HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0283.028 2024-2026From: Kelly Briley
Sent: Sunday, July 6, 2025 6:42 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony Supporting Bill 51
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Aloha Council members,
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I write in strong support of Bill 51, which seeks to prohibit the feeding of feral animals on Comity o�rn
Hawaii property. This amendment is urgently needed to protect our endangered native specs,
safeguard public health, and uphold our shared kuleana to steward Hawai`i's lands and ecosgsteRs
responsibly.
Feedingferal animals, especially cats, on public lands has already contributed to the deaths of multiple
endangered and protected species. In April 2024, a one -month -old nen6 gosling died from
toxoplasmosis, a parasite spread only through cat feces. This gosling had never left the boundaries of
Lili`uokalani Gardens and was documented eating cat food alongside feral cats fed daily in the park.
These feeding sites are rarely cleaned. Feces accumulate, contaminating the soil, washing into ponds
where families fish, and creating an unsanitary environment that threatens both human and wildlife
health. Feral pigs also pose a serious and well -documented threat to County parks. In 2022, former
Parks Director Maurice Messina testified that pigs had torn up public parks so severely it looked like
"somebody took a D9 [bul[dozer] to this park." These animals have destroyed fields, damaged
playgrounds, disrupted cemeteries, and rendered large areas unusable. Messina reported that most of
the island's 270 park facilities had been affected. Despite this, people continue to dump food scraps,
drawing pigs into community spaces and increasing damage to infrastructure, habitat, and public safety.
Feral goats, especially prevalent in West Hawaii, are also sustained by intentional food dumping. Goats
are destructive grazers that strip native vegetation, hinder forest regeneration, and accelerate erosion. In
parks and open space, they damage landscaping, destabilize trails, and fragment critical habitat used by
native birds. Food intentionally left behind at transfer stations, parks, and trailheads encourages
unnatural gatherings and increases human -wildlife conflict, undermining restoration efforts by County
and State agencies. Feral chickens have become a widespread nuisance across Hawaii. Their constant
crowing disrupts neighborhoods and parks, their droppings pose sanitation and health risks, and their
foraging damages landscaping and native vegetation.
Nen6 Research and Conservation has documented a concerning rise in eye parasites in protected
species like the nene, possibly linked to feral chickens. Senate Bill 2401, signed into law on July 1, 2024,
mandates the Hawaii Department of Agriculture to work with counties to control feral chickens,
providing $50,000 per county in matching funds. Honolulu has already taken action, posting signs in
public parks discouraging feeding. Hawaii County must do the same. Section 15-1 of the Hawaii County
Code states that our parks are intended to be "safe, beautiful, and accessible for the enjoyment of all
members of the community." This includes children, kupuna, and those who are medically vulnerable.
Irresponsible feeding practices make these spaces unsafe. They expose people to zoonotic diseases and
attract animals to roadways and paths, increasing the risk of injury. Some members of the cat
community have proposed including a provision to allow permitted feeding of feral animals on County
property. We strongly oppose this. Permitted feeding sustains feral animal populations*134
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animal abandonment, and directly contradicts the intent of Bill 51. If the County formally sanctions
feeding through a permit system, it should also be prepared to assume full legal liability for the
foreseeable harm caused by these animals —including the take of protected species, damage to public
property, and threats to public health. Hawaii County cannot claim a commitment to conservation while
endorsing practices that actively undermine it. Bill 51 also aligns with state conservation goals. The
Hawaii Invasive Species Council and DLNR have repeatedly emphasized that feeding non-native
animals undermines efforts to control invasive populations. It contradicts decades of public investment
in native species recovery, habitat protection, and ecological restoration. This bill is not about punishing
compassion. It is about ensuring that good intentions do not lead to harmful outcomes. Feeding feral
animals on public property has resulted in the preventable deaths of endangered species, degradation of
public spaces, and threats to community health. The modest fines included in Bill 51 are essential to
allow enforcement and create accountability. Bill 51 is a reasonable and necessary step toward safer,
healthier, and more ecologically resilient public spaces in Hawaii County. I respectfully urge you to pass
this bill without delay. - -
Mahalo for your leadership and service.
Sincerely,
Thanks,
Kelly Briley