When you visit Hawaii, it’s a given that you’re probably going to see several things during your travels:
- Aloha shirts
- Palm trees
- Longs Drugs (which has been owned by CVS since 2008. All Longs Drugs outside of Hawaii have been rebranded. But the HI stores kept their name “because of its high name recognition and the geographical separation.”)
- Gorgeous panoramic views
- Shave ice
- ABC stores (if you know me and my love of all things kitschy and tacky, you can understand my love for ABC stores)
- Feral chickens
That last one is kind of a bone of contention. Although tourists seem to love them (every tourist shop will have a plethora of “Hawaiian chicken” shirts, magnets, dashboard dolls, etc.), those chickens are a hindrance to most people who live in Hawaii.
They crow 24/7. They dig up lawns and gardens. They rip up trash bags and scatter the contents. They obstruct traffic. They poop EVERYWHERE. So they might be cute, but most residents want them GONE.
The Associated Press recently reported that in the past two months, the city and County of Honolulu set traps in five areas. The total cost for the trapping was $7,000. They caught 67 chickens. That’s $104 per bird. So obviously that’s not a good long-term way to get rid of them.
We wrote back in March that a bill had been introduced in the Hawaii State Legislature to establish a state-funded “cost-effective and humane” program to address the feral chicken problem (here’s what the plans were – very creative!). Unfortunately, the bill – Senate Bill 2195 – failed to advance past the House.
The Hawaii state legislature has already adjourned for the year. So for now at least, Hawaii’s feral chickens aren’t going anywhere.
Feature Photo: Hawaii.gov
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6 comments
Theyre a pain in the @$$ here too. There were two in my old neighborhood that lived on Architect St. They were like street thugs. Walking home from the store they would run up on you and try and challenge you. I once made a stranger going by laugh out loud. They ran up on me (it was a particularly bad day and I was in a very surly mood) and I said out loud straight to them: “Im in no fecking mood. I can do jerk and barbecue. You two pick who’s who or get out of my way!” Well they moved off! Im sure it was tone and energy more than them understanding but you never know! The stranger across the street nearly peed herself laughing!
Hello All,
I love your beautiful chickens. If they disappear then your not any different than Florida just a lot more expensive and much further away.
A tourist of many trips to your beautiful state.
Karyn Dillard from mid America
LMAO this has to be a joke right. Hawaii without chickens is like Florida . And the only reason you come here is for the chickens . Lol can’t make this stuff up.
Karyn, I understand your point, but if you think Hawaii is in *any* way just Florida with chickens, I beg you to learn more about its history, people, culture, customs, etc. A lot more.
Comparing Florida to Hawaii is like a Ford to a Ferrari. Florida is flat as a pancake, disgustingly humid, ridden with rednecks, crime, drugs and oh yeah hurricanes. Karyn (stuck in mid America)
I’ve lived in FL for close to 22 years but I kind of have to agree with you on some of those points 😉