“Any person convicted of owning, transporting, or possessing any snake or restricted (without a permit) or prohibited plant, animal, or microorganism may be:
- fined up to $200,000;
- imprisoned not more than three years; and
- pay for all costs relating to the capture or eradication of the pest.” (Hawaii Department of Agriculture)
A headline in the April 11, 1902 issue of Kuokoa read, “Snakes are Allowed to be Imported to Hawaii.” The article went on to state,
“It was thoroughly believed that a person or persons could not bring in snakes from foreign lands into Hawaii, but the head custom inspector received a letter telling him that there is no law prohibiting the import of this type of animal into Hawaii, and should it be brought in by a person or persons, he has [no] right to prevent the bringing of it ashore.”
“It is right for us to oppose this with what power we have. There are many pests currently brought into Hawaii, and we do not want to bring in others. Before the arrival to Hawaii nei, there were no mosquitoes here, and they could be up at night without their hands tiring out from constantly waving them off.”
“That isn’t all, there is the mongoose that are eating chicks, and eggs, and we hear that a baby left somewhere by its mother while she was washing clothes, died because it was got by a mongoose which sucked all of its blood.”
“There are also mynah birds, fleas, and many, many other pests brought into Hawaii after the arrival of the enlightened races into Hawaii, and here is another thing that is wanted to be open to a person or persons to bring into Hawaii.”
“If these snakes come into Hawaii nei, and they spread in the forests, we will not be able to let our children go out to those places without facing calamity. Not just the children, but animals will be in danger of being bit by these snakes.”
“If the snakes are allowed, the time will perhaps come when lions and tigers will be imported, and we will be just like most of the lands of the world.”
“We want the beautiful things of the other lands, but the problems are what we don’t want. If they import beneficial things, we will happily take them let them free in our verdant fields of Hawaii nei for them to run about; however, if they are to bring in pests, we will stand and exterminate them when they step within the borders of this Territory.”
Things changed … on May 22, 1902, US Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson, sent statement titled, Importation Of Reptiles Into Hawaii. In it, he stated,
“Washington, DC, May 22, 1902. Under the provisions of section 1 of the act of Congress approved May 25, 1900, entitled ‘An Act to enlarge the powers of the Department of Agriculture, prohibit the transportation by interstate commerce of game killed in violation of local laws, and for other purposes,’ …
“… the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to regulate the introduction of birds and animals in localities where they have not heretofore existed, and to make and publish all needful rules and regulations for carrying out the purposes of the act.”
“In accordance with the authority thus conferred, and for the purpose of preventing the introduction of noxious reptiles into the Territory of Hawaii, the order issued under date of September 13, 1900, extending the list of foreign animals and birds which may be imported without permits (Circular No. 30, Biological Survey) …”
“… is hereby amended so that on and after July 1, 1902, and until further notice, permits will be required for the entry of reptiles at all ports of the Hawaiian Islands.”
“Such permits will be issued by the special inspector of this Department in Honolulu in the same form and subject to the same regulations as those now issued for mammals and birds.”
“But no permits will be issued for the entry of poisonous snakes of any kind. All applications for permits to import reptiles into Hawaii should be addressed to the special inspector of foreign animals and birds, Bishop Museum, Honolulu, H. I.”
“Under the regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, under date of June 28, 1900 (Circular No. 101, division of customs), persons who have not already secured permits will be allowed a reasonable time in which to secure them after the arrival of the shipment at the port of entry.”
“In case the application for entry is not granted, or the required permit is not obtained in due time, the reptiles will be immediately exported or destroyed at the expense of the owner or agent. James Wilson, Secretary.”
That order was later amended by Secretary Wilson on June 19, 1905; it stated, “for the purpose of preventing the introduction of snakes into the Territory of Hawaii, the order issued under date of May 22, 1902 (Circular 36, Biological Survey), is hereby amended so that on and after August 1, 1905, and until further notice, no permits shall be issued for the entry of snakes of any kind at any port of the Hawaiian Islands.”
Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (§150A-6 Soil, plants, animals, etc., importation or possession prohibited) state, “No person shall transport, receive for transport, or cause to be transported to the State, for the purpose of debarkation or entry thereinto, any of the following: (3) Any live snake”.
That law goes on to state, “notwithstanding the list of animals prohibited entry into the State, the department [of Agriculture] may bring into and maintain in the State four live, sterile brown tree snakes of the male sex for the purpose of research or training of snake detector dogs …”
“… and further, that a government agency may bring into and maintain in the State not more than two live, nonvenomous snakes of the male sex solely for the purpose of exhibition in a government zoo”. (HRS §150A-6)
