Cool Facts About Wild Boar:
A single puaʻa can root up over 1,000 sq ft of land in one night, damaging native ecosystems and crops.
Boars have thick armor-like shoulders — you need good shot placement to take them down clean.
Traditional Hawaiian hunters used to track them barefoot, with dogs and a knife — a skill still respected today.
Wild pigs were introduced in small numbers — but now number in the tens of thousands across Hawaiʻi.
Estimated Wild Boar Population vs. People (2024)
Wild Boar on Maui:
Exact numbers are challenging to determine, but wild boar are widespread across Maui, particularly in remote and forested areas.
Local Human Population Estimates:
Hāna: Approximately 1,500 residents
Kaupō: Approximately 100 residents
Comparison:
While specific ratios are difficult to establish due to the lack of precise wild boar population data on Maui, it's evident that in areas like Hāna and Kaupō, wild boar are a significant presence, often outnumbering residents in certain local areas.
Learn More: Wild Boar on Maui
Wild boar, or puaʻa, have been on the Hawaiian Islands for centuries. The first pigs were brought by Polynesian voyagers over 1,000 years ago as a vital food source. Later, European explorers introduced larger domestic breeds that eventually interbred with the originals, creating the wild boar we hunt today.
On Maui, wild boar thrive in both forest and gulch terrain — digging up roots, damaging native plants, and contributing to erosion and invasive plant spread. They're powerful, tough, and quick to disappear into the brush, making them one of the most exciting (and respected) animals to hunt here.
At Maui Hunting Expedition, we offer wild pig hunts for both meat and management. Whether you're stalking them through thick jungle or waiting at dawn near known trails, boar hunts are fast-paced, unpredictable, and full of adrenaline.