HAWAIʻI
UNGULATES
Publications
Understanding local pig hunter values and practices as a means toward co-management of feral pigs (Sus scrofa; pua'a) in the Hawaiian Islands
Kupaa K Luat-Hūʻeu, Mehana Blaich Vaughan, and Melissa R Price (2023)
Summary
Conflicts can arise when government resource managers and local communities hold differing values, especially when communities are excluded from decision-making processes. Co-management has emerged as a valuable approach to foster collaboration, build trust, and support effective stewardship by involving communities in resource management. However, successful co-management requires understanding the complex relationships between people and the resources they use—relationships that may be misunderstood or undervalued by conservation efforts. In the case of invasive feral pigs in the Hawaiian Islands, which harm ecosystems but are also vital to local culture and food systems, interviews with local pig hunters reveal the deep social and cultural importance of hunting. The study identifies opportunities to improve collaboration by expanding access to hunting, integrating rights and responsibilities, and enhancing communication. These findings offer guidance for developing co-management strategies that respect community traditions while addressing ecological concerns.
Figure 2. Reasons for hunting mentioned by participants. Participants often gave more thanone reason for hunting. The most common reason for hunting was for a “food source” (n =18).
Figure 3. Current issues and concerns with hunting and/or management mentioned byparticipants. Participants often mentioned multiple issues and concerns. The most commonissue brought up was “community engagement and education” (n = 12).
Figure 4. Recommendations to improve hunting and management of feral pigs mentioned byparticipants. Participants often gave multiple recommendations. The most commonrecommendation was “community engagement” (n = 14).
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Understanding the co-evolutionary relationships between Indigenous cultures and non-native species can inform more effective approaches to conservation: the example of pigs (pua’a; Sus scrofa) in Hawai‘i
Kūpa‘a K Luat-Hū‘eu, Kawika B Winter, Mehana B Vaughan, Nicolai Barca and Melissa R Price (2021)
Summary
This study examines how Indigenous Resource Management (IRM), particularly among Native Hawaiians (Kānaka), is shaped by co-evolutionary relationships between people and local biodiversity, in contrast to Western conservation approaches that often seek to restore ecosystems to pre-human conditions. These differing perspectives have created conflict in Hawaiʻi, especially around the management of pigs (puaʻa, Sus scrofa), which are considered invasive by conservationists but culturally significant to many Hawaiians. Using archival Hawaiian language sources, the authors trace a 250-year shift in the human–pig relationship from one of animal husbandry to a hunter–prey dynamic, a transformation influenced by broader socio-ecological changes. The study argues that effective conservation must move beyond exclusionary, settler-colonial frameworks and instead adopt adaptive governance strategies that respect Indigenous practices and public hunting rights. By integrating Indigenous knowledge and values, conservation biology can become more inclusive and achieve better ecological and cultural outcomes.
Table 1. Examples of early introductions (plants and animals) to Hawai‘i that were given Hawaiian names and incorporated into Hawaiiantraditions, which are representative of the rapid biocultural evolution that was occurring in Hawai‘i in the 19th century
Table 2. Results of Hawaiian keyword searches in Hawaiian language newspapers conducted in May 2021 using Papakilo DatabaseThis table includes the number of mentions per keyword and the years of its first and last mention. Note that Hawaiian language newspaper publications ran from 1834 to 1949.
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