OPPOSITION TO CRITICAL HABITAT ESTABLISMENT FOR THE HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL

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Permalink Reply by HALE O KEAWE-A-HEULU aka: nrv8n8 on November 21, 2008 at 3:50pm

Thanks to those e-mails questioning livestock and feral animals...this is in relation to when seals swim up into streams. Any livestock whether pigs, chickens, cattle, etc inclusive of agriculture ie: kalo, sweet potatoes, etc...whatever feed, fertilizer, whether processed or organic, whatever you do to cultivate it - your harvesting/farming methods can come into question as a potential to harming seals and their habitat. Seals pick a spot to nest, there goes your rights.

Do you want any HINT of federal laws to get into your livelihood or pocketbook and give you any trouble? All the studies/proposals are unclear as to conditions to impose on our rights. Keep the seals protection in the Northwestern Islands and don't include us. We live in harmony with the honu, we can easily do the same with the seals without the feds hovering over us when their laws prevail over laws we have in place on a state level.

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Permalink Reply by HALE O KEAWE-A-HEULU aka: nrv8n8 on November 21, 2008 at 6:59pm

Questioning on bag limit:

We're not against the Monk Seal but what the petition could do in the future. At this point in time the Federal Government doesn't have any say so on this issue. However, if the petition goes through, then the Feds will have the power to set parameters for the use of the ocean. This is happening at the present time with the fishing for the "Deep 7" (Onaga, Ehu, Hapupu, Kalikali, Paka, etc.). WESTPAC closed some fishing grounds for fishing and were to open it in September however they submitted a request not to reopen the area until November.

They are also looking to charge a fee to go shoreline fishing like the boaters-fisherman. The Bag Limit is another initiative from WESPAC. They wanted to set bag limits per person per night for Menpachi, Aveoveo, Aholehole, and other inland species. Are these species endangered? They were involved also with the size limitation.

I will keep you all informed as I receive new information.

Aloha, Stephanie

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Permalink Reply by HALE O KEAWE-A-HEULU aka: nrv8n8 on November 22, 2008 at 11:31pm

I just got ONE nasty, disrespectful e-mail, my na'au says she's a "foreigner" if she isn't then it's my bad call. She got wind of my petition but personally e-mailed me...like being slapped on my hands for putting this petition together. This was her last two "paragraphed" sentences:

"Again, clean up the reefs and the beaches of trash and marine debris, not the creatures that belong there more than the people......................I really don't mean to insult you, but this is an extremely uninformed petition that I hope goes no further.".......Living Creature Supporter."

This is just my point...humans vs seals....she's for the seals, I'm for the humans, but I respect the seals and can still live in harmony with them both...EXHALE. The petition worded against it is just that...protecting our rights...in fact I think if you read it again I address concern for the seals...why regulate up the ying yang when we can live in harmony...we're not eating the seals as we did in the past. Excuse me if I'm out of line and there are those of koko who are eating the seals as practiced in our past....SMILE.

Lady is misreading the petition against it. I love my koko people first before a creature, but I respect the creature in the same walk....EH LISTEN ....maybe no can read...I mean comprehend? LOL. I was told "if I am supposedly a hawaiian I would be embracing the hawaiian monk seal..." LIke is it in our 'aumakua line....NOT! But I respect living with them and not seeing them hurt or killed...that's as far as an embracing I give and that is being respectful,

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Permalink Reply by HALE O KEAWE-A-HEULU aka: nrv8n8 on November 23, 2008 at 1:29pm

Here's an excerpt from a recent e-mail I received not understanding and can not support the petition against it:

".....I think there is a misunderstanding of what we refer to as "aumakua" - we have always protected our aumakua, it was not worship - a way of living in balance with our world, our resources .... hawaiian spiritual practices have everything to do with the protection and balance of all life .... he hawai'i au, XXXX"

Here's my response:

The position is protecting our rights as gatherers, spiritual meditation...the petition for it does not address the conditions of what the repercusions will be for us. It should have stressed the effects it will have for our streams and oceans for us koko and non koko and it does not. I support for protection of the seals but not if our rights are not being protected as well. We can live in harmony with the seals without the feds creating parameters of our oceans which will include our streams. Keiko Bonk just got approved by the feds funding for the monk seals and if they include the Main Hawaiian Islands, more funding can be received and why the petition for it is being pushed.

