COM 0798.003 2004-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. William Kenoi Mayors Office County of Hawai'i 3 March 2006 Page two According to a "spokesman" for the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Cooperative Extension Service, they, who along with the Big Island Game Fowl Breeders Association, presented the 4"' Annual Hilo Poultry Symposium December 11, 2005, (see Hawaii Tribune Herald, December 4, 2005), claims that this activity is the Breeders "Livelihood." If that is so, then we would like to know if these "businesses" are paying the required Hawai'! State Excise Tax? As a business owner myself, I would expect the amount to be quite substantial considering the number of these "gamecock farms" in these islands. On an entirely different matter; some three years ago a member of this community documented and, in some cases, photographed several suspected "ice houses" thriving within our community. Documents and photographs were subsequently turned over to the Hawai'l Police Department, yet (to the best of my knowledge), not a single one of those "ice houses" has been busted and the activity continues unabated! In closing, I would like to point out the following additional FACTS: 1. Gamecocks are still being raised and cockfights are still happening on the two lots 100 feet and 200 feet respectively from ours and they (the owners) are, on a daily basis, expanding the activity. 2. The raucous crowing 16 to 18 hours a day from the "gamecocks" is worse than any few dogs barking for a few minutes (which seems of more consequence to our council members). 3. The stench from these birds' manure as well as that from their several dogs and pigs is overwhelming! This might not seem important except for the fact that the lots in Fern Acres are only 100 feet wide. The gamecock raisers/fighters are rapidly turning this community into one huge open cesspool, which the Health Department Vector says is all "legal." 4. Property values are decreasing as a result of the stench and noise. As an example: Our lanai, which faces the property where the gamecocks are being raised, is now useless except perhaps as an outdoor storage room! 5. The cockfights and gambling continue unabated and are increasing in direct proportion to the number of lots upon which they are raised. 6. A lot about 1,200 to 1,600 feet from our residence has now been cleared and those owners have stated they intend to raise a thousand gamecocks, this in addition to the gamecock raiser/cockfighter living 600 to 800 feet up the road, mauka side of Plumeria.