A large, fenced-in vacant lot just off the Ala Wai has provided prime real estate for a family of chickens looking to live the Waikīkī life. Featured originally in a Fix It! story last July, residents didn’t much appreciate the roosters as new neighbors.

Now, almost six months later, the situation hasn’t much changed, except for the installation of some “DO NOT FEED THE BIRDS” signs, orange construction fencing and a large wire cage with a menacing wood panel door. But for all the posturing of this trap, if the chickens were supposed to be intimidated, they didn’t seem to know it.

Following the initial complaint, Hawaiian Electric Co., which owns the lot, largely followed through on what they said they’d do. They trimmed back overhanging branches that provided shade for the chickens and contracted someone to catch the birds.

HECO spokesperson Darren Pai said that they had the Department of Fish and Wildlife set up the trap.

It is unclear whether any chickens were trapped in the cages, but most of the birds appeared happy to have the extra protection of the fence.

Chicken nuisance complaints have doubled to 321 complaints per year from 160 since the Honolulu Department of Customer Services started keeping track in 2023. Waikīkī has the most complaints out of any ZIP code on Oʻahu.

Feral chickens are a moving target, shifting between properties in a way that can create headaches for those trying to manage nuisance complaints. In such cases, Harold Nedd from the Honolulu Department of Customer Services said people can always contact his department to get help figuring out which entity is responsible for the issue.

In this case, HECO has taken responsibility for handling the problem on its property — at least until it is sold. Negotiations are ongoing to sell the land. On Thursday, Pai said HECO would be contracting a new vendor to handle the rooster problem after hearing the chickens were still there.

Later that same day, Civil Beat confirmed the new vendor was on site setting traps.

The new vendor, Sandwich Isle Pest Solutions, has a contract with the city to provide feral chicken removal from private properties at subsidized rates.

Nedd, from the Customer Services Department, said that people looking to file a complaint about chickens on public or city properties can reach the department directly at complaints@honolulu.gov or by calling (808) 768-4381. Anyone looking to obtain pest service can also reach out directly to Sandwich Isle to schedule an appointment.

As for the property at 302 ʻŌhua Street, neighbors will hopefully be sleeping soundly in the near future.

Who Can Be Contacted?

For HECO properties: Joanna Markle is Hawaiian Electric’s customer ombudsman. Her number is 808-543-2550.
For city properties: Honolulu Department of Customer Services at 808-768-4381 or complaints@honolulu.gov

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CORRECTION: This story has been updated to fix an error in the phone number for the Honolulu Department of Customer Services.