Hunters set out to their special spots Saturday morning for the 10th annual Keiki of Da Aina Pig Hunt, the first since 2020 because of the pandemic.
Over 200 participants in 59 teams brought their prey to Pu’uanahulu to be measured and weighed for prizes in five categories; Biggest boar, biggest sow, biggest laho‘ole longest tusk and biggest overall. All pigs were field dressed and the meat went to the team’s families.
Each of teams had to include at least one person younger than 18 and had to utilize a hunting dog to find the pig, according to Nakoa Pabre, event organizer. Teams could hunt at any legal location on the Big Island.
The all-day tournament put on by nonprofit Keiki of Da Aina also featured plenty of local food, entertainment and a play area for keiki.
In addition, the US Forest Service and Akaka Foundation for Tropical Forests collected samples of the pua‘a hair and took body swabs to test for the fungus that causes rapid ohia death. They also looked for tics and analyzed teeth to estimate the animal’s age. Samples were also taken to check the genealogy of the pigs and to look at feeding trends of the omnivore. Locations of where the pig was taken were also recorded for further analysis.
Keiki of Da Aina strives to teach our island’s children Hawaiian traditions and sustainable lifestyles through tournaments like Saturday’s pig hunt, bamboo fishing tournament and educational programs. They also hold a yearly back to school event, distributing backpacks filled with school supplies and offering new donated clothing and haircuts.
“I’ve got to do something to perpetuate the culture,” said Pabre, the foundations founder. “This is an opportunity for the kids to learn to be sustainable.”
To learn more about Keiki of Da Aina or to make a tax deductible donation visit keikiofdaaina.com
Final results:
Biggest boar:
1st place – Team Tune em Up – 154.6 pounds
2nd place – Team Small Game – 154.2 pounds
3rd place – Team Waff – 148.4 pounds
Biggest sow:
1st place – Team Slaughterhouse – 148.4 pounds
2nd place – Team Steady Coonin – 138.4 pounds
3rd place – Team Mauka Side – 119 pounds
Biggest Laho‘ole
1st place Team Hana Mauka – 237.4 pounds
2nd place – Team Pono Hunters – 136.4 pounds
3rd place – Team Just Give em – 136.2 pounds
Longest tusk:
1st place – Team Gouviea – 6.5 inches
2nd place – Team Waff – 6.5 inches
3rd place – Team Too Beat – 6.3inches
