Hawaii Considers Allowing Residents to Kill Feral Chickens

State lawmakers look to address growing problem of wild chickens in Honolulu neighborhoods

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Communities across Hawaii have been dealing with an influx of feral chickens for years, with the birds causing issues like early morning crowing, aggressive pecking, and damage to yards. Honolulu has spent thousands trying to trap the chickens, but with little success. Now, state lawmakers are considering measures that would allow residents to kill the wild chickens, deem them a "controllable pest" on public land, and fine people for feeding or releasing them in parks.

Why it matters

The feral chicken problem has become a major nuisance for many Hawaii residents, disrupting sleep and damaging property. However, the chickens also hold cultural significance for some, as descendants of those brought by early Polynesian voyagers. This has created a dynamic where one person's nuisance is another's cultural symbol, complicating potential solutions.

The details

Proposed legislation would give residents more options to deal with the feral chickens, including allowing them to kill the birds. Some lawmakers support this, citing issues like chickens harassing schoolchildren. However, animal advocates and cultural practitioners oppose killing the chickens, arguing they are culturally significant. The city of Honolulu currently has a trapping program, but it is expensive for residents to use. Residents have resorted to their own methods like using leaf blowers to shoo the chickens away.

  • The feral chicken problem has been growing in Hawaii for about a decade, with a noticeable increase during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • In 2025, the Honolulu Department of Customer Services saw a 51% increase in complaints about feral chickens.

The players

Mason Aiona

A 74-year-old retiree living in Honolulu who has been dealing with the feral chicken problem for about a decade. He has tried various methods to deter the chickens, including trapping and relocating them, but has found the efforts futile.

Kealoha Pisciotta

A Hawaiian cultural practitioner and animal advocate who disagrees with killing the feral chickens, arguing they are culturally significant as descendants of those brought by early Polynesian voyagers.

Rep. Scot Matayoshi

A Democratic state representative from the Honolulu suburb of Kaneohe who started crafting chicken control legislation after hearing from a teacher that the birds were harassing schoolchildren.

Rep. Jackson Sayama

A Democratic state representative who introduced a bill to allow residents to kill feral chickens, arguing there are currently limited ways to get rid of them.

Honolulu Department of Customer Services

The city department that oversees a trapping program for feral chickens, which has seen a 51% increase in complaints about the birds in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“The children were afraid of them, and they would kind of more aggressively go after the children for food.”

— Rep. Scot Matayoshi, State Representative (latimes.com)

“If you want to go old-school, just break the chicken's neck, that's perfectly fine. There's many different ways you can do it.”

— Rep. Jackson Sayama, State Representative (latimes.com)

“The moa is very significant. They were on our voyaging, came with us.”

— Kealoha Pisciotta, Hawaiian cultural practitioner and animal advocate (latimes.com)

What’s next

State lawmakers are expected to continue debating potential solutions to the feral chicken problem, including measures that would allow residents to kill the birds or designate them as a "controllable pest" on public land in Honolulu.

The takeaway

The feral chicken issue in Hawaii highlights the complex dynamics that can arise when an animal is seen as both a nuisance and a cultural symbol. As lawmakers consider ways to address the growing problem, they will need to balance the concerns of residents impacted by the chickens with the cultural significance the birds hold for some in the community.