Committee advances Tayson Wong Chong to Game Management Advisory Commission after discussion of Mauna Kea and feral-animal management

The Committee on Government Operations and External Affairs forwarded Mayor Mitchell D. Roth’s nomination of Tayson Wong Chong to the Game Management Advisory Commission on Aug. 20, voting 9–0 to send the appointment to the full council. The administration presented Wong Chong’s background as a lifelong Hawaii Island resident, a University of Hawaii at Hilo environmental-science student, and hands-on experience as a farmhand, heavy-equipment operator and hog-control specialist.

Wong Chong told the committee he has worked with state-level staff and local hunter-gatherer networks on game-management issues and advocated for data-driven, parcel-level approaches on Mauna Kea and elsewhere. He said fenced trials and cooperation with watershed managers could inform reintroduction or population-balance efforts and offered a concrete reference: “Last month, on the 23rd and 24th, there was arrow shooting on Mauna Kea. There are 71 animals taken on the mountain,” he said, and later described a recommendation of approximately "30 head per 100 acres" as a planning datum for certain fenced parcels.

Members asked how reintroductions would be contained and managed; Member Kagawada warned of past overpopulation and limited funding and manpower for fencing and monitoring, and asked about partnerships and enforcement. Members suggested potential connections to the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Department of Defense sentinel funding, and local hunter-gatherer associations to support monitoring and management. The committee recorded nine votes in favor to forward the nomination to the full council for confirmation.