Molokai Fish.....yummy!

Save the fish , eat more Lobster....

#2 Tue, 09/16/2008 - 1:36am

hire escort boats from Molokai rather than Oahu or Maui. In so doing, we support the economy of our host island by spending our escort boat money on Molokai, by preventing other island’s boats from fishing their way to Molokai, and by giving the fish population a day’s break

A very good point, dmehling.

And that corn and New England Lobster sure looks delicious!

#4 Tue, 09/16/2008 - 7:52am

I love my brother Al and love to here different opinions. Moloka'i is one of the last places where resources, either rare or extinct on the outer islands, are bountiful. And like any other place in the world or in this case Hawai'i, locals get territorial. Especially when Moloka'i residence know that some of the escort boats head over to Moloka'i on numerous occasions other than to escort paddlers to either fish the hell of the place, take gallons of opihi, and raping the lobster population to take back to Oahu and sell them to the fish markets for top dollar. Molokai people live off of these resources and were taught to respect the ocean and land. I was taught never take more than what you need and never sell but share out of Aloha.

I was informed that a couple of years ago in the Moomomi area, if don't know its located on north side of Molokai, prior to a OC-1 race there were approximately thirty boats fishing, diving, and picking opihi. And majority of them met the Molokai radicals. Couple captains I know told me this and I had to cool things down. And just to let everybody know, I always get caught in the middle because everyone knows that I paddle and assume that I know everyone and hold me responsible for others actions. Don't be the swarm of lotus and devour everything in your path. Take what you need for your ohana to eat and enjoy and not to sell for profit.

And the escort boat drivers know this but they do it anyways, which is called "disrespect". I wouldn't go into ones home and help myself to a beverage in the frige, thats disrespectful. I wouldn't surf a spot on another island and paddle straight to the peak and catch set waves, again disrespectful.

During the last two or three Na Wahine and Molokai Hoe escort boat driver meetings, locals voiced their concerns so know one can say, "I neva know!"

Poopoopaddler, you're partially correct. Paddlers bring majority of the revenue to local businesses via shopping at local marts, rental cars, rental units, etc.. At most escort boat drivers pick up some gas if they fished all day and beer. Escort boat drivers know Molokai is too expensive and purchase all supplies, including gas, on whatever island they come from because its a whole lot cheaper.

And if anyone has a problem with this, Molokai has its ways of taking care of things.

Its all about practicing RESPECT and ALOHA not taking advantage of ones home.

Carlton Helm

save la'au point.

#6 Tue, 09/16/2008 - 2:53pm

Al, you frickin' asked for it. hahaha! C$, love your passion...

All of the above points are valid and I think it's great if you can find yourself a Moloka'i escort & dump some money into their economy.

Personally, I tend to have family and friends from O'ahu escort me b/c it's more than just a race -- it's an experience, it's being on the water with people you love, it's crossing the Ka'iwi Channel with people you know & trust, etc.

I think it's fair to say we should remind our escorts to practice respect and aloha when fishing on Moloka'i. However, I don't think I should have to use a Moloka'i escort or that my escort not be allowed to fish/dive AT ALL (or be given a hard time for doing so). None of my friends that escort go to Moloka'i with the intent to rape the waters. They do, however, fish as a pastime and to bring food home for their families.

#8 Tue, 09/16/2008 - 4:02pm

I dunno if this helps, but last time I did the molokai I went shore fishing on molokai and all I caught was 3 hinalea, I let them go, and I bought the bait on molokai.

Frick the way people talk about molokai I thought I'd be hauling in monster Ulua the whole time. Guess that says something about what kind of fisherman I am.

Poopoofisherman

#10 Tue, 09/16/2008 - 8:59pm

Where do you draw the line, in the middle of the Kaiwi channel between Oahu and Molokai? I can see it already: the Oahu boats camping out on and fishing an epic sunken log as it slowly drifts toward the line. The Molokai boats patiently waiting for their chance, watching their GPS screens. Retarded.

Brother's got a problem.

Change happens.

#14 Wed, 09/17/2008 - 10:22am

Ruh-Roh, I think he means you, Stuie. I'm running for cover...aaaaloha.

#16 Wed, 09/17/2008 - 10:43am

This started out as such a good thread. Paddlers with differing perspectives, sharing ideas in a mutually respective manner, and trying to understand why people feel the way they do about this issue. Aloha was abundant.

Now this.

Alfred, I appreciate your starting this thread. It was a good way for the paddling community to be reminded of an important issue in advance of the upcoming Channel races. Obviously, the people of Molokai feel strongly enough about it to post signs all over the place, so we paddlers should discuss it in advance of our races, out of respect for our hosts if for no other reason.

Carlton, I appreciate your insights. It is unfortunate that you get caught in between the paddling community and your neighbors. However, you represent both constituencies well, which is probably a contributing factor to your "caught in the middle" position. It's a delicate balance and I think you manage it well. I hope you'll keep it up.

