UP.
YOU CAN'T BE GROWING CROPS AND HAVE ONE NIGHT, A HERD COME AND JUST RUIN YOUR CROP.
THE ONLY THING WE FOUND THAT THEY DON'T IS KALO.
THEY DON'T EAT TARO FOR SOME REASON.
THEY EAT EVERYTHING ELSE VORACIOUSLY.
>> Yunji: YOU TALKED ABOUT FENCING AS ONE OF THE MECHANISMS YOU'RE USING TO, IS THAT REALISTIC TO FENCE ALL THE LAND THAT THEY HAVE?
>> NOT WITHOUT ASSISTANCE.
DEER FENCING, WHETHER IT'S SIX FEET OR EIGHT FEET, CAN RUN BETWEEN $25 OR $30 A RUNNING FOOT OF FENCE.
WE'VE GOT TWO 10-ACRE PARCELS.
20 ACRES.
IT COULD BE $60,000 TO $80,000 TO FENCE THAT.
THAT'S A WHOLE LOT OF OIL THAT WE'RE NOT GENERATING YET.
YEAH, WITHOUT GOVERNMENT SUPPORT, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
WE WILL LOSE OUR ROW CROP FARMERS IF THEY CAN'T GET ASSISTANCE.
>> Yunji: SOUNDS DIRE.
I WANT TO SHOW VIDEO ON THE IMPACT IT HAS ON WATER RUNOFF.
IF YOU COULD TELL US WHAT YOU'RE SEEING.
THIS VIDEO, I UNDERSTAND, IS FROM MOLOKAI.
WHAT ARE WE SEEING HERE?
>> THAT'S FROM MOLOKAI.
THAT'S AFTER THE BIG STORM IN DECEMBER.
I SHOULD ADD THAT WE ALSO SAW THAT ON MAUI AS WELL.
IF YOU'RE ON THE LEEWARD SIDE, BUT THOSE ARE SOME FISHPONDS OFF THE MOLOKAI.
THE WATER IS CHOCOLATE BROWN.
THE PROBLEM THERE IS WHILE YOU SEE GREEN FROM THE AIR, WHAT YOU DON'T SEE IN THAT VIDEO IS THAT BELOW -- ANYTHING BELOW THE HEIGHT OF A DEER, THERE IS NO VEGETATION.
SO THE RAIN IS GOING THROUGH THE UPPER CANOPY AND HITTER BARE SOIL AND IT'S WASHING INTO THE OCEAN.
THAT GREEN CANOPY YOU SEE IS KIND OF AN ILLUSION.
THAT'S ALONG THE COASTLINE.
IF YOU LOOK INWARD, THERE'S NOT EVEN A CANOPY.
SO IT'S A VERY CHANGED LANDSCAPE.
THAT'S ALSO TRUE ON MAUI.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE ON THAT PART OF MOLOKAI IS THAT ONE ESTIMATION IN THE 1990s, THERE WAS A SUBSISTENCE REPORT FOR THE GOVERNOR.
ONE REPORT SAID THAT THOSE FISHPOND ON MOLOKAI ALONE COULD SUPPLY ABOUT 600,000 POUNDS OF FISH ANNUALLY.
SO WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT SUBSISTENCE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT SUBSISTENCE INCLUDES WHAT COMES FROM THE OCEAN AS WELL AS THE PLANTS THAT PEOPLE ARE GROWING ON THE LAND, AND IT'S NOT JUST MEAT.
BUT IT'S PROTEIN FROM OTHER SOURCES AS WELL.
>> Yunji: THAT VIDEO IS PRETTY STUNNING.
YUKI, THERE'S A NUMBER OF SUGGESTIONS AND IDEAS.
I WANT TO READ A COUPLE OF THEM AND GET YOUR FEEDBACK.
PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE WHAT ARE LEGAL WAYS TO GET AROUND THE USDA BARRIERS.
KAHIKINUI -- DONNA ON FACEBOOK SAYS KAHIKINUI HOMESTEADERS COULD USE A SLAUGHTERHOUSE AND OWN INSPECTORS.
DAVID IN PEARL CITY WANTS TO KNOW, WHY CAN'T DLNR SELL DEER MEAT TO THE PUBLIC?
AND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ASKING IF THERE'S ANY WAY.
KAY IN AIEA.
CAN THEY GIVE THE MEAT TO THE ZOO?
