Hawai’i Fishing Fanatic

As soon as this campaign is over, I’ll return to writing again about fishing in Hawai’i and the Pacific. I apologize that between my day job, family obligations and volunteering, I haven’t had much time to go fishing and have sacrificed it to help out in Neil Abercrombie’s gubernatorial campaign. I believe it’ll all be worth it in the end.

A lot of readers have asked if I have done a video for the campaign, so here it is! Please check it out and let me know what you think. It’ll be much appreciated!:

Here’s Neil’s newest video, “The Right Way.”:

You can also find more Neil Abercrombie videos at NeilAbercrombie.com.

In addition, if you believe in the future of Hawai’i, here’s how you can get involved:

• Learn more about Neil’s vision for Hawaii.
• Pledge your vote for Neil Abercrombie.
• Make a donation.
• Make things easy on yourself and vote by mail.
• Tell your friends and family to do the same.
• Read previous Hawai’i Fishing Fanatic posts on Neil.

Thank you all for your support!

If you’ve been following my blog for sometime, you know that I’ve always believed that fishing in Hawai’i is a privilege and nothing should be taken for granted. I’ve pushed for preservation and conservation but also kept in mind the public’s need to use the ocean’s resources. Everyone believes in one way or another their need is the most important thing. However, if we become constantly selfish in our needs then that resource will be gone someday, if not sooner.

As I have told you, in earlier posts, I will be introducing you to gubernatorial candidate, Neil Abercrombie, in the next two months and how he will bring about change in the fishing community. Below is a quick look into his philosophy of tackling fishing issues in Hawai’i, if voted as governor:

Fishing & Fisheries

Fishing issues in Hawaii have been the subject of serious conflict and frustration on all sides. Neil believes our policies should balance five socially important goals:

1) Science-based preservation and management of our aquatic resources to ensure that the people of Hawaii can fish for generations to come.

2) Preserving and promoting local recreational and subsistence fishing.

3) Preserving and protecting native Hawaiian fishing access and practices.

4) Community involvement in the management of aquatic resources.

5) Support for fishing as an economic activity.

To fairly and adequately pursue these goals, government has two critical roles: First, to bring competing groups together to build a common vision and forge solutions. Second, government must provide adequate resources to enforce the law.  The current lack of enforcement has bred a lack of trust in government and has made a mockery of regulations and resource management.

I’m no dummy but what he says makes sense to me and to a lot of influential people in the fishing community. In fact, in a recent rally, I noticed more and more fishermen out to support Neil in his quest for the governorship. I saw William Aila, who I respect foremost as the Wai’anae Boat Harbormaster, fishermen, storyteller, historian and a great person at heart. If people like him are supporting Neil, then I’m not too off-the-mark in my belief that Neil will bring about change and make the fishing community more cohesive.

You decide and vote with what may very well be our best chance to get things done with Neil Abercrombie!

Aloha no!

In the next three months, I’m hoping to get the word out on gubernatorial candidate, Neil Abercrombie, not only because I’m a big supporter but because as a local fisherman, surfer, paddler, kayaker and environmentalist, I believe he is the best choice to support many of our causes & issues. I know that every candidate can’t be perfect, but taking a look at the other candidates, I feel a sense of despair and that our voices may get lost by the others. I’ve heard his solutions to island problems that we have had for decades and have been impressed by his courage to take on these issues. Take a look at his congressional record on the environment and tell me if you think otherwise.

ENVIRONMENT

In June 1992, Neil Abercrombie and his colleague, the late Rep. Patsy Mink, introduced legislation to preserve a 1400 square mile area in the shallow waters off Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, and the Big Island as a National Marine Sanctuary to protect the endangered humpback whale. In November 1992, the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary was officially designated, and has become one of 13 sanctuaries in the National Marine Sanctuary System, created under the U.S. Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act. Nearly two-°©‐thirds of the North Pacific humpback whale population migrates to Hawaii each winter.

Abercrombie has always believed that Hawaii is defined by a special bond with all the other species on the planet and a profound respect for their right to exist in harmony with the land. His role on the House Committee on Natural Resources has provided the opportunity to be in the forefront of protecting and preserving our natural treasures: the land, the oceans and the creatures in them. He was instrumental in legislation to expand Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park on the Big Island. He introduced and passed the measure creating the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge Expansion on the North Shore of Oahu, and in the 2010 Appropriations Bill for the Department of Interior, was able to help target $7.4M to complete the purchase of the refuge land.

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In the Army’s Compatible Use Buffer program, the Congressman found funding to conserve large tracts of valuable land on Oahu in Waimea, Moanalua Valley, and Pupukea and Paumalu. He also secured House support and passage for legislation and funding for the National Tropical Botanical Garden to continue its operations on Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island, preserving Hawaii’s tropical plant diversity and stemming the tide of extinction.

