Coral Coral ADVERTISING Opt out of opala Mahalo to people like Scott Makapali Burton and others for their efforts in removing the coral opala (graffiti) along Queen Kaahumanu Highway and other roadways. It’s hard work. Although the coral seemed a
Coral
Opt out of opala
Mahalo to people like Scott Makapali Burton and others for their efforts in removing the coral opala (graffiti) along Queen Kaahumanu Highway and other roadways. It’s hard work.
Although the coral seemed a novel and creative idea at first, it has evolved into a kind of urban blight, primarily perpetuated by people who probably don’t even live here.
The idea of planting bougainvillea is worth pursuing. As an island community, we should support efforts that keep our aina balanced, beautiful and Hawaiian.
Likeke “Ric” Bumanglag
Kailua-Kona
Spearfishing
Ban idea ‘idiocy’
It is obvious from Duane Erway’s letter that he hasn’t done much spearfishing with scuba.
First, those who do are hunting big pelagic predators. These fish are generally hunted at depths that, because of the no decompression and repetitive dive tables, limit the length of time the hunter can chase them around without getting “bent.”
This factor alone limits their catch numbers. Most are content with one or two fish per outing. Happy really if they poke one ulua or uku. To imply that this large object spewing bubbles and making a lot of noise gives the diver an advantage over the fish is ludicrous. It is, after all, their home, not the diver’s.
A free diver with a three-prong harvests far more fish on an average outing than any person with a speargun.
The person with the gun is not after menpachi, uhu or nenue. Besides, it is a moot point. Both are harvesting food for themselves, their families, or to share with friends.
I don’t know anybody who uses a speargun who does so for commercial reasons — or who uses a three-prong toward that end. They aren’t gathering aquarium fish off the reef so they can die in a tank on the mainland. It’s about food.
Even though Duane’s letter was a knee-jerk reaction to the Department of Land and Natural Resources proposal, it does, however, contain some truth.
It is ridiculously unenforceable. Department of Land and Natural Resources barely has enough personnel to enforce the regulations already on the books, ones that make sense, such as closing the season for ula and Kona crab during the breeding season. Or allowing the take of females, berried or not, or enforcing the law about spearing them.
As for his suggestion that anybody being caught in possession of a speargun, scuba gear and fish be found in violation — should this idiocy become a law I have a better idea: Look for the big, gaping hole in the fish. Usually located in or near the head.
Greg Miller
KalaoaCoral
Opt out of opala
Mahalo to people like Scott Makapali Burton and others for their efforts in removing the coral opala (graffiti) along Queen Kaahumanu Highway and other roadways. It’s hard work.
Although the coral seemed a novel and creative idea at first, it has evolved into a kind of urban blight, primarily perpetuated by people who probably don’t even live here.
The idea of planting bougainvillea is worth pursuing. As an island community, we should support efforts that keep our aina balanced, beautiful and Hawaiian.
Likeke “Ric” Bumanglag
Kailua-Kona
Spearfishing
Ban idea ‘idiocy’
It is obvious from Duane Erway’s letter that he hasn’t done much spearfishing with scuba.
First, those who do are hunting big pelagic predators. These fish are generally hunted at depths that, because of the no decompression and repetitive dive tables, limit the length of time the hunter can chase them around without getting “bent.”
This factor alone limits their catch numbers. Most are content with one or two fish per outing. Happy really if they poke one ulua or uku. To imply that this large object spewing bubbles and making a lot of noise gives the diver an advantage over the fish is ludicrous. It is, after all, their home, not the diver’s.
A free diver with a three-prong harvests far more fish on an average outing than any person with a speargun.
The person with the gun is not after menpachi, uhu or nenue. Besides, it is a moot point. Both are harvesting food for themselves, their families, or to share with friends.
I don’t know anybody who uses a speargun who does so for commercial reasons — or who uses a three-prong toward that end. They aren’t gathering aquarium fish off the reef so they can die in a tank on the mainland. It’s about food.
Even though Duane’s letter was a knee-jerk reaction to the Department of Land and Natural Resources proposal, it does, however, contain some truth.
It is ridiculously unenforceable. Department of Land and Natural Resources barely has enough personnel to enforce the regulations already on the books, ones that make sense, such as closing the season for ula and Kona crab during the breeding season. Or allowing the take of females, berried or not, or enforcing the law about spearing them.
As for his suggestion that anybody being caught in possession of a speargun, scuba gear and fish be found in violation — should this idiocy become a law I have a better idea: Look for the big, gaping hole in the fish. Usually located in or near the head.
Greg Miller
Kalaoa