ARE THERE ANY WORKAROUNDS SHORT OF HAVING A USDA SANCTIONED SLAUGHTERHOUSE ON MAUI, WHICH SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE COSTLY AND OUT OF REACH?
>> SO WE DO HAVE A SLAUGHTERHOUSE HERE THAT WE NEED TO PROBABLY UPGRADE AND HELP THAT FAMILY WITH THE DeCOITE SLAUGHTERHOUSE, WHICH IS PRIVATE.
I THINK THEY NEED SOME HELP.
I THINK LAST FISCAL YEAR WE HELPED THEM WITH SOME IMPROVEMENTS.
BUT IT MAY NEED TO HAVE SOME STREAMLINING SO IT CAN DO MORE WORK WITH DEER.
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS, AND WE DO HAVE TO FOLLOW THE USDA REQUIREMENTS.
AS I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE, UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN YOU FEED PEOPLE, YOU CAN'T CUT CORNERS, RIGHT?
SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO WHAT CAN BE DONE.
I KNOW THERE'S PROGRAMS NATIONALLY LIKE FEED THE HOMELESS, BUT THEIR STATE HAS CHANGED THEIR LEGISLATION TO ALLOW FOR SOME OF THIS TO HAPPEN.
WE ARE TRYING TO WORK ON IT SO THAT HOPEFULLY NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE'LL HAVE SOME SUCCESS.
BUT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DO IT THIS SESSION.
WE'RE STILL TRYING.
>> Yunji: TROY, ANTHONY SAYS ACCESS AND FACILITATING HUNTERS ARE BOTH IMPORTANT.
TO FLY OVER FROM THE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS COULD COST A THOUSAND DOLLARS BETWEEN THE FLIGHT AND HOTEL AND WHAT HAVE YOU JUST FOR A WEEKEND.
HOW MANY WEEKENDS CAN YEAR CAN PEOPLE DO HAD?
ACCESS TO AT LEAST CAMPING ON THE LANDS WOULD ALSO HELP.
HOW EXPENSIVE IS IT TO HUNT ONE OF THESE ANIMALS?
>> WE DO HAVE HOUSING.
POLIPOLI CABINS THAT YOU CAN RENT THERE.
IN THE ACTUAL HUNTING AREA.
THERE IS A PLACE THAT YOU COULD -- I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS OFFHAND BUT YOU CAN CALL AND FIND OUT ABOUT RENTING THE POLIPOLI CABINS IN UNIT C IN THE HUNTING AREA.
THERE'S LOTS OF ANIMALS UP THERE.
THERE IS -- THERE'S NOT THAT MANY DEER AS MUCH UP IN POLIPOLI.
MORE GOATS AND PIGS.
RIGHT NOW IT'S CLOSED WITH THAT BIG STORM WE JUST SAW.
THE VIDEO.
POLIPOLI HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY CLOSED SINCE DECEMBER.
THEY'RE NOT PROJECTING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE OPENED THIS YEAR AT ALL BECAUSE OF WAITING FOR GRANTS, GOVERNMENT MONEY, STUFF TO FIX THE ROADS.
SO RIGHT NOW POLIPOLI, WHICH IS OUR ONLY PLACE WHERE WE CAN HUNT, IS SHUT DOWN NOW.
IT KIND OF MAKES IT HARD FOR US.
AND THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION REAL QUICK, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE USDA INSPECTOR.
HE HAS TO BE PRESENT WHEN THE ANIMAL IS SHOT.
>> Yunji: THAT SEEMS LIKE AN IMPOSSIBLE BAR.
>> THAT'S WHY.
HE NEEDS TO BE PRESENT WHEN THE ANIMAL IS SHOT.
THE ANIMAL NEEDS TO BE SHOT HUMANELY.
ONE SHOT AND PUT DOWN RENDERED UNCONSCIOUS WHEN SHOT.
>> Yunji: IF THE GOAL IS 21,000 A YEAR, SOMEWHERE IN THAT AREA.
YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF AN IMPEDIMENT.
HOW DO YOU MAKE THAT GOAL?
>> ONE OF THE HARD THINGS WE HAVE TO ACCEPT IS THAT THE ANIMALS THAT WE CONTROL AND HUNT AREN'T ALWAYS JUST FOR MEAT.
UNFORTUNATELY, AND IT'S ANOTHER PARADIGM SHIFT.