Whitewater... I don't know what to say other than "retarded" is not the word I would have used with regard to this issue in any way, shape, or form. From your comments, I doubt you live Hawai'i, which may be why you don't have a more complete appreciation for the delicate balance of our ocean resources. I hope you'll give more consideration to the people of Molokai as you are enjoying your Molokai Hoe experience. Remember, you are a guest there... I hope you will treat the 'aina and kama'aina with kindess and respect you would appreciate of a guest in your home.

Hope to see you all at Hale O Lono for a fun, exciting and safe crossing. Imua.

#20 Wed, 09/17/2008 - 1:52pm

Everyone talks about how evil fishermen that sell their catch. How do you expect, lets say a elderly person to eat a nice steamed kumu or a nice pan fried papio. This eldery person is to old to fish or dive for these fish. They may not know any one who fishes so they have no way to get these fish. May be in their younger years they were able but get these fish. But now that they are to old, so they have to buy. These fisherman who are selling these fish, are not just throwing it into a rubbish can. They are feeding people. Many people who buy reef fish are eldery, since the new generation only want to eat ahi, mahi, onaga, or paka. New generation people only want fish fillets, no bones in their meat. Just go to Chinatown and see who is buying all the reef fish, eldery people. People make like fishing Molokai is so easy, you can catch 100's of pounds of fish. Anyone can go and fill their 100 quart cooler up. Reality, fish are not that dumb! And why is Carlton calling out Whitewater to fight, grow up!
We don't live in a 3rd world country!

#22 Wed, 09/17/2008 - 2:35pm

Jiae, so what about the old people who eat fish on Molokai? Forgot about them.

I'll enlighten you on something, the marine resources you buy at Chinatown or what the old people purchase doesn't come from Molokai (like Molokai is the last place where fish can be caught and sold to old people), it is shipped from Asian countries who has aquaculture companies. What ever is caught in Hawaii is usually illegally poached and sold with no sales receipts.

I work for DLNR enforcement and execute stings at Chinatown. Sales receipts we look at shows majority of the marine life are imported. Majority of reef marine life are poached from chronics and sold with no sales receipts thus cited and resources confiscated.

I never once mentioned don't fish around Moloka'i. I informed you on the origin on those signs and seeing it in a different perspective. But when you have thirty or more vessels just yards off the shoreline either fishing, diving, or picking opihi with no State enforcement, things get out of hand and people tend to take too much knowing Oahu doesn't have any.

I've got a low tolerance for cowards who talk bold but hide behind an alias. Whoever calls me "retarded" or "brothers got issues" like they know me will be confronted. Think before you talk. I will always be tact but never disrespect someone or who they represent and expect nothing to happen.

By the way, majority of marine life where ever you buy them are either imported or long liners because they need a license to sell to markets.

Jiae, it ain't a third world country but we're not far from it.

Carlton Helm

save la'au point.

#24 Wed, 09/17/2008 - 3:26pm

Bamski has a great point. Fishing and following rules is one thing, thats fine with me, but there are some fishermen out there that don't follow the rules or take more than is reasonable and I think that's when people get all nuts. Take opihi for example, Molokai is one of the last places that has a good population of it and I can guarantee you that oahu boats going to molokai don't take just enough to eat.

Its a touchy subject here because to the widely varying opinion on what is "reasonable"

#30 Wed, 09/17/2008 - 4:06pm

.

#32 Fri, 03/02/2012 - 9:57am

I don't remember whose bright idea it was, but I had a delicacy the morning of the Crossing five years ago that still turns my stomach... anyone else ever had pancakes with opihi inside? Just couldn't waste those last dozen we had picked the day before...

#34 Wed, 09/17/2008 - 5:51pm

Alfred, listen to me and Dustin when we say just keep your mouth shut.

#36 Wed, 09/17/2008 - 6:47pm

What`s the big deal here?

If the people of Molokai are asking you to not catch thier fish , then don`t catch thier fish.

It ain`t going to kill you to switch to burgers and dogs for one or two stinkin weekends is it?

Try to control yourselves , it`s really not that hard when you try. There are other things to eat besides the tastey tropical fish of Molokai.

#38 Thu, 09/18/2008 - 3:00am

Poopoopaddler, a lot of truth to your thread and I respect people who speaks the truth.

Carlton Helm

save la'au point.

#40 Thu, 09/18/2008 - 10:08am

I’m not from Molokai, but lived there for 5 yrs as a kid. Used to go over for visiting and diving about every other year up to a few years ago. One of the last times I was there a guy tried to strongarm tax my (3) fish when I came out of the water. I was about ready to crown the dude before my friend, (who was born on Molokai) came out of the water and told the dude to beat it.

