Rooster restriction A City Council bill banning roosters from residential neighborhoods is discriminatory, said Lee Gallegos, who owns a chicken-feed store in Waianae.
bill moves forward
In spite of opposition, the bill
to ban roosters from residential
areas clears 1 more hurdleBy Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.com"It's singling out one species," she said.
Gallegos and others who opposed the bill spoke at Honolulu Hale yesterday before the City Council's Parks and Public Safety Committee.
Committee members voted unanimously to pass the bill, which would allow roosters only on agricultural lots. Under the bill, hens would still be allowed in residential areas.
Bill 71 is scheduled for a third reading before the City Council on Nov. 13.
The Committee also voted to remove a provision that would require enclosures of chickens to be at least 300 feet from their neighbor's property in residential, resort/apartment or apartment/mixed-use district.
"It's a de facto way of getting chickens out of residential neighborhoods," said Committee Chairman Jon Yoshimura.
If the bill passes, it would take effect on Jan. 1.
Several people who testified before the committee opposed the bill, arguing that roosters are part of the island lifestyle. Supporters of the bill complained about roosters that crow throughout the day.
Patricia Ann Lantere, of Salt Lake, said her neighbor owns five to six roosters that crow at 3 in the morning.
"You can't sleep. You can't take a nap," Lantere said. "They shouldn't be in residential areas."
But Chu Lan Kwok, of Aliamanu, who owns two roosters, said the birds do not create a nuisance on neighboring properties.
"It's wrong to tell people what they can keep and what they can't keep," said Kwok.
Beth Asagi, of Asagi Hatchery Inc. in Kalihi, submitted written testimony to the committee, stating the bill would have a "pyramid effect on the economy" if it passes.
"We hatch the chickens mainly for the major farms in the state. But there are a lot of small backyard farmers who raise their own chickens, be it to eat, lay eggs or just to have around," Asagi wrote.
The bill was introduced by Councilman John DeSoto on behalf of a resident in his district who complained about roosters.
City & County of Honolulu
