Called pua'a in Hawaiian, these hardy and resourceful animals were introduced by the Hawaiians and now inhabit the mountainous areas of the island. Pigs are considered a problem for native vegetation and birds. In search of food, pigs root up the soil, giving exotic plants a toehold in areas of native vegetation. Small pools of water left in pig wallows provide a place for mosquitoes to breed, spreading diseases among native bird populations.
Within National Park boundaries, feral pigs are actively excluded and hunted down. In the general wild areas of the island, pigs thrive. A significant population of residents hunt these animals, hardpressed to provide for their families, they view them as an important resource.
The last inhabitants of Waimanu valley were driven from their homes by the difficulty of defending crops against the relentless marauding of the pigs! Adept scavengers, they come down into the populated areas of the island, using the streams and gulches as conduits for travel. At night it is not uncommon to encounter a group of pigs on any one of the side roads in Kohala. Residents report being able to hear them crunching on macadamia nuts under the trees just outside their homes. Road kills on the main highway are becoming less common...
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