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It’s legal to raise
pigeons in the city

Question: Is there a law against raising pigeons in the city? My neighbor claims that it is grandfathered in. Where can I get information about raising pigeons in the city? I live in Manoa.

Answer: There is no law prohibiting the raising of carrier pigeons in an urban area, and the state Department of Agriculture is the agency that oversees regulations about their care and handling.

State law (Sections 142-103 and 142-112 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes) requires that anyone raising carrier pigeons and aviary game birds obtain a permit from the Animal Industry Division, said department spokeswoman Janelle Saneishi.

There is no fee for the permit, but it must be renewed every three years.

The law (HRS 142-103) also limits the number of pigeons that can be kept, depending on the area.

For areas zoned residential or for hotel and apartment uses, a person can possess, exercise, train or race a maximum of 25 pairs of pigeons, Saneishi said.

In areas zoned for other land uses, a maximum of 200 pigeons can be flown for necessary exercise, training and racing, she said.

The exception is "show pigeons, which are not allowed to fly free," she said. The number of show pigeons is not limited.

A permit can be suspended or revoked if the requirements are not met.

The Animal Industry Division's Livestock Disease Control Branch will respond to public complaints about kept pigeons -- not wild ones. On Oahu the number to call is 483-7113. That's also the number to call to request a permit application form.

If you provide a name and address, Saneishi said an inspector can check to see if your neighbor has a permit.

Meanwhile, Saneishi said people should call the state Department of Health's Vector Control Branch if there are concerns about odors or a fly-breeding problem caused by pigeon droppings. The number for Vector Control is 483-2535.

Q: Royal Hawaiian and Kuhio avenues is a very busy intersection! Trying to turn left from Kuhio onto Royal Hawaiian is a nightmare. I sat through three lights trying to make the left turn. With pedestrians crossing, other cars turning right onto Royal Hawaiian Avenue and oncoming traffic, it can be downright dangerous. Would the city consider installing a left-turn arrow at that intersection, which would prohibit pedestrians from crossing while drivers are turning left? Also, who do I contact regarding setting up new traffic lights? I would gladly make the call myself if I knew who to call.

A: A left-turn signal should be installed there as early as this month as part of the work currently being done along Kuhio Avenue, said Ty Fukumitsu, a traffic engineer with the city Department of Transportation Services.

He said the contractor has a few "punch-list items" to complete before the signal can be activated.

Meanwhile, you can call the Traffic Engineering Division at 523-4735 about traffic signals.

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