Hawaiʻi’s laws concerning feral cats are evolving. To protect native wildlife and reduce nuisance, various agencies restrict feeding on specific types of property. This page summarizes current regulations and proposed legislation relevant to cat caretakers in Waikiki.
Honolulu partners with the Hawaiian Humane Society on a Free‑Roaming Cat Management Program. The program endorses TNRM and encourages caretakers to trap, sterilize, vaccinate, microchip and return cats to managed colonies. Feeding on private property with permission is allowed, and volunteers are expected to maintain clean feeding stations and schedule regular TNR.
The Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules prohibit feeding or deliberately introducing food to colonies, stray or feral animals on property under the jurisdiction of the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation. Section 13‑232‑57.1 states that no person may feed feral animals on small boat harbor property, and violators are subject to fines. It is also unlawful to abandon or create colonies at these sites.
Policy Directive 2024‑02 from the Hawaiʻi Department of Defense prohibits providing food, water or shelter to stray, feral or wild animals on DOD property. TNR programs and feeding stations are not permitted on military bases, and violations should be reported.
In 2024 the Hawaiʻi County Council passed Bill 51, now Ordinance 25‑63, which bans feeding feral animals—including cats—on county‑owned or managed property such as parks, beaches and facilities. The ordinance takes effect on 1 January 2026 and carries fines starting at $50 for the first offense and up to $500 for repeated violations. Although this law applies to the Big Island, it reflects growing sentiment across the state to regulate feeding on public lands.
Senate Bill 1537 (2025 session) proposed prohibiting the feeding of feral non‑native animals on state land within one‑half mile of the ocean or a stream and requiring counties to adopt similar ordinances. Penalties ranged from written warnings to community service and misdemeanor charges for repeated violations. As of late 2025 this bill has not passed, but caretakers should monitor legislative developments.
You may have heard that it is legal to feed cats on one side of a highway but not the other. In reality, feeding restrictions depend on property ownership rather than compass direction. State harbors, military bases and county parks often lie on the “makai” (ocean) side of coastal highways, while private property and residential areas are more common on the “mauka” (mountain) side. Feeding is permitted on private property with the owner’s consent, but prohibited on state and federal lands such as small boat harbors or DOD installations. Always look for signage and obtain permission before feeding.