Dog Regulation Ordinance

At a glance

• What: Bill 16 (2026), relating to the regulation of dogs, gives the Department of Customer Services and the Hawaiian Humane Society more tools to enforce laws on stray dogs and animal nuisances and to hold owners accountable. Okimoto called it, with Ordinance 26-9, the result of a nearly two-year effort to modernize city animal ordinances.
• Outcome: passed third reading September 9, 2026, as CD2, 9-0 (Nishimoto moved committee report 234(26), Tupola seconded). Second reading August 12 passed as CD1, 8-0.
• Testimony in support: Kendrick of the Hawaiian Humane Society, Gibson of Pono Advocacy, Susan Collins of the Bird and Bee Hawaii Animal Sanctuary and Armstrong. Stephanie Hilton and Robinson gave general comment.

Sources

• City Council journal (minutes), regular meeting of August 12, 2026 (adopted October 7, 2026): https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/document-download?id=29151
• City Council journal (draft minutes, not yet adopted), regular meeting of September 9, 2026: https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/document-download?id=29318

Log

2026-09-09 - Regular Council

Passed third reading 9-0.

2026-08-12 - Regular Council

Passed second reading as CD1, 8-0.