Understanding local pig hunter values and practices as a means toward co-management of feral pigs (Sus scrofa; pua'a) in the Hawaiian Islands

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Ecology and Society 28(2): 32 htt.psf.l� s /ar[32/ Fig. 2. Reasons for hunting mentioned by participants. Participants often gave more than one reason for hunting. The most common reason for hunting was for a "food source" (n = 18). Education Satisfaction from training dogs Continuously learning of c Protection of natural resources Camaraderie 0 Perpetuation of family traditions/culture a m Health and exercise a) W Adrenaline and excitement Peace of mind Food source 7 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 Hunting Methods The most common hunting method for feral pigs was dog and knife (n = 21), although some participants preferred other methods including bow and arrow (n = 4), rifle (n = 3), and traps (n = 3). Two participants preferred a combination of methods. With the dog and knife method, trained hunting dogs are utilized to track down feral pigs and corner or physically hold the pig until the hunter is able to slice the throat of the pig with a knife, resulting in a relatively quick death that preserves the meat for consumption. In contrast, other methods like guns or bows can damage the meat if hunters do not hit the pig in head, throat, or lungs. Participants stated that dog and knife is one of the most efficient methods for hunting pigs in the Hawaiian Islands, because of the dense vegetation as well as steep and rugged terrain. Interview themes Reasons for hunting One of the core questions asked across interviews was "Why do you hunt?" Participants primarily hunted feral pigs as a food source, with answers related to food by far the largest category of response (n = 18; Fig. 2); "Providing food for the table" was important for many of the participants, both for their own families, and to share. One participant mentioned that sometimes he traded the pork he caught with friends in exchange for fish. Similarly, a participant stated that he hunted "mainly just help people out or [if] someone needs meat, we'll go out and get meat for them." Another participant talked about benefits of the meat, "feels like that's [feral pigs] a more healthier source of meat, as far as pork goes than one farm raised one." Together, these results suggest hunters maintain important roles within their communities in increasing food security. A second category of reasons for hunting centered on individual well-being, through peace of mind, excitement, and health. The second most frequent response overall, after food, was that Number of Participants hunting offered peace of mind (n = 9). One participant explained how hunting helped to reduce his stress by stating, At the end of a hunt, whatever problems you have going into the mountain, you tend to just forget while you're doing it. "Another participant with a similar view on hunting explained it as "...almost like church. You go out there and lose yourself to nature... it's a good stress reliever." Another participant described hunting as his escape from town and people. Motivation to hunt pigs also included adrenaline and excitement, especially with the dog and knife method (n = 7). Some words that participants used to describe hunting included a rush, exciting, adrenaline, a fever. One participant stated that "I like hearing the pigs making noise and the dogs making some noise. That's my adrenaline." Participants also mentioned that they hunt feral pigs for exercise and a means to maintain their physical health (n = 6). Four of the six participants who hunted for exercise were above 50 years old. One participant shared, "Today I just there [hunting] for exercise ... I just go for exercise because my partner is 60 and I'm 58, but we can handle like the younger guys." Often times, those participants stated that catching a pig was not their main focus, instead it was a bonus. Some participants hunted to perpetuate family tradition and culture (n = 6), the practice being rooted in their family across generations, including their parents, grandparents, and great- grandparents. Some interviewees suggested that they felt separated from culture, so hunting pigs has been one means to regain that connection. One participant believed hunting was one of the many components people used to make a connection with Hawaiian culture by staring, "There's a disconnect. Hunting, just like surfing or fishing, is their [Hawaiian] way being a part of that culture and perpetuating it." The camaraderie aspect of hunting was also brought up by participants as a reason for hunting (n = 4). One of the older participants had been hunting with the same group of people for nearly his whole life and expressed a desire to continue hunting together as long as possible. A younger