Posted on: Tuesday, September 2, 2003

Maui bill prohibits roosters at residences

Associated Press

WAILUKU, Maui — Noisy roosters have ruffled the feathers of some Maui residents.

A Maui County Council committee is scheduled to meet today to review a bill to ban roosters and other fowl from residentially zoned areas of the island.

"For much too long, many Maui County families have had to endure the effects of noisy crowing roosters in residential neighborhoods," said Maui County Council Vice Chairman Robert Carroll, who introduced the measure.

His bill not only bans the keeping of chickens, but also turkeys, geese, ducks and peacocks.

In a letter to council members, Kihei resident David Weiss blamed his neighbor's two roosters, which start crowing as early as 3 a.m., for disturbing his sleep and life.

Weiss said the roosters prevented him and his wife from coming to the aid of his son, who suffered a leg cramp one morning.

"We could not hear him because we both were wearing earplugs," Weiss said. "He eventually crawled into our room for help."

Marvin Shrewsbury, of the Oceanview Estates Homeowners Association in Waiehu, said his members have long suffered from the presence of roosters.

"We are not saying that roosters don't have a place in this county but we are pleading with you that roosters should not be bred and maintained in locations where there is high or modest housing densities," Shrewsbury said.