There were other highlights on the trip, greater than the hunt, including watching my daughter play the trumpet on the deck of the USS Missouri naval ship at Pearl Harbor, and spending time with both Emily and Laynee exploring and snorkeling. But to stick with the hunting and gathering theme of this blog, I’ll stick to the hunting experience mostly.
After a few days enjoying the island of Oahu, we Island hopped to the big island Hawaii, the island where I spent some time the year prior hunting sheep, goats, and game birds. I couldn’t stand being on the islands without showing the girls the big island.
Fortunately, we have friends that live on the Big Island, the Lum‘s. Todd and Janine invited us to stay with them while we toured their island. One of the days Tod had planned a turkey hunt for us. Often, Hawaii is not thought about for their turkeys, but there are plenty of them on the big island.
Before light, Tod and I started on some private ground overlooking the Ocean’s calm breezes and the sounds of courting black and Urkel Francolin were more prevalent than the gobbles of a Rio Grande. We did get into some turkeys and nearly brought some in on a spring misty fog, but they never closed the distance. Although it was a beautiful morning, it was a bust as far as bagging a tom.
For the afternoon, we visited one of Tod’s good friends, Alan. The minute I met Alan, I knew he had plenty of hunting under his belt by his equipment and confidence. We headed to some of the highest summits the big island offered and immediately spotted multiple toms and most of them were henned up. Tod and I made a quick decision to intercept a flock, darting down a deep volcanic ravine, we laid against the earth waiting for any sound that our interception would be successful. The hens curiously passed us to our right at 15 yards. I could hear the drumming of the big Toms deep in my chest, I peered at Tod and we smiled to each other. I jumped to a knee and shot the incoming redhead at 20 yards. The second tom curiously watched his friend roll over as I encouraged Tod to make it a double! Tod responded with a bang.
I’ve always dreamed of hunting Hawaii with Tod, and to meet Alan was such a treat as well. We put the turkeys in the back of the truck when Alan asked if I wanted to shoot a young ram as he was getting low on meat. We had already seen multiple groups of rams scattered about the steep hills.
I tried to convince him that I didn’t need to pull the trigger again to have a fun time, but he insisted. I obliged. A quick stalk on a half dozen rams, I picked a young multicolored one because he was broadside. I made a perfect neck shot and the ram tumbled down the hill. Watching Alan open up the carcass and take apart the sheep, including the ribs, was a seminar in efficient quick field-dressing.
I had asked Alan before we departed that night, if I could buy one of his turkey calls he makes out of koa wood, a wood found only in Hawaii known for its beauty and rarity. He said he was fairly busy and if he had time he’d get to it. A couple months after our trip that call arrived in the mail.
I couldn’t thank Tod enough for hosting us in Hawaii, and I can’t thank Alan enough for the lovely gift which he insisted I didn’t pay for. I learned that’s just the way the Hawaiians are, kind, selfless, and always willing to help out. What an experience!
