A bill that would have provided a buffer zone between rooster farms and their neighbors died in a Hawaii County Council committee on Tuesday.
The bill needed to be sent to the county planning commissions for review since it would amend the zoning code, but Puna Councilwoman Eileen O’Hara’s motion failed to get a second from another council member.
The council during a Planning Committee meeting heard from more than two dozen testifiers, mostly against the bill.
Opponents say its rules preventing roosters from being within 75 feet from property lines if there are more than four on a lot infringes on rural lifestyles. Some also objected to being lumped in with those participating in illegal cockfighting or said they felt that newcomers from the mainland were trying to tell them how to live.
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.”
Another testifier said raising roosters and other animals is part of a way of life.
“I feel like they are trying to tell us how to live in Hawaii,” he said.
Supporters, many of whom say they live near 50 to 100 roosters, say those who raise them also need to be mindful of their 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 in HPP because there are roosters next to that lot, too.
“I’m physically and emotionally affected by the noise of the birds,” said Morishige. She said the crowing wakes her up at 3 or 4 a.m.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
Martha and Cynthia, I think the solution to your problem is a roasting pan and an oven temperature of 375 degrees until done.
The real solution is not to buy ag land for your residence if you do not like ag life. If your land is not zoned ag then follow lazerhazes instructions, dead roosters do not crow.
Got noisy roosters and horrible neighbors? I got an easy way to fix. Two ways to deal with them all. Poison in some chicken feed or a pellet gun and a lot of pellets. Pau! No better rooster than a DEAD rooster.
Several years ago a dude in Ainaloa came home and all his toosters were stolen. He called the police and made a report. The police “found” his roosters in Honolulu AND SHIPPED THEM BACK ON A FUCKING AIRPLANE TO THE DUDE!
So that’s why you aint gonna get any rooster relief.
Only good rooster is a dead rooster. County Council should grow some balls…………
Let’s chip in to buy a portable directional microwave ray dish! Just go property to property, microwaving, maybe catch an illegal Roman candle braddah too. “Two birds with one stone”. Or ray.
The best thing about Hawaii, beyond the surf, sun, and weather, is the daily 5th grade mentality of “I was here first”, the ability to hide behind the Culture, or don’t ever “Infringe on the rural lifestyle”.
Its the 21st CENTURY Hawaii….get with the times. More than a couple of roosters, on anything less than 1 acre, is a huge indicator of other issues. Enforce the excising laws for once.