HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0283.413 2024-2026From: Wai Lani o
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Sent: Saturday, Jul 19, 2025 3:11 PM
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To: Council Testimony C=
Subject: Testimony Supporting 51
Aloha a Councilmembers,
I write in strong support of Bill 51, which prohibits the feeding of feral or stray animals on County of
Hawaii property. This bill is not about criminalizing compassion or punishing animal lovers. It is a long -
overdue, commonsense measure grounded in years of lived experience, firsthand accounts from County
staff, and documented harm to native wildlife, public health, and our public spaces.
Feral animals, particularly cats, pigs, goats, and chickens, have caused serious and escalating damage
across Hawaii Island. Feeding these animals on public land enables their presence, encourages
abandonment, and turns our parks, beaches, cemeteries, and recreational areas into breeding grounds
for invasive populations. County departments, especially Parks and Recreation and Animal Control, have
reported the significant daily burden caused by these unmanaged animals. Councilmember Kaneali`i-
Kleinfelder noted that this bill was born from years of conversations with staff from Parks, Recreation,
Environmental Management, and Animal Control, all of whom highlighted the scale of contamination,
destruction, and public nuisance tied directly to feeding activity on County property.
At Lili`uokalani Gardens in April 2024, a one -month -old nene gosling died from toxoplasmosis, a disease
spread only through cat feces. That gosling never left the park. It was documented eating alongside feral
cats being fed daily, in a park where feces accumulated and sanitation was lacking. Across the island,
park caretakers are forced to clean up feces, flies swarm picnic areas, and recreational spaces are
rendered unusable. At Old Airport, for example, the beach volleyball courts have been closed because
the sand became a giant litter box, and replacement costs are high.
The idea that we can professionally manage or permit feeding of feral animals on public land has been
proven false. As councilmembers acknowledged, Trap, Neuter, Return may sound responsible in theory,
but in practice, the "Return" guarantees continued presence and growth of colonies. Colonies at
Lili`uokalani Gardens and Old Airport have grown from dozens to hundreds. Feeding encourages animals
to stay and signals to the public that dumping unwanted pets is acceptable.
We cannot claim to support public safety or native species conservation while enabling the very
practices that destroy habitat, spread disease, and cause the preventable deaths of endangered wildlife.
Councilmembers clearly identified the contradiction of allowing cats to occupy parks while banning
leashed dogs from county beaches. Our responsibility is to the health of our communities and the
protection of our natural resources, not to perpetuating invasive species on public property.
Bill 51 is not a silver bullet. But it is an essential step, one of many tools needed to address a problem
that has grown unchecked for decades. It creates a clear policy, empowers enforcement, and sends a
strong message that our parks and public lands are not feeding grounds for unmanaged ani ym, alis�. y�
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This bill is backed by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, which has expressed
strong support for County action to protect native species and reduce environmental contamination. It
also aligns with Hawaii Invasive Species Council Resolution 19-2, which formally opposes Trap -Neuter -
Return programs and recognizes that feeding and maintaining feral cat colonies undermines
conservation goals statewide.
We strongly oppose any provision that would allow permitted feeding. Such an amendment would
undermine the bill's purpose and make the County legally and ethically responsible for the foreseeable
harm, that results. If the County sanctions feeding, it must also accept liability for the take of protected
species, threats to human health, and damage to public resources.
I urge you to stay the course. Pass Bill 51 as written, and continue working with DLNR, HDOA, and
community partners to restore our parks to safe, clean, and ecologically healthy spaces. This is not
about hate. It is about responsibility.
Mahalo for your courage and leadership.
Sincerely,
Wailani