Maui County and Spam Partner to Help Feed Wild Chickens {NRL}

The County of Maui has entered into an exploratory partnership with the manufacturer of Spam to help feed the thousands of wild chickens here on the Valley Isle who might be starving due to the pandemic response.

The agreement allows for establishment of Spam Chicken Relief Centers at county parks and other public locations, where water and servings of the canned cooked pork will be  consistently left out for our friendly fowl who like us are struggling to deal with the pandemic response.

"Have you noticed anything different with the roosters and hens lately? Many are rather lethargic, and the roosters crow with less oomph, because they are hungry," said Emma Moamoa, a veterinarian contracted by the county to study and care for the many chickens that run wild all over Maui for no particular reason.

"The humans who once tossed out seeds or bread crumbs just have less seeds and bread crumbs to spare, because the state's travel restrictions have kept so many Mauians out of work," she said. "We applaud Spam and the county for working together to step up and help our friendly feathered friends."

In the deal, parent company Hormel Foods Corporation  will donate a ton of Spam to the county in the initial pilot program, to be placed on disposable plates at parks and other public places along with plenty of water. The program will continue until the Spam is eaten up, at which point Moamoa and her team will examine the results.

The deal was applauded by local chicken enthusiasts Wednesday.

"This is so exciting, we were really worried about Henry and all his friends here," said Agnes Willoughby, a resident of a senior housing complex near Kahului Community Center Park who volunteers with a group of neighbors to keep the nearby Chicken Relief Center well-stocked. She mentioned Henry, a huge rooster the group has identified as the park's king among the chickens.

"Henry looks like he's lost at least 5 pounds," Willoughby said. "We could tell by hearing his crows each morning that he was hungry. Once we discovered that chickens like Spam, too, like all Hawaiians, we made the county aware.

"This is a wonderful program that could save a lot of chicken lives."

The state is considering getting involved, too. Lt. Gov. Josh Green said the state is considering eliminating pre-travel COVID-19 testing for all chickens who prove they are vaccinated.

The disposable plates at the Chicken Relief Centers are made of recycled materials, county officials noted.