Are there fewer chickens on the island?

Question

I've been going to Kauai annually, but took a 4-year hiatus to visit the other islands. I finally made it back to Kauai this year and returned just a couple days ago. It's still as lovely as ever! One thing I noticed though... is it just me, or are there fewer chickens on the island? Sure, you can still see them, but they're not EVERYWHERE like in years past, and I didn't even hear any wake me up in the morning during my stay. Curious to know if I was just imagining things...

Answer

Kauaʻi’s chickens are such a memorable part of the island that it’s completely understandable you’d notice even a slight change. Many returning visitors have asked this same question over the past couple of years — and yes, it isn’t just you. While chickens are still abundant across the island, they haven’t been *quite* as overwhelmingly everywhere as they were in the late 2010s and early 2020s.

There are a few reasons behind this shift, and most of them are natural cycles rather than intentional population control. The chickens on Kauaʻi aren’t managed by the state, so their numbers fluctuate based on weather, predators, disease, and food availability.

Here are the most commonly cited reasons why you may have noticed fewer chickens:

Recent storms and heavy rains impacted nesting cycles.
Kauaʻi had several strong winter storms over the past few years. Heavy prolonged rain can flood nests, affect chick survival rates, and reduce the number of new birds reaching adulthood.
Increases in predators, especially feral cats and Hawaiian hawks (ʻio).
In some areas, there’s been growth in feral cat populations, which can reduce chick numbers. Natural predators also fluctuate, creating shifts in the chicken population year to year.
Food sources changed during and after the pandemic.
Chickens thrived when tourism was high and food waste was plentiful. During COVID closures, fewer visitors meant fewer food scraps. Populations dipped in certain areas and are still rebounding differently across the island.
Localized control efforts on private properties.
While Kauaʻi does not have an island-wide removal program, some hotels, resorts, and private businesses quietly use humane trapping to reduce noise and protect landscaping. This can reduce chicken presence in popular visitor areas even if the overall island population remains high.
Normal population cycles.
Kauaʻi’s chickens surge after mild winters and drop after harsher seasons. These cycles can be noticeable over 3–5 years, especially to someone returning after a long break.

That said, you’ll still absolutely see plenty of chickens in areas like Kōloa, Līhuʻe, Kapaʻa, Princeville, and parking lots practically everywhere. But the density varies more now, and certain visitor-heavy areas aren’t as overrun as they once were.

If you traveled around the island and noticed fewer early-morning wake-up calls or quieter hotel grounds, that lines up perfectly with what many other visitors have reported recently.

In short: you’re not imagining things — there are still lots of chickens, but the peak “everywhere you look” era has softened slightly. Natural cycles and small-scale management efforts likely explain the difference you noticed.