By TOM CALLIS ADVERTISING By TOM CALLIS Tribune-Herald staff writer The History Channel’s new series “American Jungle” is finding few fans among state officials. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced Wednesday it is investigating whether laws were
By TOM CALLIS
By TOM CALLIS
Tribune-Herald staff writer
The History Channel’s new series “American Jungle” is finding few fans among state officials.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced Wednesday it is investigating whether laws were violated in the making of the reality TV show, which depicts hunting on the Big Island.
It also questioned the show’s content, which state officials said inaccurately portrays hunters as “clans” fighting about territorial hunting grounds.
“Hunting serves important historical, cultural and practical roles in Hawaii,” Gov. Neil Abercrombie said in a press release.
“… This appears to be a fictional ‘reality’ production with no connection to actual hunters in Hawaii. If we discover any laws or regulations have been broken we will vigorously pursue legal and/or criminal charges.”
DLNR said that a permit request for filming on state forest land was denied for the show and questioned whether filming occurred entirely on private property.
In addition, it noted nighttime hunting is illegal and referred to the show depicting the hunting of a feral cow, which it said requires a special permit.
Representatives of the Hawaii Film Office, Hawaii County Game Management Advisory Commission, DLNR’s Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement, and Humane Society were also quoted in the lengthy press release criticizing the show.
Tony Sylvester, game commission chairman, told the Tribune-Herald he has concerns with the series but noted there are those who defend it.
Hilo resident T’Jaye Forsythe, who helped create the show, couldn’t be immediately reached for comment. Forsythe also operates the hunting website, www.rustyboar.com.
On his Facebook page, a message from the show’s “Blood Clan” appeared to address some of the criticisms.
“Things such as territorial struggles, family politics, prejudices etc. truly do exist within the hunting hui’s (clans) I keia manawa.” the message said. “This reality very much exists with fishing grounds, surfing spots even so with water rights.”
Sylvester said he thought such conflicts were exaggerated.
“We’re not out there fighting like that,” he said.
Asked about conflicts about trail access, Sylvester said:
“It’s more about respect. You got to respect someone who established the trail and maintain and used it for many years.”
He said the commission will talk about the show at its next meeting in January.
Sylvester said he plans to hear both sides.
“I talked to a parent of one of the people,” he said. “They are in support of it.
“He made some really good points when they said they are trying to portray subsistence hunting and that lifestyle.
“A lot of it gets dramatized through the camera.”
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