There was only one hush hush meeting/hearing on Oahu and none was done for the rest of our island chain. It alerts me when they don't open it all to speak out and pick at the petition for it. The pick for the opposition is for rights as humans...the petition for the seal should have addressed IN FULL the impacts to humans (us in our rights) and they have not fully done so because they want the funds to go through....once it goes through, we as koko and non koko will have no say if they close out a beach entirely and we will not be able to use it because the seals are now using a particular area and it is now being deemed a "sanctuary" for them.

Where will our children learn how to swim? How will the sea urchins, fish and crabs be affected for our consumption as gatherers if we are to live amongst the seals (human vs seals). If runoffs from agriculture gets into a stream and the seals (they are known to go into streams and give birth) claim a sanctuary there, then whatever organic or non organic substance that go into the streams from a farmer whether livestock or agriculture are then deserving of a knock on their door from the feds to claim harm on the seals. The petition for the opposition is "thinking outside of the box" of the worst that can happen. We already have state laws protecting the seals, we don't need to increase a sanctuary/habitat
for them of a federal level - keep that in the Northwestern Islands. The beneficiary of the petition are funding...the funding takes precedence of the need to further be clear of any conditions that can be set for these circumstances of our rights...therefore why the petition I am putting forth.

I hope you understand the position and reconsider. If you don't, that is your kuleana and I respect your not understanding it at the moment.

My responsibility is to alert all koko of what is being done right now in such a short time I am aware of this deadline to speak out. I don't fish or have a fishing business anymore, I don't hunt anymore, I don't farm or grow kalo anymore. My issue is to be alert of things to see we as koko are not being disrespected in our rights...that is my calling since 1981. I work with other organizations and people networking on all levels and I am aware of sovereignty issues as well. In my line of work personally, I protect what I can to make, to insure when the day we have our kingdomhood transform there will be things in place, protected and be of use again to its full potential.

Again, I support the protection of the seals, but not on this level. I respect the organizations wanting to put this in place but they are not clear in the conditions and if we don't do this now, we may close our rights forever. If the petition against it goes through then all it will do is have the petition for it, regroup and create their format in a different light...nothing is set in stone, but if I don't cast a stone now and make some ripples to be heard, then our voice is worth nothing to stand on for our future.

Mahalo XXXX for allowing me to speak more about this, I respect whatever you decide to do. For me personally, I can take a stand and if there is a loss I can say I tried for our people. My small still voice is just that, a voice then I can sleep better at night.

Malama Pono and ((hugs)) to you, Stephanie

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Permalink Reply by ʻOhukaniʻōhiʻa on November 24, 2008 at 4:52pm

Aia na atikala e pili ana o ka ilio holo i ka uaua ma na nupepa Hawaii mai ka makahiki 1867, a wahi a na kupuna, he holoholona maoli no keia ilio auau moana Hawaii. Aia ekolu mau lahulu no ia holoholona moana, O Monachus schauislandi ko makou lahulu sila maoli, o Monachus tropicalis ka sila mai ke kai Kalepiana (Caribbean), he lahulu make a nalowale kela, a o ka lahulu ekolu o Monachus monachus, mai ke Kai Waena Honua (oia hoi ke kai Mediterranean), he lahulu emi loa. No laila, aole kulike keia mau lahulu sila ekolu, mea kuokoa lakou. He ha'i hewa a paewa ke koina "aohe mea hawaii maoli ka ilio holo i ka uaua." He mea maoli no.

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Permalink Reply by HALE O KEAWE-A-HEULU aka: nrv8n8 on November 26, 2008 at 12:44am

I am not fluent in the language as is my eldest daughter who is in a different time zone to ask for her assistance. But I will "attempt" to translate your response. I apologize in advance if I'm not there in your thoughts:

You indicate that in a news article dated in 1867, according to a kupuna who traveled (??) and noted/seen a native pup (seal) swiming in Hawaiian waters. This one species had traveled (??) the ocean notably (you indicate by its scientific name), native seal and another (scientific name) a seal from the Carribean; these sepcies are dead/extinct; and this one species (scientific name) from the Mediterranean., a depleted species.
So there, certainly not alike but this one species of seal (freedom ???)....To say it is wrong or imperfect is urging "no matter native hawaiian the seal ???? tough/stubborn" So my friend, In your opinion it's native?

