Welina me ke aloha,
 
We were 5 year residents of Oahu.  Lived in Pearl City.  Hawaii is a closed
ecosystem.  Ferrets will most likely never be legalized in Hawaii.  It is
even painful to bring in a cat or dog.  They must go through a 120 day
quarantine period.  When we left there was some talk of making it 30 days.
Even then, some animals do not survive the quarantine.  It is not an in
home quarantine, but rather at a state run facility.  Visitations are
limited and hours even more so.  The owner must pay for the quarantine and
supply the animal's food.  Even if ferrets were allowed in Hawaii, chances
are they would not survive the quarantine period.
 
The reasoning for outlawing the ferret in Hawaii carries a long history
with it.  When Captain Cook landed on the Hawaiian Islands to make first
contact, he brought with him rats on his ship.  Rats were commonplace
aboard sailing ships in those days.  Once the rats established themselves
in Hawaii, the rats started feasting on the indigenous ground nesting
birds.  With no natural predators, the rats quickly decimated the wildlife
population.  The Europeans brought in the mongoose to eradicate the rats.
The mongoose did just that to a great extent.  Then they still needed food
so the mongoose started feasting on other indigenous wildlife.  The
mongoose quickly became a feral animal that still exist in the wild today.
It is not uncommon to see them scurrying across Kamehameha Highway or the
adjacent bike path.  In there somewhere the decision was made to preserve
the natural wildlife and make foreign animals illegal.  The dog and cat
were allowed in after much controversy.  Even today there is now a large
feral cat population in Hawaii.  Dogs, unfortunately, do not fare so well.
Segments of the multi-cultural population still dine on dog meat.  Whatever
your preconceived notions are about this practice, remember your culture is
not the only one on this planet.
 
Along with ferrets, there are several species of animals that are
prohibited.  You would do better to focus to focus your energies in
legalizing ferrets in California and mainland cities.  Hawaii may be part
of the United States, but it is still seen as its own separate entity by
the local and native population.
 
Resources:
 
For additional information see Chapter 4-29 of the State of Hawaii
Department of Agriculture Administrative Rules.
 
You can contact the Animal Quarantine Station at (808)483-7151.
 
Info on quarantine: http://www.hawaiiag.org/74.htm
 
Animal Guidelines For Importation To Hawaii:
http://www.hawaiiag.org/71a3.htm
 
For the love of the ferrets,
Bryan Lipscy
Living Aloha in Seattle
A plug for the WSFA: http://www.daft.com/~wsfa
 
ps: Anyone know where to find a good plate lunch or manapua here?
[Posted in FML issue 2685]