Hawaii County Council approves first reading of ordinance restricting feeding of feral animals on county property with pilot caretakers program

Hawaii County Council members passed first reading of Bill 51 on Wednesday after extended public testimony and two amendments that narrow the measure and create a pilot, certified-caretaker program. The ordinance, as amended, prohibits feeding feral or stray animals on county-owned, leased, rented, managed or operated property and establishes a process for a pilot managed-cat program that allows limited, site-specific feeding and trap-neuter-return-manage (TNRM) activities by trained, certified caretakers. The council set Jan. 1, 2026, as the ordinance's effective start date.

The vote followed more than three hours of public comment in Kona, Hilo and on Zoom. Testifiers included longtime animal rescuers, veterinarians, wildlife biologists and Native Hawaiian speakers who differed sharply on how the county should balance public recreation, public health and conservation of native species.

Supporters of the amendment-based pilot said disciplined, data-driven TNRM and carefully administered relocation or sanctuary arrangements are the most humane and effective way to reduce free-roaming cat populations. Forest Bird Recovery Biologist Brett Mossman, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, told the council the agency supports "science-backed solutions" and urged measures used on other islands to reduce predation pressure on native birds.

Opponents warned that banning feeding without viable…