Please therefore to translate better as my translation I feel may be poorly done...Mahalo...smile. However,
if this is what you are saying then isn't it true that if the seal was native and part of our culture, wouldn't we have had chants about them in respect of how significant it would have been for us in our past history? I say this because ironically, just yesterday I had a discussion with a hawaiian friend in Hilo and we talked about our respective kupuna from different districts and we know from our experience this would be the case

As beautiful a language we have, my grandma AhLan (AhSam) Naihe said to me when I was 11, "if you like learn, that's all you going speak all the time." Because I could not give a commitment of 24/7 I did not take the challenge and just listened intently when she conversed with Mrs. Pa'alua, my cousin's grandma...they always laughed alot in each others company and with such facial and tonal emotions...exhale...

Thank you for sharing your thoughts...

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Permalink Reply by ʻOhukaniʻōhiʻa on November 26, 2008 at 9:16am

;) Mahalo. E kala mai i a'u, o ka hana maa mau no ia e unuhi mai, no ka mea, aole hiki i ka hapa nui paha o na Hawaii e heluhelu i ka olelo makuahine. No laila, eia ka unuhina:

;) Mahalo. Forgive me, I usually translate, because maybe the majority of Hawaiians can't read the mother tongue. Therefore here is the translation:

Aia na atikala e pili ana o ka ilio holo i ka uaua ma na nupepa Hawaii mai ka makahiki 1867, a wahi a na kupuna, he holoholona maoli no keia ilio auau moana Hawaii. Aia ekolu mau lahulu no ia holoholona moana, O Monachus schauislandi ko makou lahulu sila maoli, o Monachus tropicalis ka sila mai ke kai Kalepiana (Caribbean), he lahulu make a nalowale kela, a o ka lahulu ekolu o Monachus monachus, mai ke Kai Waena Honua (oia hoi ke kai Mediterranean), he lahulu emi loa. No laila, aole kulike keia mau lahulu sila ekolu, mea kuokoa lakou. He ha'i hewa a paewa ke koina "aohe mea hawaii maoli ka ilio holo i ka uaua." He mea maoli no.

There are articles about the ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua in Hawaiian newspapers from the year 1867, and according to kupuna, this ocean-swimming animal of Hawaii is indeed native. There are three species of this marine animal; Monachus schauislandi is out native seal, Monachus tropicalis is the seal from the Caribbean, an extinct species, and the third species Monachus monachus, from the "Sea in the Middle of the World" (that is, the Mediterranean), a very rare species. So they are not alike, these three species of seals, they are distinct. It is a mistaken statement to claim "the ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua" is not native. It is indeed native.

In short, there is no evidence or record of Caribbean monk seals being introduced to Hawaii. It is OK to be against regulations that are unreasonable, but it is not OK to incorrectly claim a native species is introduced as part of the argument, nor to pit native species against humans. In Hawaiian thought, the needs of the plants, animals, and the land are paramount: He alii ka aina, he kauwa wale ke kanaka -- the land is the chief, the people mere servants. The native plants and animals are kupuna and aumakua, so must always be elevated above our immediate needs. However, I am entirely sympathetic about vital concerns re: regulations that unreasonably restrict traditional access, so I am glad you are posting on this topic.

Better to acknowledge that the ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua is a native animal and in need of our care, but that the proposed solution is problematic because of its restrictions on traditional practice.

aloha mau,

'Ohu

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Permalink Reply by HALE O KEAWE-A-HEULU aka: nrv8n8 on November 26, 2008 at 1:22pm

Mahalo for the translation...I was on the right track but the thoughts you share are more detailed. I have a problem with this and maybe it's because of "where & whom" you respectfully converse with. If you look at who wrote the article is important. The reason being is that a lot of times for us here, especially in Kohala a lot of articles from the past written by missionary is not all true and the reporters that were brought here as well to "tell the new world". What we are told by our kupuna is what we go by and for sake of myself and those in Hilo doing research on the monk seals, unless they were addressed by chants it is not native. Correction on no evidence or record of Caribbean monk seals being introduced to Hawaii - subspecies.
Here in Kohala, growing up when learning how to swim we saw them come in, watch us, play away from us at a distance, show us his/her catch sometimes and then swim away and come back again the next day - we have rocky beaches here on our end, good surf and fishing/diving/boating grounds. At one time our beaches were sandy but over time it changed to rocky - said to come back every 30 - 80 years or so in change rock/sand/rock/sand. Also 100 years before the article, we ate them (one of the subspecies) as recorded in one incident in Hilo bay and therefore looking at it for my/our eyes it is not elevated above our immediate needs when the need is consumption for food. I don't know of any record after 1700 indicating eating the seal continues; honu on the other hand I grew up with my grand uncle hunting, keeping the shell as an ornamentation, using the oil for healing - aid in no scaring after burns even third degree levels and also for food consumption. We can live together in respect of each other as an ethical thing to do, I don't acknowledge it as native and will never as a personal thing because of how I was taught for to be revered would call to chant. Do you know of any OLD chant of the 1700's passed down from generations to conclude as a direct link of the seals to be native? If one can be shown to be in authenticity, my belief stands as it does. The evidence of the petition "for" a revised critical habitat to include the HMI is the "cause/effect" of pitting native species against human. I am just noting this out loud as "it is what it is" no other way of looking at it in the manner for which it was introduced and proposed initially being "for it". My petition is just explaining the inevitable of "the pitted fall".

