Prohibiting the Feeding of Feral Animals on County Property

Aloha e Councilmembers,

I am writing in strong opposition to the current form of Bill 51 as amended in Draft 3. While we previously supported this bill in its original intent—prohibiting the feeding of feral and stray animals on County property—we cannot support the new provision that creates an exemption for “certified community cat caretakers.”

This amendment undermines the purpose and effectiveness of the bill. It codifies and institutionalizes the continued feeding and maintenance of feral cat colonies on County land—the very practice that this legislation was meant to end.

The data is clear: feeding feral animals on public land enables their continued presence, encourages abandonment, and has contributed to ecological degradation, public health threats, and the preventable deaths of endangered species. In April 2024, a nēnē gosling died from toxoplasmosis within the boundaries of Liliʻuokalani Gardens—a location known for daily cat feeding. County staff, including Parks and Recreation and Animal Control, have consistently identified animal feeding as a driver of contamination, infrastructure damage, and unsanitary conditions in our public spaces.

As Councilmember Kanealiʻi-Kleinfelder emphasized, this bill was developed through years of conversations with County personnel across departments, who repeatedly highlighted the burden of maintaining facilities affected by unmanaged feral animal populations. The original draft of Bill 51 responded directly to those concerns with a straightforward, enforceable prohibition.

Draft 3 reverses course. It allows a carveout for “certified” feeders—effectively preserving the same problematic status quo that created the need for this bill in the first place. While the amendment attempts to frame this exemption as structured and professionalized, it does nothing to address the biological reality: feeding feral cats sustains colonies, attracts new animals, and signals to the public that dumping unwanted pets at these sites is acceptable.

This amendment is also in direct conflict with the positions of both the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council. DLNR has expressed strong support for this bill in its original form, recognizing the need to protect native wildlife and reduce environmental contamination. HISC Resolution 19-2 explicitly discourages Trap-Neuter-Return programs and colony feeding, noting that such activities perpetuate harm to Hawaiʻi’s native species and ecosystems.

We cannot support a version of Bill 51 that includes a sanctioned permit system for feral cat feeding. Doing so creates legal ambiguity, undermines enforcement, and places the County in a position of liability for the foreseeable harm caused by continued feral cat presence on public land—including the take of protected species under the Endangered Species Act.

We urge the Council to restore the original language of the bill as seen in Draft 2. Do not create exemptions that invalidate the bill’s intent. If we are serious about protecting public health, native species, and the integrity of our parks, then we must draw a clear line—feral animal feeding has no place on County property.

Mahalo for your time and leadership.