Funding for Aloha Animal Alliance's TNR Program
Bill Resolution 140-25
Resolution PassedThis resolution proposes awarding $50,000 in grant funds to Aloha Animal Alliance Hawaiʻi for their cat spay and neuter initiatives, specifically their Trap-Neuter-Return-Manage (TNRM) program.
Nene.org Opposes
Meeting Date Passed
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
12:00 PM HST
Oral or In-Person Testimony is Preferred
Public attendance via Courtesy Site is available at the following locations:
- Ocean View Community Association, 92-8924 Leilani Circle
- Old Kohala Courthouse, 54-3900 Akoni Pule Highway, Kapa`au
- Pahoa Council Office, 15-2879 Pahoa Village Road
- Waimea Council Office, Parker Square, 65-1279 Kawaihae Road, Suite 109
If a Courtesy Site is unavailable and/or participation is disrupted, the scheduled meeting will continue.
Oral Public Testimony via Zoom:
To provide oral testimony via Zoom, email councilremotetestimony@hawaiicounty.gov or call (808) 961-8255 to complete the registration process and obtain meeting access information.
Please contact the Hawaiʻi County Clerk to register by 12:00 noon HST, Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
Resolution Passed
Date: May 21, 2025
Details:
Resolution 140-25 was passed by the Hawaiʻi County Council with a 7–2 vote. It allocates $50,000 in grant funds to Aloha Animal Alliance Hawaiʻi for cat spay and neuter initiatives.
Video Recording
Quick Actions
Deadline Passed
The deadline for submitting testimony has passed. Testimony is no longer being accepted.
About This Resolution
This resolution proposes awarding $50,000 in grant funds to Aloha Animal Alliance Hawaiʻi for their cat spay and neuter initiatives, specifically their Trap-Neuter-Return-Manage (TNRM) program.
We have been actively monitoring interactions between feral cats and protected wildlife in Hawaiʻi County for the past few years. Our data from sites like Liliʻuokalani Park, Wailoa State Recreation Area, Waikōloa, and Queen’s Marketplace show that feral cat feeding stations attract Nēnē, leading to increased risks of vehicle collisions, predation, disease transmission (e.g., toxoplasmosis), and behavioral changes, such as altered migration patterns and nesting near feeding sites.
Engagement with Aloha Animal Alliance’s TNR Plan
In January 2025, Nene.org was invited to collaborate on a pilot program proposed by the Aloha Animal Alliance (AAA) to implement Trap-Neuter-Return-Manage (TNRM) for feral cats in Hawaiʻi County, including at Wailoa and Banyan Drive. The plan involved county-sanctioned feeding stations, Nēnē-proof feeders, and spay/neuter programs, funded by taxpayer dollars. While Nene.org participated in meetings and offered solutions, including free AI-driven cat tracking technology, our concerns were not adequately addressed, and our contributions were sidelined.
Key issues raised by Nene.org included:
Nene.org’s Position
Nene.org opposes the county-funded TNRM plan due to its ecological and legal risks to native wildlife. We support humane alternatives like trap-neuter-adopt, open-intake shelters, and enclosed sanctuaries, alongside stricter regulations on pet ownership. Releasing sterilized cats into sensitive areas like Banyan Drive and Liliʻuokalani Park is unsustainable and threatens Hawaiʻi’s biodiversity, given the state’s high extinction rate.
Why TNR Doesn’t Work in Hawaiʻi County
TNR programs fail to reduce feral cat populations in open systems like Hawaiʻi County, where pet abandonment and immigration persist. Our data shows Nēnē exhibit strong site fidelity, continuing to visit feeding sites even after food removal, as seen at Queen’s Marketplace. Feeding stations concentrate cats, attracting Nēnē and predators like mongooses, exacerbating risks to protected species. Without addressing root causes—pet abandonment, lack of enforcement, and open populations—TNRM perpetuates harm to native wildlife, making it an unsuitable solution for Hawaiʻi’s unique ecological challenges.
Call to Action
We urge the public to submit testimony opposing county funding for AAA’s TNRM plan. Protecting our native species requires science-based, collaborative solutions that prioritize biodiversity over unsustainable practices. Join us in advocating for responsible policies that safeguard Hawaiʻi’s natural heritage.
Engagement with Aloha Animal Alliance’s TNR Plan
In January 2025, Nene.org was invited to collaborate on a pilot program proposed by the Aloha Animal Alliance (AAA) to implement Trap-Neuter-Return-Manage (TNRM) for feral cats in Hawaiʻi County, including at Wailoa and Banyan Drive. The plan involved county-sanctioned feeding stations, Nēnē-proof feeders, and spay/neuter programs, funded by taxpayer dollars. While Nene.org participated in meetings and offered solutions, including free AI-driven cat tracking technology, our concerns were not adequately addressed, and our contributions were sidelined.
Key issues raised by Nene.org included:
- Lack of Data: No robust baseline assessment of cat populations was conducted, undermining the ability to measure success.