I agree that any living things is always in need of ones care, here yes the proposed solution in petitioning complaints for the seals does not clearly provide a view or any set conditions for our traditional practices. This is where the petition "for it" should have addressed it more clearly if not, I would have not entertained the thought of providing a petition challenging the position.

Mahalo 'Ohu for your thoughts, it is greatly appreciated in the manner of which you speak...exhale....

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Permalink Reply by HALE O KEAWE-A-HEULU aka: nrv8n8 on November 26, 2008 at 2:09am

This past monday I visited a friend I've known for 20 years who is in the professional field, she shared with me a story of her personal friend's family and their experienced difficulty 20 years ago with preservation efforts (on this level I am speaking for this forum) affecting a family's legacy.

Now for sake of confidentiality I can't say where on the globe this took place but they had this land for generations...over 100 years. They lived off the land, made money off the land and created jobs also for the locals. Then an organization of said star rated quality, claimed there was an endangered species found there, said to travel their stream bed. A critical habitat was created and THEY LOST EVERYTHING. They came on their property, confiscated everything and anything as theirs to caretake this so called "endangered species" yes even their personal belongings. It was a radical approach but nonetheless, it was done.

Seven years later, upon visiting the land it is found to be overgrown and not taken cared of, especially the stream beds as if it was just abandoned....because the federal funds couldn't handle the project to maintain it.

Today, this land has invasive species of bugs, birds, weeds, etc and a list of bacteria unsafe to be around for any living thing. Feds couldn't give the continued funding and all went to disaster as the organization couldn't manage without federal funding for this particular land. My goodness, they couldn't even go on the land to visit the 'ohana gravesite...so sad but it is said to be true nonetheless.

This was "my thinking out of the box" confirmation given to me....in my opinion that is how spirit works, to remind me I am on the straight and narrow and to continue path. My friend telling me this story gave me great detail as to what/who/when/where/how and I was soooo heartbroken reliving in my mind what the feeling must have been for that family. How awful it was, how pissed off it made me too. So...I'm sharing it here with you as well...EXHALE.... THINK ABOUT IT...can we afford something like this as a worst case senario?
to happen for us here in o

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Permalink Reply by HALE O KEAWE-A-HEULU aka: nrv8n8 on November 26, 2008 at 1:43pm

Here's a link addressing the subspecies which was unable to load on my response:

http://www.petermaas.nl/extinct/speciesinfo/caribbeanmonkseal.htm

Mahalo 'Ohu, Stephanie

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Permalink Reply by ʻOhukaniʻōhiʻa on November 26, 2008 at 2:04pm

Mahalo for this source, interesting! the two hypotheses indicate either that Hawaiian monk seal is descended from the Caribbean stock, or that Caribbean stock is descended from Hawaiian. Either way, the two species are closely related, such that at least one study suggests the Hawaiian monk seal is a subspecies of the Caribbean.

Endemic subspecies of course are well known in Hawaii. The pueo is considered by most a native Hawaiian subspecies of the short eared owl. The Hawaiian stilt is considered by some an endemic subspecies of the black-necked stilt. Endemic means found only in a place. No one calls either pueo or ae'o non-native just because they are subspecies of birds found elsewhere.

To call the Hawaiian monk seal a Caribbean monk seal because it is a subspecies descended from it, would be rather like calling Maori of Aotearoa Hawaiians because they are descended from us! No, Maori are natives of Aotearoa, just as Ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua are natives of these islands. I hope this makes more clear for you how to look at Ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua as native.

All the same, the source you provided was excellent. Mahalo for leading me to it!

Imua

'Ohu

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Permalink Reply by HALE O KEAWE-A-HEULU aka: nrv8n8 on November 26, 2008 at 2:45pm

I would, 'Ohu I really would if I knew of a chant from centuries old. However, all living should be respected to keep the balance that's always a given. On another level of thinking...People First, Money Second. SMILE....

Imua! Stephanie

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