For Immediate Release: May 18, 2020
Press Release by:
Riki Hokama, Chair
Healthy Families and Communities Committee
Maui County Council
Committee to discuss approaches for feral animal management;
no legislation to be considered
WAILUKU, Maui, Hawaii—On Thursday at 1:30 p.m., the Healthy Families and Communities Committee will discuss options for both countywide and regional feral animal management, committee Chair Riki Hokama announced today.
As noted on the meeting agenda, no legislative action will be taken. The agenda also states: “The committee may discuss possible approaches to the management of all feral animals, not limited to feral cats, feral chickens or axis deer, in both Maui County and specific regions of the County as well as related matters.”
“I realize that this is a sensitive matter, and I plan to take a collaborative approach in working through the issues,” Hokama said.
A recently introduced bill on the feeding of feral animals will not be voted on at the meeting, which will be conducted via video conference.
In earlier meetings this term, the committee has acknowledged the negative environmental and quality-of-life impacts that feral animals have in various parts of the county.
“Finding a solution to feral animal management across our entire county won’t be a quick process and can’t be a one-size, fits-all approach,” said Hokama, who has secured island-specific funding for feral animal management for Lanai, Maui and Molokai in the fiscal year 2021 budget.
“Each region’s topography and feral animal populations and impacts are unique. So, we need island- or area-specific plans.”
Hokama said emailing written testimony to hfc.committee@mauicounty.us is encouraged. Thursday’s meeting is another step to developing feral animal management plans by engaging the community in conversation, he said.
The committee will also discuss the reopening of the Waiehu Golf Course and opportunity zones in Maui County. For more information on the meeting, please call the Office of Council Services’ Research Section at 270-7838 or visit MauiCounty.us.
###
