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REPORT OF THE POLICY COMMITTEE <br />ON HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELL-BEING <br />DATE: July 8, 2025 <br />PLACE: Council Chambers <br />Hilo, Hawaii <br />TIME: 1:12 p.m. <br />Council Chair and Members <br />Hawaii County Council <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />Re: Comm. No. 283Bill No. 51 <br />Your Policy Committee on Health, Safety, and Well-being, to which was referred Bill No. 51, <br />reports as follows: <br />Bill 51, transmitted by Committee Member Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder via Communication <br />No. 283, dated April 29, 2025, Amends Chapter 4, Article 3 of the Hawaii County Code 1983 <br />(2016 edition, as amended) relating to animals. <br />The bill prohibits the feeding of feral or stray animals on County -owned property. <br />Director of Parks and Recreation Clayton Honma and Animal Control Administrator Matthew <br />Runnells were present in the Hilo Chambers. <br />Committee Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder explained that this Bill isn't about just cats but all <br />animals. He stated that by feeding, we begin to build behavior for all animal colonies, and it <br />becomes more of an issue. <br />Committee Member Rebecca Villegas stated that she had seen and heard the arguments about <br />responsible capture, spay and neuter and release but have not seen a decrease in the colonies. She <br />expressed that this legislation does not call for starvation of cat colonies, but that it be removed <br />from County properties and said it is the Counties' job to ensure that our spaces are safe and <br />healthy for everyone. <br />Committee Member Heather Kimball noted that there isn't a clear solution, and the problem isn't <br />well defined. This is having an effect on the native bird population and Hawaiian monk seals. <br />Ms. Kimball said that the need for this Bill is there and agreed with Ms. Villegas that cats in <br />beach parks are just not something that belongs. Jurisdiction in the HRS (Hawai`i Revised <br />Statutes) doesn't have anything that specifies inhumane treatment of animals and states that <br />there's an issue of enforceability. <br />Committee Member Holeka Goro Inaba agreed that the Bill is reasonable because it is regarding <br />County property. He also agreed that the points brought up by Ms. Villegas are well taken, <br />especially what he hears in his community on the West side. <br />PCHSW Report No. 3 <br />