A state proposal to impose greater criminal penalties relating to cockfighting drew outcry from residents Thursday.
House Bill 1980 would, if passed, make it a felony offense to arrange or hold a “fight between birds,” to train or raise birds with the intent to enter them into fights, or to allow minors to be present at any such fight.
Any of those violations would be considered first-degree animal cruelty and would be considered a Class C felony, punishable by up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine.
Meanwhile, the measure also would make certain actions — such as gambling on or paying to attend a cockfight — subject to a charge of second-degree animal cruelty. While these offenses would be punishable by up to $1,000 fines or 30 days imprisonment, repeated offenses over a five-year period could see those penalties increase.
At a Thursday hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Honolulu Police Department Lt. Domingo Manog said cockfighting is currently treated as a misdemeanor offense, which isn’t a sufficient deterrent. With harsher penalties, he said, associated crimes — such as a 2023 shooting where two Honolulu residents were fatally shot and three others injured at an illegal cockfight on Oahu — could be avoided.
However, residents from across the state decried the measure, saying it impinges upon Hawaiian and Polynesian culture, where cockfighting is a deeply ingrained practice with centuries of history.
“This bill is like a snowball,” said Kaneohe farmer John Cambra III. “This is going to affect farmers later. It’ll affect the rodeos. It’ll affect the fishermen.”
Cambra said he does not raise chickens to fight, but predicted the bill will put undue scrutiny on normal chicken farmers who will be viewed as criminals purely for raising poultry.
“To raise a chicken takes a lot of responsibility, a lot of time, a lot of effort,” said Gary Kaya. “Chickens bring happiness to my life. It brings peace … this is my yoga. … I remember being a little kid going to gamefowl shows, and taking this away, what am I going to find next to do in this life?”
“First and foremost, this bill assumes that the individuals who take part in raising gamefowl are bad and cruel people,” wrote Kristy Salley in one of dozens of letters submitted by residents in opposition to the measure. “They are not. Most of the people who take part in this activity are hard-working, law-abiding, tax-paying and moral individuals.
“This is a part of our culture — OUR HAWAIIAN CULTURE!” Salley’s letter went on. “Our ancestors have owned and raised gamefowl and this legacy should not be broken. Other cultures that make up our heritage here in the islands also have centuries of gamefowl owners. This is who we are and who we have always been.”
While the proposal received some measure of support — the Animal Welfare Institute and Hawaiian Humane Society urged the bill’s passage, citing animal fighting as inhumane — it also received some institutional opposition. A letter from the state Office of the Public Defender argued that the first-time penalties imposed by the bill are too severe.
“Criminalizing cockfighting — like possessing fireworks, using drugs, gambling or even riding in the back of a pickup truck — does little to stop the activity itself,” OPD said in the letter. “Making it against the law removes the activity from the normal regulations and protections of the law. That attracts more unlawful activity.
“If it was tolerated and lawfully permitted, the presence of police officers could ensure safety at these events. Making it a more severe criminal offense will only drive it further underground, make the events even more clandestine, and will only make it more conducive to unwanted criminal activity.”
Ultimately, the committee voted to pass the bill with some minor amendments about how the measure defines separate offenses. Only Oahu Sen. Brenton Awa, a Republican, voted against the measure, while Puna Sen. Joy San Buenaventura, a Democrat, voted for it with reservations.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.