American Jungle Premieres 11/10/2013

Haha brah this show is one joke make us island huntaz look sad haha shit marking up trails with name on the tree cuz get out of here I no see that shit in the mountain and can not walk on their trails cuz as far as I noe no body own the land we as Hawaiian people have the rights to roam but this show is take us hawaiian huntaz to one whole different level remember wat Tom alway say hunta united not divide we hawaiian huntaz we hunt with aloha and we take care each other as far as I noe we no bully other huntaz mean that kind

I can no longer be silent. I’ve been informed that the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has made a statement regarding the show “American Jungle”. The press release alleges that the show is “inaccurate, offensive, and in some cases, potentially illegal”.

Let me get straight to the point of being “inaccurate.” This is a television show not a documentary. Television shows have fictional and non-fictional elements to them. “American Jungle” was considered more of a reality show because these are not actors and they are not reading from a script. If the show was meant to be an accurate depiction of hunting in Hawaii, we would have created a documentary. If the DLNR believes that the show is “inaccurate” then I believe they’ve answered their own question about “American Jungle” just being a television show. Like the show Hawaii 5-0, I don’t believe this is how police procedures are done in the State of Hawaii because I know it’s just a show.

Second, what is “offensive” is that DLNR has made a press release placing false allegations on A&E and History Channel without making any contact with the network. I have been informed by the network that no one from the DLNR had contacted them prior to making the press release to clear up any inaccurate or illegal issues. DLNR claims that “filming may have occurred on private land, the maps depicted in the show clearly demark areas that are under DLNR’s jurisdiction.” DLNR decides to use the animated map on the television show and claims it clearly marks the areas they believed were used in filming. For those who have watched the show, it is obvious that this animated map is not drawn to scale and has no ratio measurements to pinpoint the exact locations. DLNR’s use of the animated map from the television show indicates the extent of their investigation. DLNR did not contact the network to clear the private and public land issue. Instead, they chose to use an animated map from the television show. A quick call to the network would have clarified that it was private land.

Third, since the filming is on private land, does DLNR now feel that they are going to begin regulating what can be done on private land? Their concern was that there may have been illegal hunting at night. Was DLNR on site during filming to see the time the hunt took place and if the pig was alive? Again, this is a television show, and no one from the network was contacted by DLNR to clarify if any illegal activity took place. In fact, Governor Neil Abercrombie stated, “If we discover any laws or regulations have been broken we will vigorously pursue legal and/or criminal charges.” Is this a witch hunt? How can you discover if any laws were broken when you do not contact the network and decide to do your own investigation by watching an edited television show?

Finally, and most importantly, DLNR states that the “series depicts ‘clans’ that are fighting over access trails to territorial hunting grounds that inaccurately portray restrictive access to Hawaii’s public lands, which are held in public trust for the people.” DLNR continues by stating that “the cultural insensitivity of the series is also a concern.”

But I believe the biggest and most important issue of “territorial hunting grounds” is DLNR’s plan to ban hunting within 4,800 acres of public forest located south of Hilo. This DLNR “land grab” is the biggest territory war that the hunters of the Big Island have ever faced. This “land grab” calls for installing 17 miles of fencing to keep pigs, goats and sheep out and will extend almost to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park boundary. The area would be closed to hunting as DLNR’s way of protecting the ecosystem from invasive species. If the land is truly held in the “public trust for the people” why are you taking away these hunters rights to gather on land that has been providing food for their families for generations? You are taking away these hunting grounds like a “thief in the night.” You claim that you are concerned about “cultural insensitivity”. Where is your cultural sensitivity to these hunters as you threaten the local culture by targeting one of its traditional food sources?

DLNR is a bully taking away rights, threatening cultural livelihood and even trying to censor what can be shown on television. To this I say, long live “American Jungle” for exposing the land grab issues DLNR was trying to hide and showing how hostile Hawaii is towards the filming industry.

If I had known “American Jungle” would have received this much attention from the DLNR, I would have made an accurate documentary showing the “inaccurate, offensive, and in some cases, potentially illegal” land grab issue that threatens these Big Island hunter’s way of life. This documentary would have exposed the DLNR’s land grab as the largest territory war that hunters of the Big Island have ever faced.

Make it happen then. You need a hand I' m here to help and I'm sure others would to. Hawaii it's gatherer's the life style and the problems we face especially the land horders (Dlnr&nars) to name a couple should be exposed and correctly represented. Now that would get some ratings and respect.

THE NATION IS LISTENING NOW....WE ALL GOTTA COME TOGETHER AND CONTACT THE NEWS. STATE YOUR CASE AND REAL ISSUES WE FACE WITH THE FENCING, LAND GRABS, ERADICATION...THEY WANT YOUR STORIES NOW.


There is more to the uproar that DLNR and Gov. Abercrombie have created by releasing a statement to the media that condemns "American Jungle." Did you know that NO ONE AT ALL contacted the History Channel to check the facts?

“Hunting serves important historical, cultural and practical roles in Hawaii,” said Gov. Neil Abercrombie.

And now I'm wondering-- why did DLNR seize 4800 acres on Mauna Kea as a "conservation" measure? Yes, DLNR allowed time for testimony, but THEY DIDN'T LET ANYONE KNOW ABOUT IT! Check the facts on that one! By the time the hunters found out about the land grab and began their sign-waving and demonstrations, it was already too late! Obviously, DLNR tried to expedite their land grab by keeping everything on the down low. Perhaps, this is just a first step as DLNR seeks to eliminate the food gathering rights of native people.

Is there something else involved here? The "American Jungle" controversy seems like a a way to deflect attention away from underhanded dealings by the DLNR, particularly the seizing of the 4800 acres on Mauna Kea. Slaughtering thousands of animals every year in their eradication campaign, leaving them for dead on the slopes of maunakea? AGAIN!! DLNR taking by force and stealing food and hunting territory from the hunters of hawaii....Speak up! Contact HAWAII NEWS NOW and ask for BRENDA SALGADO the lead story researcher who is putting together a story for the hunters of hawaii. NOW IS THE TIME!!!

in the shows i seen i have never heard one word on land grabbing or fencing. .....why now? as far as the mainland know there are only 5 clans in Hawaii.......hows does your show help?. and if the state or dlnr never make the aligations would you have ever brought it up..? in the show?....sounds like you were to busy chasing $signes. than show the true side of hunting here in Hawaii.......when depict hunting here in Hawaii you are representing all hunters to the mainladers..wether WE like it or not and now the show is is trouble you want us to help......i dont remeber you coming on here before the show started to get input.

Hypa hit it right on the head TJ. Your show reality or not, intentionally or not, represents all of the hunting community in Hawaii on all islands and this show is making us look like a bunch of fools! and now you expect us to help put the DLNR on blast when you might as well join them in the fight to shut us down with the crap that's been showing on "American jungle"......... You won't get my support and I'm pretty sure that a lot of other hunters in our community feel the same way, it's too late to be asking us for help when you're now one of the people adding to our undoing. You should've thought about how the show was going to affect our community before even putting it out there, because it's too late now.