Underground Entertainment

Greetings From Hawaii -- Where Chickens Rule The Earth

By Tom Chandler 3/4/2013

I forgot about the chickens.

Everywhere you go Kauai, you see feral -- but recognizably domestic -- chickens. They're scratching at the red dirt alongside the road. They're on the beach. You'll even see them pecking away at palm tree seed pods, which stand a good twelve feet off the ground.

Several of them claim ownership of our rental house, including a pair of roosters competing to see who can crow the loudest (and the earliest) every morning.

Kauai chickens Red dirt warriors

Probably a good thing I left the shotgun home.

Their origins aren't clear; some say they're the descendants of red junglefowl brought in the 1700s and 1800s. Other say the real chicken explosion didn't occur until the 1992 hurricane demolished Kauai's chicken coops alongside its hotels.

Aside from rental cars and the occasional (hungry) local, they suffer no natural predators, so the chickens flourish; more of them dot the countryside (and smear the centerline on the roads) than the last time I was here.

So maybe this is paradise after all; the sun shines a lot, it's always warm, and free-for-the-taking hackle runs in herds.

AuthorPicture

Tom Chandler

As the author of the decade leading fly fishing blog Trout Underground, Tom believes that fishing is not about measuring the experience but instead of about having fun. As a staunch environmentalist, he brings to the Yobi Community thought leadership on environmental and access issues facing us today.

24 comments
[...] the Trout Underground’s Tom Chandler is probably sipping a Mai Tai on the beach in Hawaii having a good [...]
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Next time, check out the trout fishing there..........:D
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I'd say you largely got your wish.
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Tom Chandler: Ding! Ding! Feral chicken hunter… (sounds like one of those awful reality outdoor TV shows). Do you think she means Starkist Tuna ''the chicken of the sea'' ?
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I had those 2 roosters shipped specially to you from California.....so they'd be 3 hours ahead. Didn't want ya sleeping in on your va-ca. Chris
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Two rod: The Fish Market in Lihue has the best poke on the island. Great sashimi grade fish also. Brenneke’s at Poipu Beach is great for kids . Brennecke's? Hahaha, now we're trying to make him fat *and* broke.
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The Fish Market in Lihue has the best poke on the island. Great sashimi grade fish also. Brenneke's at Poipu Beach is great for kids .
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Nikki Wood: The chickens on Kauai taste like fish…. Ding! Ding! Feral chicken hunter... (sounds like one of those awful reality outdoor TV shows).
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The chickens on Kauai taste like fish....
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Pete's is the best!!!
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Think I may still have an album of "City Chickens" - Fair Oaks Village, a suburb of Sacramento has about 200 of the little F****rs. Fun to photograph.
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Christ, how much weight do you guys want me to gain this trip?
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Speaking of shave ice... Jojo's Shave Ice in Waimea, Kauai is really good!
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Two other local foods not to miss.... Hawaiian breakfast - eggs, portuguese sausage (or spam) and rice...with Sriracha Rooster sauce. Hawaiian shaved ice - finely shaved ice with tropical juices - much better than Snow Cones - the girls will love them!
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Also forgot to mention... you know they got peacock bass fishing there ;-)
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I'm sure you folks did your homework but just in case you missed anything, here are my food/drink recommendations: Tip Top Cafe in Lihue; great breakfast Puka Dog Hawaiian Style Hotdogs in Poipu; friend's recommendation Lappert's ice Cream parlor at multiple locations on Kauai Kauai Coffee Co in Kalaheo The Lodge at Kokee in Kokee State Park; they make a very fine kalua pork sandwich and cornbread ... more Hamura Saimin in Lihue; hawaiian take on ramen (thinner noodles, lighter broth)
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Couching Tiger: Tom see if they‘taste like chicken”. A local told me that one of the routes to becoming a true surf bum is developing a taste for chicken.
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I didn't get a picture of the roosters (which are probably no better than soft hackle), but I did wonder how many disappeared during the height of the "hackle in hair" craze. Bet more than a few did...
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Dave: Utilize that hackle! You did bring your travel vise, right? When the chickens take over (and they will), you're going to regret writing that.
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We hit Pete's at the Hanalei Pier, going to the Fish Market today.
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Tom see if they 'taste like chicken''.
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I see that neck and think soft hackles..... I'm sure you could catch a few just skin them and cover the skin side with borax..... I'm sure TSA would really enjoy talking to you on the way back as they see your carry on.... Hope Ya'll have a great time !!!!!
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tom, don't miss the fish tacos on Kauai. the best we had were at the Kilauea Fish Market 4270 Kilauea Rd Ste F in Kilauea. another great place was Island Taco in Waimea - right on the highway on the way to Waimea Canyon. have a great time!
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Utilize that hackle! You did bring your travel vise, right?
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