2019 01-29 Game Management Advisory Commission Minutes

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Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – January 29, 2019 SM: I think us suing the wrong people. We suing the federal government – we should sue the State because the State is the one that is not doing the work. DF: Yeah and not recognizing that, I mean, they’re thrashing around for solutions to the palila and none of it’s working. GD: George here from District 9. It is my understanding – I’ve spoken to some people that are knowledgeable in fire prevention and that have worked in that area and as I understand it that the proposition that sheep could control the fuel loads over there is generally like the answer that I received from them is that sheep are not a consistent form to prevent fuel loads building on the mountainside. Basically, I’ve understood that sheep are not a good way to control fuel loads on the mountain – they seem to be – as I’ve been told inconsistent with where they graze and I’ve also been told that there’s other problems if you introduce animals like that and if their population rise we could see the same thing happening with the mamani saplings as we have with cows entering certain areas in the past – I’m not sure if you have any insight into that? DF: No, my issue is, we have the potential for a deadly wild fire up there and I’ve talked to biologists and heard arguments like that and it’s like – hey, you know, we got a bigger problem – we have a public safety problem, you know, and I think somebody like at the Governor’s level could understand that but if you work inside the DLNR administration you’re gonna run into the biologists who feel that way and maybe they’re right – but I’m sorry if it comes to mamani trees or my family, you know my choices... GD: Right, of course... It seems just like from the fire safety standpoint having sheep not be a consistent control – that’s an interesting consideration to be had. DF: Well, I look at the Saddle Road in Hawaiian Homelands, you know, where every so often you see these giant herds of sheep and I’m not suggesting we turn Mauna Kea into that but you can see what they do in that area and so I would argue with that scientific premise but... Oh... NP: Nani, District 4, I have a question for George. Have you ever seen an area where sheep are inhabiting – how well they clear the underbrush and a balance is the perfect answer – but they’re – they eat grass – they’re better than nothing. DF: If it was only the palila issue with the State spending money on a program that isn’t even working, I mean, they need to change that, but, again, it gets back to the fuel loads and doing nothing is to me is not an answer. 6