HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hundreds of African Cape antelope now roam the private island of Niihau, where the Robinson family has turned an exotic animal rescue into a unique business opportunity aimed at preserving Hawaiian culture.
The herds of Eland are descended from animals rescued from the failing Molokai Ranch in the late 1990s. Bruce Robinson, whose family owns Niihau, said Molokai Ranch came to him when the ranch ran into trouble.
“They couldn’t keep them there. So they approached us with the Department of Agriculture and said, ‘Would you be willing to take them?’” Robinson said.
Niihau’s isolation made it possible for the exotic animals to roam free without posing risks to other species on neighboring islands.
“They said, well Niihau was set off by itself. There’s a big channel, a moat between Kauai and Niihau. That’s good enough,” Robinson said.
Processing challenges and certification
With the booming Eland population threatening Niihau’s ecosystem, the Robinson family developed a plan to certify the herds for processing into organic premium meat. The animals present significant challenges, with full-grown males weighing up to 2,000 pounds.
“Think something the size of a moose,” said Briana Robinson, who manages the harvesting operation.
The law prohibits removing African animals from Niihau alive, making the harvesting process complex. Briana Robinson said they typically use two U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspectors and two shooting teams in different locations.
“Every single Eland dropped on a harvest day has to be monitored by a USDA inspector,” she said.
After dressing on Niihau, the meat is flown to Kauai for processing at a facility in Kaumakani. The plant already produces lamb and mutton from Niihau sheep under the Niihau Wild Brand.
Chad Buck, owner of Hawaii Foodservice Alliance, worked with the Robinsons through the multi-year process to get Niihau certified as organic and bring the processing plant into full USDA certification.
“If you want to get into Target, you want to get into Safeway, you want to get into national chains or clubs, that’s not going to happen unless you have the highest level of food safety,” Buck said.
Cultural preservation goals
While mutton and lamb products are already on store shelves, Buck said local chefs are learning about Eland meat and finding the best ways to prepare the free-range, very lean meat.
Buck said the vision is for the business to continue into future generations with the unique premium product.
Bruce Robinson sees the business as important for Niihau’s roughly 100 residents, where Hawaiian is the first language, and most are employed by the ranch or supported by weaving, fishing and hunting.
“To keep a vibrant population, to keep people employed, who have a pride of life, so they’re not just sitting around receiving a check, they are working for it,” Robinson said.
The Robinson family has maintained the island’s culture since King Kamehameha V asked it be preserved.
“One of the requests of the king was, ‘Do what you can for the people.’ He said, ‘There is going to be a time when they’re not as strong as they are now. I ask that you do what you can to preserve them,’” Robinson said.
“The family said, ‘We’ll do what we can.’ That was not an absolute promise, but it was a pretty direct statement that our family was going to maintain Niihau and the people as best as possible. And we’ve done that till today,” Robinson said.
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