WE'RE AT A POINT IN HISTORY WHERE WE HAVE TO ACCEPT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS WASTE.
IN THE NATURAL WORLD, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS WASTE.
THE NUTRIENTS THAT CREATED THAT ANIMAL CAN GO BACK INTO THE LAND.
I UNDERSTAND THAT'S REALLY HARD TO ACCEPT.
IT'S A NEW SHIFT FOR SOMEBODY WHO HUNTS, AND THAT'S WHERE YOUR FOOD COMES FROM.
BUT WE'RE AT THAT POINT IN TIME WHERE WE GOT TO ASK ALL HUNTERS -- AND BY THE WAY, MAUI COUNTY HAS THE SECOND TO SMALLEST PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE REGISTERED AND LICENSED TO HUNT.
WE'VE GOT 1.2%.
>> Yunji: HOW MANY HUNTERS DO YOU HAVE?
>> 2,000.
>> Yunji: TO GET 20,000 A YEAR, THAT'S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> I WAS QUESTIONING FOR MYSELF, WHAT'S THAT LIKE?
AND THAT MEANS THAT IF EACH OF THOSE PEOPLE TAKES AT LEAST TEN ANIMALS A YEAR, AND AGAIN PLEASE TAKE ONLY TWO MALE OUT OF THE TEN.
THE REST HAVE TO BE FEMALES AND YOUNGER ONES.
THAT COULD BE ABOUT 750 POUNDS OF MEAT PER HUNTER.
NOT BEING A MEAT EATER MYSELF, I HAVEN'T HUNTED MYSELF SINCE I WAS 12 IN TEXAS, BUT THAT'S THE AVERAGE CONSUMPTION OF BEEF ON MAUI, IN HAWAI'I.
ABOUT 50 POUNDS.
THAT'S A LOT TO SHARE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
WE CAN'T CONSUME ALL THESE ANIMALS.
WE JUST CAN'T.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LET GO OF THAT IDEA, AND UNFORTUNATELY SAY THAT WE'RE NOW AT A POINT WHERE WE'RE CONTROLLING THE ANIMALS.
SOMEONE MENTIONED -- ONE OF THE FOLKS WROTE IN AND SAID, WHY CAN'T DLNR, YOU WOULD ACTUALLY -- THAT QUESTION BELONG TO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
OUR DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, WE'RE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF CREATING SLAUGHTERHOUSES.
THAT'S NOT OUR MANDATE.
>> Yunji: AT THIS POINT, THE OBJECTIVE IS REALLY TO LOWER THE NUMBERS, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TOLD ANIMAL IS A SECONDARY CONCERN.
YOU CAN'T JUST KILL AN ANIMAL AND LEAVE IT IN THE FOREST.
I WOULD IMAGINE THAT WOULD HAVE ITS OWN IMPACT OR ARE YOU SAYING THAT'S WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?
>> ANY HUNTER THAT GOES OUT -- AND AS I SAID, I'M NOT A HUNTER MYSELF, BUT I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS WHO DO, AND YOU DON'T TAKE ALL OF THE ANIMAL ANYWAY.
WHEN YOU BUTCHER IN FIELD AND BACK WHAT YOU CAN OVER ROUGH TERRAIN, YOU'RE NOT TAKING THE ENTIRE CARCASS ANYWAY.
SO THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING.
WE'RE GOING TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO HAVE MASS GRAVE SITES AS WE DID ON MOLOKAI.
OUR STAFF OVER ON MOLOKAI WERE OUT THERE USING ON PRIVATE LAND OUR BACK HOE TO CREATE DITCHES WHERE THESE COULD JUST BE BURIED SO IT WAS NOT A NUISANCE.
AND IT WAS CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD, A HEALTH HAZARD FOR FOLKS.
SO I WANTED TO SHARE ONE OTHER TOOL WE HAVEN'T HIGHLIGHTED.
WE'VE TOUCHED ON FENCING.
A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE STRONG OPINIONS ABOUT FENCING, BUT ONE ANALOGY I'VE GOT TO SHARE IS THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE FENCING, WE CAN'T CONTAIN THIS PROBLEM.
IT'S LIKE HAVING A FIRE IN AN APARTMENT BUILDING WITH NO DOORS ON THE HALLWAYS.
WE HAVE TO PARTITION THE LAND UP, AND THAT'S HOW WE CAN CONQUER THIS.
IS ONE PARCEL AT A TIME.
