On Lānaʻi, there is a nonprofit cat sanctuary that houses hundreds of feral cats to save them and protect the birds and other wildlife. (Cammy Clark/Big Island Now)
News of a cat colony in Waikōloa is sparking conversation after the Department of Land and Natural Resources ordered real estate company Alexander & Baldwin, owner of Queens’ Marketplace, to remove longtime feline feeding and water stations.
The mandate came after the state confirmed a complaint that nēnē (Hawaiian goose) were “observed consuming the cat food and regularly spending time among the feral cat colony, which has resulted in harm to nēnē.”
Nēnē are endangered and also the Hawaiʻi state bird, so protecting them is a priority of the state.
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About 50 people came out last week to protest the removal of the feeding stations. Two people were ultimately cited by state conservation and resources officers for “prohibited take of endangered species” by putting bowls of cat food on the ground.
There is an overpopulation of animals in general on Hawaiʻi Island. The shelters are at maximum capacity and there are cat colonies throughout the county, either abandoned or taken care by animal lovers.
On Lānaʻi, there is a nonprofit feral cat sanctuary, which saves cats and protects birds.
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So this week, in our poll, we ask about what is the best way to humanely address the overpopulation of feral/community cats on the Big Island.
Please leave a comment letting us know why you voted the way you did — or let us know if you have another solution that is not on the list. Mahalo for taking our poll.
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