Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: I had a question after reading recently about the "Deadly Cobra Captured." Are the cargo holds of all planes searched for snakes and other vermin upon arrival in Honolulu? Who’s keeping watch
for alien critters?Answer: The short answer is no, according to animal specialist Domingo Cravalho, with the state Department of Agriculture's plant quarantine branch.
Cargo holding areas on aircraft are not normally inspected by plant quarantine staff, he said.
"Normally, we rely on the employees for the individual airlines to be our eyes and ears and if they locate anything, they are to report it to us immediately," Cravalho said. Training classes are held for airline employees, not only with regard to spotting brown tree snakes from Guam, but for other creatures as well.
Additionally, "We do have dog teams that monitor flights from Guam," Cravalho said. They check wheel wells and cargo areas of commercial aircraft, as well as the cargo and baggage that come off those planes.
State inspectors also try to monitor as many military flights as possible, but because of staffing problems, they may rely on federal agencies to inspect incoming aircraft, Cravalho said.
"In a nutshell, we do not make it a normal practice to check the cargo holds of aircraft or surface vessels," he said. "We rely on individual airline carriers, vessels and dock workers to report any unusual sightings to us so that we can follow up" and capture an alien animal before it escapes.
Q: I'm a recent arrival to the Big Island, Honokaa to be exact. I'm a local male, 74 years old, born on Oahu, retired from the merchant marine, and plan to spend my remaining years here. Are there any rights of way to the ocean, leading from Honokaa town on the Big Island? I had been driving to Kawaihae to enjoy a day at the beach, but due to my advancing age, I will no longer be able to drive that distance safely. Those few "trails" that I have found require the services of a mule or a four-wheel drive, neither of which I have.
A: Star-Bulletin Big Island correspondent Rod Thompson did the leg work for us on this question, finding out that your best bet is to make friends with a Honokaa landowner.
There are no state trails in the area, according to Rodney Oshiro of the state Department of Land and Natural Resource's Na Ala Hele trails program. Former Hamakua District Councilman Takashi Domingo points out that the entire coast is high sea cliffs and any fishing trails down to the water are dangerous.
Kamehameha Schools is one of several large land owners in the area. Peter Simmons, one of its land managers, said the organization closed several cane roads when it bought large tracts from the former Hamakua Sugar Co.
Simmons recommends getting to know the owner of the land you are interested in visiting or crossing.
Some landowners are happy to have visitors, because authorized visitors provide extra eyes against thieves. Farmers and ranchers leasing land have been subjected to crop theft and rustling, Simmons said.
Got a question or complaint?
Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com