>> Yunji: HOW DOES THAT STRIKE YOU?
>> FENCING WORKS.
IT WORKS BUT YOU NEED A HIGH FENCE.
YOU KNOW WHAT ONE THING THAT EVERYBODY THINKS IS DEER -- OF ALL THE YEARS I'VE BEEN HUNTING, DEER DON'T LIKE TO JUMP.
THEY RUN AND JUMP, OF COURSE, BUT MORE THAN EVER, THE DEER GO RIGHT THROUGH THE FENCE.
>> Yunji: THROUGH?
>> THEY GO THROUGH IT.
THEY GET THEIR HEAD THROUGH THERE, WEASEL THEIR WAY THROUGH.
THEY DO WHATEVER.
THEY TAKE THAT FOUR INCH HARDWIRE AND TURN IT INTO 12.
THEY GO THROUGH FENCES MORE THAN OVER.
>> Yunji: WHAT'S YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH FENCING AND HOW EFFECTIVE THAT ACTUALLY CAN BE?
>> WE'VE SEEN THEM GO THROUGH FENCING.
WE'VE SEEM THEM GO THROUGH SPACES THAT YOU DON'T THINK THEY CAN FIT THROUGH.
THEY'LL GO UNDER THE FENCE IF IT'S NOT ANCHORED SECURELY TO THE GROUND.
THE FENCES HAVE TO BE WELL BUILT.
OUR PROPERTY HAS HILLS THAT LEAD DOWN TO ROADWAYS, SO THEY'D HAVE TO FIRST CLIMB THE HILL AND THEN JUMP OVER THE FENCE.
A PRETTY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO DO, BUT THEY'RE A GROWING NUISANCE.
AND THEY'RE MIGRATORY.
THERE ARE SEASONS, DEPENDING ON THE RAINFALL.
WE'RE GETTING RAIN NOW BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD RAIN FOR A LONG TIME.
A LOT OF DEER WERE MIGRATING UP AND DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.
WE'RE RIGHT BELOW POLIPOLI STATE PARK.
WE'RE PRIME AREA FOR THEM.
THE FENCING, IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR US.
JUST LAYING OUT THE FENCE LINE, GETTING THE ROUTE, CLEARING IT AND BEING ABLE TO AFFORD IT.
IT'S A MAJOR OBSTACLE FOR US.
>> Yunji: I WANT TO GET AN IDEA OF JUST HOW BIG AN ANIMAL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WHEN YOU'RE KILLING THESE ANIMALS, HOW BIG ARE THEY?
HOW MUCH MEAT DO THEY YIELD?
>> AN AVERAGE DOE CAN GO UP TO 90 POUNDS.
AVERAGE DOE.
YOU GET MAYBE 38 POUNDS OF MEAT OFF OF A DOE.
AND SOME OF THE BUCKS CAN GO UP TO 250 POUNDS, AND THEY CAN HAVE UP TO USUALLY IN HAWAI'I ABOUT A 36-INCH ROCK WOULD BE A BIG SET OF HORNS.
THAT'S THREE FEET TALL.
THEY HAVE THE FUZZ ON THERE, THE VELVET.
JAMIE'S HAVING A PROBLEM.
THEY HAVE TO GET THAT VELVET OFF.
SO THEY GO THERE AND RUB THEIR HEAD UP AND DOWN.
TO A POINT WHERE THEY DIE OR FALL OVER.
>> Yunji: HE MADE THE POINT THIS STARTED WITH NINE DEER, AND NOW HAS BALLOONED TO OVER 60,000.
GONE UNCHECKED, HOW BIG COULD THIS PROBLEM BECOME?
>> WE DON'T WANT TO KNOW.
[LAUGHTER] WE DON'T WANT TO KNOW.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF, HOW MANY CAN WE SUSTAIN?
RESEARCHERS CRANKED A LOT OF NUMBERS.
AN ARBITRARY FIGURE IS WE COULD SUSTAIN ABOUT 22,000 DEER.
IF WE'RE AT 70,000 RIGHT NOW, THAT'S TOO MANY.
SOME PEOPLE WILL SAY, WELL, WE CAN SUSTAIN MORE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SEEING THE STARVATION THAT WE SAW ON MOLOKAI, WE BUT REALLY DON'T WANT TO GET TO THAT POINT BECAUSE WE CAN'T GO BACK INTO THE OCEAN AND TAKE ALL THE SEDIMENTS THAT COVERED THE REEF BACK OUT.