- Ineffective Regulations: Without stricter laws on pet abandonment, mandatory spay/neuter, and feeding bans, TNRM fails to address cat population growth. Despite mediation efforts, AAA moved forward without incorporating Nene.org’s expertise, prompting our withdrawal from the project in April 2025 to focus on enforcement and compliance to protect native species.
Nene.org’s Position
Nene.org opposes the county-funded TNRM plan due to its ecological and legal risks to native wildlife. We support humane alternatives like trap-neuter-adopt, open-intake shelters, and enclosed sanctuaries, alongside stricter regulations on pet ownership. Releasing sterilized cats into sensitive areas like Banyan Drive and Liliʻuokalani Park is unsustainable and threatens Hawaiʻi’s biodiversity, given the state’s high extinction rate.
Why TNR Doesn’t Work in Hawaiʻi County
TNR programs fail to reduce feral cat populations in open systems like Hawaiʻi County, where pet abandonment and immigration persist. Our data shows Nēnē exhibit strong site fidelity, continuing to visit feeding sites even after food removal, as seen at Queen’s Marketplace. Feeding stations concentrate cats, attracting Nēnē and predators like mongooses, exacerbating risks to protected species. Without addressing root causes—pet abandonment, lack of enforcement, and open populations—TNRM perpetuates harm to native wildlife, making it an unsuitable solution for Hawaiʻi’s unique ecological challenges.
Call to Action
We urge the public to submit testimony opposing county funding for AAA’s TNRM plan. Protecting our native species requires science-based, collaborative solutions that prioritize biodiversity over unsustainable practices. Join us in advocating for responsible policies that safeguard Hawaiʻi’s natural heritage.
- Ineffective Population Control: Population modeling in Hawaiʻi shows that even under ideal conditions, TNRM takes decades to achieve population reductions—and only if there is no new cat abandonment.
- Environmental Impact: Feral cats are documented predators of native species, including endangered birds. Colonies persist near critical habitats, and there are confirmed cases of nēnē and seabird deaths due to feral cats.
- Disease Risk: Feral cats are the sole definitive hosts of Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis—a disease that is lethal to nēnē and monk seals and poses serious risks to pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals.
- Public Opinion: Statewide surveys show the majority of Hawaiʻi residents support reducing feral cat numbers through permanent removal. TNR was consistently rated the least preferred method among the options presented.
- Legal Liability: Supporting feral cat colonies near endangered species habitat may violate the Endangered Species Act. Other counties in Hawaiʻi have already faced or are facing lawsuits over cat-related harm to protected species.
Sample Testimony
Below is a sample testimony for this resolution. You can use this as a reference or starting point for your own testimony.
Hawaiʻi County Council 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, HI 96720 Subject: Testimony Opposing Resolution 140-25 – Funding for Aloha Animal Alliance's TNR Program Dear Council Members, I urge you to oppose Resolution 140-25, which proposes awarding $50,000 in grant funds to Aloha Animal Alliance Hawaiʻi for their Trap-Neuter-Return-Manage (TNRM) initiative. Decades of scientific research—including studies conducted in Hawaiʻi—demonstrate that TNRM is an ineffective, costly, and environmentally damaging approach to managing feral cat populations. Continued support for this method threatens endangered native wildlife, endangers public health, and may expose the County to legal liability. TNRM fails to reduce cat populations. Population modeling in Hawaiʻi shows that even under ideal conditions, TNRM takes decades to achieve population reductions—and only if there is no new cat abandonment. In practice, the ongoing abandonment and immigration of cats into colonies prevents any meaningful progress. In contrast, direct removal strategies are faster, more cost-effective, and result in real population declines. TNRM sustains environmental harm. Feral cats are documented predators of native species, including endangered birds. Colonies persist near critical habitats, and there are confirmed cases of nēnē and seabird deaths due to feral cats. TNRM leaves these colonies intact, allowing predation to continue unchecked. TNRM increases disease risk. Feral cats are the sole definitive hosts of Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis—a disease that is lethal to nēnē and monk seals and poses serious risks to pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals. Cat colonies in populated and ecologically sensitive areas present a public health hazard. TNR is unpopular with the public. Statewide surveys show the majority of Hawaiʻi residents support reducing feral cat numbers through permanent removal. TNR was consistently rated the least preferred method among the options presented. TNRM exposes the County to legal liability. Supporting feral cat colonies near endangered species habitat may violate the Endangered Species Act. Other counties in Hawaiʻi have already faced or are facing lawsuits over cat-related harm to protected species. Hawaiʻi County risks similar liability if it continues to support TNRM, particularly on public lands. In summary, funding TNRM through Resolution 140-25 is a poor use of public resources. It does not address the root problem, and instead perpetuates harm to wildlife, public health, and legal standing. I respectfully urge the Council to vote no on this resolution and instead fund science-based strategies that result in measurable reductions in feral cat populations. Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your Address or Affiliation] [Email / Phone Number]
Generate Your Testimony
Deadline Passed
The deadline for submitting testimony for this resolution was Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Testimony is no longer being accepted.
Quick Actions
Deadline Passed
The deadline for submitting testimony has passed. Testimony is no longer being accepted.