Hawaii rooster regulation bill fails to pass committee

HILO, Hawaii — A bill that would have provided a buffer zone between rooster farms and their neighbors failed to pass through the Hawaii County Council committee.

Puna Councilwoman Eileen O’Hara’s motion failed to get a second from another council member, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported . The bill needed to be sent to the county planning commissions for review since it would amend zoning code.

Multiple opponents of the bill spoke at the committee meeting on Tuesday. Some said the bill would have infringed on rural lifestyles.

Joleen Texeira said she moved to Hawaiian Paradise Park because it’s zoned for agriculture and she could raise animals. She said her lot is too narrow to allow her to have more than four roosters under the bill.

“Every breed needs its own rooster,” she said, adding that with the buffer, “I won’t have my chickens.”

The bill called for preventing roosters from being within 75 feet (23 meters) from property lines if there are more than four on a lot.

Supporters, many of whom live near 50 to 100 roosters, said those who raise them need to be mindful of neighbors.

Cynthia Moore of Ainaloa said she wears headphones and earplugs to cancel the noise from a rooster farm behind her house.

“I cry when I come home to my house I love so much because I know there’s going to be thousands and thousands and thousands of rooster crows till it’s dark and then again I’m awoken every night,” she said.

Martha Morishige of Orchildand Estates said she uses a white noise machine to block out the crowing and has trouble renting property she owns.

“I’m physically and emotionally affected by the noise of the birds,” Morishige said.

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Information from: Hawaii Tribune-Herald, http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/