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Oct. 7, 2025, 9 a.m.
Hawai'i County Council Chambers in Hilo
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To: Hawai'i County Council Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use and Economic Development
Ashley Kierkiewicz, Chair
Michelle Galimba, Vice Chair
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From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
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Jonathan Helton, Policy Analyst
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RE: Bill 52 (2025) — RELATING TO HENNERIES
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Aloha Chair Kierkiewicz, Vice Chair Galimba and other members of the Committee,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports Bill 52 (2025) which would allow people to own backyard hens,
geese, ducks, turkeys and other poultry for the purpose of noncommercial egg production in single-family
residential, double -family residential, multifamily residential and residential -commercial mixed -use zones
under certain conditions.
Specifically, the birds would be limited to two per the first 3,000 square feet of lot area, with an additional bird
per 1,000 additional square feet of lot area.
Grassroot also supports the planning director's third recommendation in his planning analysis of Bill 52' This
proposed change would add household henneries as a permitted use in the residential agricultural zoning
district, since this would also support food self-sufficiency.
However, Grassroot does suggest striking paragraph (4) of Section 2 of the bill, which would prohibit egg sales,
and omitting the word "noncommercial" from the definition of "hennery."
Instead, backyard henneries should be permitted as a home occupation, which would enable residents to earn
extra income and better afford Hawaii's high cost of living.
"'Plannine Department Backeround and Recommendation," Hawaii County, p, 4, accessed July 14, 2025.
1050 Bishop St. #508 1 Honolulu, HI 96813 1 808-864-1776 1 info@grassrootinstit Comgn.
1 Ref. To:
Ref. Date On W,1902
The benefit of this proposal is that it would enhance Hawai'i Island's self-sufficiency efforts, since raising birds
for egg production would also reduce the need for egg imports.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Jonathan Helton
Policy Analyst
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
•A050NBishop St. H508 I Honolulu, HI 96813 1 808-864-1776 1 info@grassrootinstitute.org