WE DON'T WANT TO GO AND REPAIR DESTROYED FOREST.
SO WE DON'T REALLY WANT TO GO TO THAT.
WE DON'T WANT TO FIND THE END POINT ABOUT WHERE THEIR NATURAL STARVATION WOULD HAPPEN.
THAT'S A NIGHTMARE SCENARIO SO -- >> IF THEY'RE INCREASING BY 30% ANNUALLY NOW, INCREASING 30% ANNUALLY.
AND WE'RE ONLY TAKING OUT THIS MUCH OR IF WE'RE NOT EVEN GETTING TO THAT.
THE NUMBERS ARE GETTING HIGHER AND HIGHER.
THEY'RE SAYING YOU CAN GET AS MANY AS 200,000.
THAT WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC.
>> THAT WOULD BE AN ECOLOGICAL DISASTER.
YEAH.
>> Yunji: YUKI, I SEE YOU WANTING TO WEIGH IN OVER HERE.
>> YEAH.
JUST KIND OF THE NUMBER I'VE BEEN HEARING.
IT'S NICE TO HEAR WHAT JEFF IS SAYING.
I UNDERSTAND IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING, WHICH HAPPENED IN PREVIOUS TASK FORCE.
HERE WE ARE TODAY.
IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING, THE NUMBERS I'VE BEEN HEARING IS 125 TO 150,000.
ON MAUI WE HAVE 160,000 PEOPLE.
SO WE DON'T NEED AS MANY DEER AS THERE ARE PEOPLE SO THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE KULA AG PARK.
OUR AG PARK, WE HAVE FARMERS THERE.
THERE'S ABOUT 30 SOMETHING LOTS, AND WE ARE, THANKS TO DLNR'S HELP AND WITH KYLE YAMASHITA, WHO PUT MONEY, $2.8 MILLION IN THIS BUDGET, LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE INSTALLING A FENCE THERE.
I WILL TELL YOU, IT IS CORRECT.
DEER DO FOLLOW THE EAT KALO FOR SOME REASON.
AND I WALKED AROUND.
THE FARMERS THERE HAVE DECIDED THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PLANT ANOTHER CROP BECAUSE THE DEER CAME IN, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, AND ATE WHATEVER THEY WERE TRYING TO RAISE.
TUMERIC PLANTS AND FLOWERS, EVERYTHING IS GONE TO THE GROUND.
IT'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM, AND IT'S AFFECTING OUR FOOD SUSTAINABILITY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M GLAD THROUGH THE TASK FORCE, THEY'RE GOING TO ELEVATE THE DISCUSSION SO THAT WE HAVE ALL BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, AS WELL AS DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE FARMERS AND RANCHERS WHO ARE TAKING STEPS FORWARD.
AND IT IS A BIG PROBLEM, SO I'M GRATEFUL, YEAH.
>> Yunji: JEFF, THERE'S A CALLER FROM HAWAI'I ISLAND WHO SAYS, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO BURY THE DEER, WHY NOT INCINERATE THE CARCASS?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW.
>> Yunji: AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS HERE.
AND I THINK THAT THIS MIGHT GO TO YUKI.
JIM IN HILO SAYS, CONCERNS ABOUT USDA AND FOOD SAFETY.
WHAT ABOUT USING THE MEAT FOR PET FOOD?
ON KAUA'I, THERE'S AN ABUNDANCE OF CHICKEN AND PIGS AND DEER ON MAUI.
COULD ANIMALS BE TURNED ON TO PET FOOD?
FROM SHARON ON KAUA'I.
NOT FEED PEOPLE BUT PETS.
>> YES.
SO THE SUCCESSFUL PERSON HERE ON MAUI, WHICH WE'RE REFERENCING, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE NOT USING HIS NAME.
HIS BUSINESS THAT HE'S DEVELOPED, A LOT OF RANCHERS AND FARMERS KNOW HIS SUCCESS.
HE DOES USE THE DEER MEAT AND ONE OF THE PRODUCTS IS FOR PET FOOD.
AND HE HAS ESTABLISHED A VERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS, AND I THINK THAT HE WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE LARGE RANCH OWNERS TO MITIGATE THIS, SO WE WANT TO SEE MORE LIKE THAT.
AND I HOPE TROY WILL CALL ME AFTER THIS, AND MAYBE WE CAN TALK MORE.