His concern about the effects of human-°©‐related activity on our marine mammals, led Abercrombie to establish a comprehensive research program, focusing on the use of Sound Navigation and Ranging (Sonar) equipment by the U.S. Navy. Sonar’s powerful sound beams can damage the sensitive hearing of marine mammals — primarily whales and dolphins— and may have even caused some deaths. He has also targeted Department of Defense funds to mitigate the effects of Navy training exercises in the marine environment by updating naval technology to avoid harming marine mammals. Additionally, he authored and introduced legislation to better understand and protect our marine mammals such as the beloved Hawaiian Monk Seal and Humpback Whales in the National Marine Mammal Research Program Act. Finally, Abercrombie also introduced and passed the legislation to ban the practice of shark finning in U.S. waters.

Abercrombie also believes that widespread preventive measures and aggressive response to outbreaks are essential to protect Hawaii’s native species and natural ecosystems from alien and invasive species. In 2004, he requested a hearing in 5 Hawaii by the House Committee on Natural Resources to explore serious invasive species problems in the Hawaiian archipelago. The hearing enabled the Committee, including Rep. Abercrombie, to analyze Hawaii’s efforts and identify areas in which the federal government could assist in the fight against invasive species. He has also helped obtain federal funding to prevent the spread of invasive species and assisted in House passage of legislation to stop the spread and begin the eradication of Guam’s brown tree snake.

As an island state, Hawaii’s most precious resource is clean potable water. In 2005, Abercrombie introduced and won House passage of the Hawaii Water Resources Act to authorize projects: in Kalaeloa, Kealakehe and Lahaina to ensure Hawaii residents have adequate potable water supplies.

However, water can also be a destructive force in the islands. Following the Ka Loko Dam break on the island of Kauai, the Congressman worked to secure passage of the Dam Safety Act, which requires an updated inventory and assessment of dams in the United States. He also supported increased funding for these goals.

You can also decide for yourself, if he’s your candidate, in this recent interview with Sherry Bracken in Kailua-Kona, HI, he speaks on different island issues that are of paramount concern to all of us. The full interview with Part 2 can be found on the AFG2010 Blog by Neenz.

Neil Abercrombie Interview Part 1 from Apachewolf on Vimeo.

I’ll remind you from time to time, but make sure to register to VOTE and make sure to VOTE,  Abercrombie for Governor!

Let's Go Flyers!

I’ve been waiting for the Philadelphia Flyers to make it to the finals for 13 years and now I’m sick to the bone. The Stanley Cup Finals don’t come easily, so Let’s GO FLYAAAAsSSSS!!!

As a volunteer for Neil Abercrombie’s gubernatorial bid, I often get asked, what his feelings are about the deterioration of Hawai’i’s harbors, it’s facilities, and the public’s distrust with state agencies such as the Department of Transportation’s Harbors Division and the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

I know from my time with the campaign, that Neil Abercrombie shares a deep concern for the public that utilize Hawai’i’s state facilities for business and leisure activities. He has visited many different areas of our state and most recently, visited the Honokohau area in Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i (Big Island). He shared his thoughts and feelings on what is fast-becoming a formidable issue on the current state of affairs with our harbors and state facilities. You can see his whole transcript at NeilAbercrombie.com:

Honokohau Harbor

by Neil Abercrombie

On a recent visit to Honokohau Harbor, I was appalled, like many residents and small business owners, to see how we’ve let the harbor deteriorate. To make matters worse, I was disappointed to hear about the state’s proposal to raise the parking fees at Honokohau Harbor.

How can we create an additional financial burden for 200 small businesses by raising their parking fees? And how can we expect to charge visitors more money to visit a dangerous and dilapidated harbor with a collapsed pier in a public area that doesn’t provide basic comforts like shade while waiting for boats? The state is only now getting around to a minor capital improvement project that doesn’t address the basic issues.

There has been a collapse of leadership at the highest levels on basic government services from improving our public schools to maintaining our harbors. Raising the parking fees at Honokohau Harbor does not solve the problem. My position is that the parking fees should be set aside. Should they be imposed, when I’m Governor, I will rescind the fee increase until we can prove to the public that their dollars are being well spent.

We should be focusing our efforts on getting federal funds to improve our state’s infrastructure. That will spark revitalization of our economy and generate the business activity that we need. People deserve to feel proud of our harbors and public spaces.

More pictures of the Honokohau visit are on the Big Island for Abercrombie Facebook Page. Mahalo to Abercrombie for Governor supporter, Jean Bevanmarquez. for the additional photos.

Please take a moment this Memorial Day weekend to remember those that gave the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy today. Mahalo to all those now serving. A further rememberance especially, that touches home, to all my military buddies that have since passed away in peace and war.

Aloha ‘oe.