Shark Fin Ban Uncertain

KHON ^ | Andrew Pereira

[nickcarraway]

Supporters of a bill that would ban the possession of shark fins in Hawaii are making a final push for its passage.

Senate Bill 2169 faces an uncertain future in conference committee next week as lawmakers debate whether eating shark fin soup is a cultural Chinese practice.

On Sunday Sen. Clayton Hee, who introduced the proposed ban, tried to set the record straight during a rare weekend press conference.

“This issue has taught me that in fact it is not a Chinese cultural issue,” said the chair of the Water, Land, Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs Committee. “It is something that those who could afford it in China were afforded the privilege of eating shark fin.”

Hee’s claim was supported by former first lady of Hawaii Vicky Cayetano, who left China for the United States with her family at the age of three.

“Eating shark fin soup is not about Chinese culture,” she said. “As a Chinese and a business person it's time to say that this irresponsible, indulgent practice has to stop.”

While the significance of shark fin soup to Chinese culture remains in dispute, there is no question about the role sharks play in the culture of native Hawaiians.

Known as an aumakua or family god, the shark is revered by native Hawaiians as both a deity and protector.

“He is so spiritual in many ways, like a guardian angel,” said Leighton Tseu, a member of the Royal Order of Kamehameha. “That's why we call him aumakua.”

For Tseu the practice of shark finning amounts to sacrilege. Some scientists estimate nearly 100 million sharks are killed every year to meet the demand for shark fin soup, which in Hawaii can sell for as much as $55 a bowl.

“It's all greed,” said Tseu. “It's all based on money - if you leave nature alone things will be good.”

Although native Hawaiians use shark skin and teeth to craft drums and weapons, Tseu says it’s a sacred undertaking not to be taken lightly.

"And it's not done every day,” he said. “It could be done once every ten years or done every hundred.”

If Hee’s bill makes it out of conference committee the penalty for violating the shark fin ban would likely be nothing more than a misdemeanor.

The senator said if the measure becomes law he would push for tougher penalties during the next legislative session.

“Perhaps even the confiscation of vessels,” said Hee.

[Squawk 8888]

Shark fin soup is overrated but I’m not going to stop anyone else from enjoying it.

[ModelBreaker]

LOL. Lefties twist themselves all up to maintain the fiction of their paradigms. Eating shark’s fin simply cannot be cultural for Chinese because, in the left paradigm, native Hawaiian’s want to ban it. Why? Native Hawaiian culture says sharks are holy (I don’t pretend to know the details but there are Hawaiians who, for religious reasons, threaten to kill anyone who kills a shark).

Now, if it were a Chinese cultural “thing” to eat shark’s fin, then the lefties in the Hawaiian legislature are committing thought-crimes by even thinking about banning it. Chinese have colored skin and therefore, lefties have to pretend their culture is unassailable because, well, who knows but we have to respect all colored skin culture. Native Hawaiians also have colored skin. There is an irreconcilable conflict for the lefty so long as the shark stuff is “cultural.”

Ergo, eating shark’s fin CANNOT be cultural.

[Othniel]

At first I thought the headline had to do with wearing one at the beach while swimming.

[TNdandelion]

I personally don’t care if anyone wants to eat shark fin soup. But I am disgusted with the practice of catching a shark just to cut off its fins and let the fish drown.