HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0286.026 2024-2026From: Crystal Jacobs c
Sent: Sunday, November 2, 2025 9:19 AM o
To: Council Testimony .-- c-)
Subject: hawaii county council proposed bill 52 draft 3 s t
w cD r
Draft 1 of this bill made sense and seemed like a way to help residents in residential zoningtQgrowheir
own food, but then draft 2-3 added RA zones. Can you help me to understand why agriculturalZon s =3
would be added to this bill and why these restrictions would include agricultural zones. That sOems-
really sneaky and also has the chicken community up in arms..
I free range my chickens on 4 acres of agricultural zoned land. I have 50+ chickens at any given time
because I not only grow them for my eggs but I grow them for my meat (my meat chickens live a better life
and are more humanely culled than factory raised chickens thatyou eat from the grocery store).
My chickens are free ranged because they eat the weeds, bugs, and grass on my property. If I were to
coop all of my chickens my feed costs would increase probably 1 Ox, and would make growing my own
food unaffordable. And, I would need to pull Weeds and manage my fruitforest more diligently. Free
range chickens are an integral part of a food forest ecosystem.
My free range chickens have never gotten off my property, there is no smell, and it doesn't affect my
neighbors at all (except my roosters crowing, and that is why I moved to an agricultural zone- to
specifically have roosters who are also an integral part of raising my own food). I have a farm. In an
agricultural zone. To raise my own food. And, growing your own food in a place like Hawaii where food
security is not guaranteed, it is extremely important to ensure that that ability is not restricted or
stomped.
RA needs to be removed from this bill before being approved. The original draft made sense, but adding
RA disrupts an entire community of people who raise their own food in agricultural zones. It's actually
ridiculous and is contrary to the original purpose of this bill- which was to allow people in residential
zones to become more self sufficient.
In Hawaii, being self sufficient is necessary, especiallywith food costs and shipping hiccups. The original
bill's intent is completely changed with the addition of RA to the draft, and it basically changes the intent
altogether.
I would love to have further discussion of you have any questions.
Crystal Jacobs
Comm. u CW
Ref. To:
. P1011ficIll
Ref. Date NOV - 5 2025