HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0283.058 2024-2026From: Kimberly De Souza
Sent: Friday, July 4, 2025 1:32 PM
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To: Council Testimony
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Subject: Testimony Supporting Bill 51
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Aloha a Councilmembers,
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write in strong support of Bill 51, which seeks to prohibit the feeding of feral animals on County of Hawai'i
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This amendment is urgently needed to protect our endangered native species, safeguard public health, and
uphold
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shared kuleana to steward Hawai'i's lands and ecosystems responsibly.
Feeding feral animals, especially cats, on public lands has already contributed to the deaths of multiple endangered and
protected species, particularly the nene.
In April 2024, a one -month -old nene 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 [bulldozer] to this
park." These animals have destroyed fields, damaged playgrounds, disrupted cemeteries, and rendered large areas
unusable. We don't need more feral pigs multiplying in county parks with the help of humans and ultimately spreading
into our dwindling and fragile native forest ecosystems that already have their feral pig, goat, cat, and rat pressure that
conservationists are fighting so hard against.
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. I have seen feral goats girdle
endemic ohe Makai trees on state land in Kailua-Kona (Nina Lani street) and after weeks of damage, the trees are now
dead. In West Hawaii, we barely have any of our dryland forest ecosystems left because of these pests.
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, encourages 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. A
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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,
Kimberly De Souza
Kimberly De Souza