The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Hawai‘i County Council Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use and Economic Development on May 20, 2025.
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May 20, 2025, 10:30 a.m.
Hawai‘i County Building
To: Hawai‘i County Council Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use and Economic Development
Ashley Kierkiewicz, Chair
Michelle Galimba, Vice Chair
From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Jonathan Helton, Policy Analyst
RE: Bill 53 (2025) — RELATING TO HENNERIES
Aloha Chair Kierkiewicz, Vice Chair Galimba and other members of the Committee,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports Bill 53 (2025), which would allow Hawai‘i Island residents to own backyard hens, geese, ducks, turkeys and other poultry for the purpose of noncommercial egg production in single-family residential zones. Under this proposal, the birds would be limited to one per 2,500 square feet of lot area, with a minimum lot size of 10,000 square feet.
Grassroot supports the intent of this measure, but it appears there might be a drafting error. Section 2 of the bill states “Household henneries may be permitted in zoning districts where livestock is not.” But then in Section 3, it adds henneries as a permitted use in single-family residential zones, whereas instead it should be adding them to all districts where livestock is not allowed.
In general, Bill 53 (2025) is a worthy measure, but ultimately Grassroot prefers Bill 52 (2025) as the vehicle for authorizing household henneries, since the standards in that bill would allow more birds per lot and not impose a minimum lot size.
If Bill 53 (2025) moves forward, Grassroot suggests fixing the drafting error to allow henneries in all zones where livestock is not permitted and authorizing the sale of eggs from a hennery as a home occupation.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Jonathan Helton
Policy Analyst
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