BECAUSE I ALWAYS THOUGHT THERE'S A NEED.
I GET CALLS FROM PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HUNT, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ORGANIZATION.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET THROUGH THE LIABILITY PART.
AND I WILL NOT FORCE A LANDOWNER TO TAKE THE HUNTER.
I WONDER IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO SO WE CAN TAKE THE SKILLS THAT TROY HAS AND PUT THEM TOGETHER AND MAYBE WE CAN HELP REACH THAT 20,000 NUMBER A YEAR.
>> Yunji: TROY, WHAT ABOUT THAT?
ARE THERE ENOUGH HUNTERS, FIRST OF ALL, AND EVEN IF NOT, USING MORE EXISTING ONES TO GO ON TO PRIVATE LANDS.
THIS WHOLE LIABILITY QUESTION IS A SERIOUS ONE.
>> YEAH.
LIKE I SAID, I TOUCHED ON IT BEFORE.
IF THE LARGE LANDOWNERS STARTED OFFERING LANDOWNER TAGS AND MAYBE A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS OF DEER.
JAKE, I TRY NOT TO MENTION HIS NAME, BUT HE'S KILLING A LOT OF DEER.
HE'S ACTUALLY BRINGING A LOT OF DEER NUMBERS INTO CHECK.
HOWEVER, A LOT OF THE MEAT IS GETTING SOLD TO LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND EVEN SHIPPED TO THE MAINLAND.
SO IT'S NOT HELPING THE LOCAL PEOPLE IN FILLING THEIR FREEZERS.
SO THAT'S THE ONLY DOWNFALL TO HIS PROGRAM.
WE WANT HUNT TOO.
SAME WITH THE LARGE LANDOWNERS.
IT'S WHO YOU KNOW.
UNLESS YOU KNOW SOMEONE LIKE JAMIE OR SMALLER FARMERS WHO WILL SAY, WE'LL LET YOU HUNT.
WE'RE WILLING TO PAY MONEY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE GO TO LANAI AND HUNT, AND THEY PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO BE ABLE TO GO THERE FOR THE WEEKEND AND GO HUNTING.
THERE'S PEOPLE HERE THAT WOULD PAY ON MAUI.
THERE ARE LARGE GAME ANIMALS.
PEOPLE ARE PAYING TO GO HUNTING.
WE DON'T START KNOCKING THOSE NUMBERS BACK, IT'S GOING TO BE DEVASTATING, AND IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY BAD.
AND I'M WILLING TO HELP, BUT I CAN ONLY SHOOT SO MUCH WITH MY BOW.
>> Yunji: JAMIE, WHAT ABOUT THAT?
WHAT ABOUT ALLOWING PEOPLE ON TO YOUR LAND?
YOU SAID YOU'VE INVITED HUNTERS IN THE PAST, BUT I'M SURE THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT BEING SUED IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG.
>> YEAH.
WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT.
AND CHECK WITH PEOPLE WE LEASE FROM TO MAKE SURE -- I THINK IN OUR LEASE, IT REQUIRES PRIOR NOTIFICATION.
BUT THERE WOULD BE SAFETY ISSUES IN TERMS OF LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THE DEER ARE CREATURES OF HABIT, AT LEAST ON OUR PROPERTY, THEY'RE USING THE SAME TRAILS AND GOING TOLD SAME BEDDING AND SLEEPING AREAS.
SO IT WOULD BE A MANAGEMENT THING.
AND I'D HAVE TO REACH OUT TO SOMEBODY LIKE TROY AND JEFF TO MAYBE GUIDE US THROUGH THAT.
AT THIS POINT, WE NEED TO FIND A SOLUTION.
WITH RESPECT TO THE PET FOOD, THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME INSPECTION REQUIREMENT FOR PET FOOD.
>> I COULDN'T TELL YOU.
>> Yunji: WILL ESPERO, A FORMER LAWMAKER, IS WRITING IN.
HE SAYS, WE NEED TO TAKE THIS SITUATION AND TURN IT INTO A MAJOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR THE STATE.
THE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWMAKERS PASS LAWS THAT WOULD ALLOW HAWAI'I TO TAKE THESE WILD ANIMALS, PROCESS THEM AND MARKET THEM TO THE WORLD AS HAWAI'I AXIS DEER.
WE COULD USE THE MEAT TO FEED THOSE IN NEED.
WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO MAKE SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN?
>> AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THE EARLIER DISCUSSIONS, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THE USDA REQUIREMENTS AND MAKE SURE WE TAKE THE STEPS FOR FOOD SAFETY.
SO I HOPE MR. ESPERO WILL HELP US FIGURE OUT THIS.
WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON IT AGAIN DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
SO I THINK THERE ARE SOLUTIONS OUT THERE.
OTHER STATES HAVE DONE IT.
WE NEED TO WALK THE RIGHT STEPS, AND I THINK WE WILL.
>> Yunji: WE'RE TALKING A LOT OF LONG TERM SOLUTIONS.
AT THE AGE OF SIX MONTHS, THESE ANIMALS CAN START HAVING BABIES.
IN THE VERY NEAR TERM, WHAT IS THE BEST STRATEGY FORWARD?
>> WE'RE GOING TO KEEP USING THE TOOLS WE'VE BEEN USING, WHICH IS FENCING, CONTROL HUNTS, EXISTING LAND OWNERS WHENEVER WE CAN.
BUT IT REALLY IS ON THE SHOULDERS ON FOLKS THAT ARE OUT THERE HUNTING.
HUNT LIKE A PREDATOR.
EVERYTHING THAT YOU SEE.
IT COMES DOWN TO THE NATURAL INSTINCT OF A HUNTER IS SAY NO, I'M GOING TO SAY THAT BUCK.
I CAN'T USE THAT MEAT RIGHT NOW OR THAT DOE.
NO.
YOU HAVE TO KILL THAT ANIMAL.
AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE MEAT, AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR FOOD.
IT'S FOR THE PROTEST OF OUR WATERSHED AND FUTURE FOR WATER BECAUSE THE ONE THING WE HAVEN'T TOUCHED ON YET TONIGHT, IS THIS IMPERILS OUR FRESH WATER SUPPLY.
WHEN THEIR POPULATIONS EXPLODE INTO THE CRITICAL WATERSHEDS, WHICH THEY'VE DOING.
WE JUST GOT 8 MILLION FROM THE STATE FOR MORE FENCING FOR OUR CRITICAL WATERSHEDS.
THAT'S OUR JOB.
THAT'S OUR PRIMARY JOB IN DIVISION OF FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE, IS TO CREATE FRESH WATER.
THAT'S WHY WE WERE CREATED WITH THE FIRST FORESTRY DIVISION IN THE WHOLE U.S. THAT'S OUR PRIMARY JOB.
IF WE REACH THAT POINT WHERE THEY'RE MOVING TO THE CRITICAL WATERSHEDS, WE'VE LOT THE WAR, AND WE LOSE OUR FRESH WATER.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, EVERYBODY'S GOT TO HUNT LIKE A PREDATOR, AND WHEN THEY HUNT, THEY'VE GOT TO REMIND THEMSELVES, I'M DOING THIS FOR THE FUTURE OF MY CHILDREN'S WATER.
>> Yunji: I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD TONIGHT, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO FOCUS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE?
>> THE MAIN THING IS GIVE US ACCESS.
LARGE LANDOWNERS, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
TALK IS CHEAP.
WE GOT TO START SQUEEZING THE TRIGGER, AND WE GOT TO START LETTING GO ARROWS BECAUSE IF WE DON'T START KILLING THEM, THEY'RE GOING TO GET AHEAD OF US.
WE WEREN'T DOING ENOUGH.
WE NEED TO START ACTION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MAHALO TO YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS -- TROY HELMER, PRESIDENT OF THE MAUI HUNTERS AND SPORTSMEN'S CLUB, JEFF BAGSHAW, COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH SPECIALIST FOR THE DIVISION OF FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE OF THE DLNR, JAMIE WOODBURN, PRESIDENT OF THE MAUI OLIVE COMPANY, AND COUNCILMEMBER YUKI LEI SUGIMURA, LEADER OF THE AXIS DEER TASK FORCE.
NEXT WEEK RIGHT HERE ON INSIGHTS, RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE, 600 MILLION FOR HAWAIIAN HOMELANDS, AND THE MANAGEMENT OF MAUNA KEA ARE ALL ISSUES LAWMAKERS LOOKED TO TACKLE THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION SO WHAT PASSED?
WHAT DIDN'T?
PLEASE JOIN US THEN.
I'M YUNJI DE NIES FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I, ALOHA!

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