There are bad apples on both sides of the fence. Oahu not only has the largest and most highly urbanized population, but also possesses a coastline for the most part ravaged by over-development and overfishing. It is statistically understandable that a good portion of the abusers that pound the waters of the outer islands do in fact come from Oahu. These abusers fill me with disgust, and should be spanked big time. Does this justify putting up an indiscriminate sign directed at a motley fleet of boats saying in effect "No catch our fish"? I'll leave that answer for the individual to decide for themselves, but will say that if that was considered to be educational, then it was not only poorly conceived but bordering on confrontational.

Brother's Got A Problem is a song by Olomana. Its a sad song about a brother who could not adapt to changes happening to his beloved home. He solved this problem by jumping on a boat, never to be seen again. There are many ways to deal with change, including possessiveness, judgement, and exclusion. Despoilation is a fact intimately tied with ALL of man's existence on this Earth. We all suffer from it to a certain degree.

What I find disturbing is people of Hawaii thinking in terms of, and discriminating on the basis of what island each of us are from. When I visit another island, I do not think of myself as from Oahu, but it is not too uncommon that someone will remind me of this fact--sometimes jokingly, at others times with a sense of menace. I accept this attitude because I understand where it is coming from, but its definitely not a good thing, and it is getting worse and becoming more hardlined. That to me, is what I consider retarded.

#42 Thu, 09/18/2008 - 10:27am

I love music by Olomana.

#44 Thu, 09/18/2008 - 12:10pm

Fuzerider, I think outlawing activities in which another groups is allowed to do because of demographics is probably somehow unconstitutional.

But how about regulating fishing in general to ensure overfishing does not occur? 2 problems.
1. Lack of appropriate laws
2. Lack of enforcement (not saying DLNR does a poor job, hawaii is a very large place and impossible to patrol all shorelines, and parts of the ocean.)

I think the mainland folk are now seeing the dilemma Hawaii faces..

#46 Thu, 09/18/2008 - 1:32pm

I'd say the dilemma Hawai'i faces is a dilemma almost any coastal area faces, and particularly those with well established fishing grounds. Hawai'i is a unique and wonderful place, but overfishing is a problem the world over everyone needs to be aware of. If you can eat fish with a clear conscience in this day and age you didn't catch yourself, there is something seriously wrong.

poopoopaddler, there is actually a well established precedent giving special privileges to first peoples (natives, indians, and any other name people have given us) with respect to gathering, fishing, hunting, etc. There was a good case in the past couple years regarding one of the PNW tribes resuming whaling to illustrate this. I think native Hawai'ians also have specific gathering and water rights, although I don't know this for sure.

The real point is, if overfishing is as big a problem as this thread has made it out to be, something needs to be done to control it. If the paddlers bringing escort boats in are contributing to part of the problem, then they should also contribute to finding a solution.

#48 Thu, 09/18/2008 - 2:01pm

Moloka'i has two assigned DLNR Officers. Hopefully I can transfer back home and execute fair enforcement, including the locals. The Molokai Officers just received their first enforcement vessel after not having one for many years.

And like anything involving government agencies, money is the biggest issue and how its disseminated. DOCARE (Division Of Conservation Resource Enforement) is one the many divisions in DLNR that fights for funding but doesn't usually get it.

Two Officers for an entire island is hard to to cover in a single day. More monies, either from grants or from political means, can help open frozen positions to hire more officers all throughout the state.

Carlton

save la'au point.

#50 Thu, 09/18/2008 - 3:05pm

True, escort boats aren't the sole problem, but SOME aren't supporting the solution. One bad apple spoils the bunch. Whether you know the ones that break laws (doesn't mean they're bad people) or not, unfortunately they represent the masses. With two Officers on the island, its very easy to break laws.

Honesty: Doing the right thing when in front of people.
Integrity: Doing the right thing when no ones around.

Carlton

save la'au point.

#52 Thu, 09/18/2008 - 3:41pm

Jiae, I think the escort boats have a larger impact than we think. It'd be interesting to know the stats on how much fish and opihi come back from the molokai race. I've seen some guys come back with 30-50 galllons or more of opihi and that has to impact the reproduction rates further generations down.

Bamski hit a good point, even with regulations and laws like bag limits, its pointless without enforcement.

The good news is I've been stopped by DLNR game wardens on several occasions here on Oahu. Just to make sure that i wasn't breaking any laws. And I wasn't cause you have to catch stuff to break laws.

#54 Thu, 09/18/2008 - 5:47pm

I've seen boats come back with 5-50 lbs rice bags full of opihi. That probably translates to 30-50 gallons give or take maybe I'm wrong. 5 or 6 guys on a boat, all day Saturday, I'd say its doable. It somehow was...

Hihiwai, now thats a whole different story. I've seen way more than that taken from Wailau.

poopie

#56 Thu, 09/18/2008 - 7:52pm

Enforcement isn`t a problem on Monhegan. The locals out there tend to take matters into thier own hands and everyone knows it beforehand.

You dont want to mess with a pissed off Monhegan lobster fisherman.... unless youd like to be visitin Davey Jones....

#58 Fri, 09/19/2008 - 1:11am