Two endangered nēnē were found dead early Wednesday in a Waikōloa shopping-center parking lot after witnesses reported a vehicle struck the birds. Photos from the scene spread quickly on social media, pulling conservation officers and concerned residents into an all-too-familiar wildlife emergency.
According to Big Island Now, local worker Carl Neville said he pulled into the Queens' Marketplace parking lot at about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday and found one bird already dead and the second lifeless nearby. Neville told the outlet his co-worker had seen a vehicle run over the geese and that he shared photos of the vehicle in his social media post. He also said several parking-lot cameras were not working, which he felt would have helped investigators.
Why nēnē are vulnerable near roads
The nēnē, Hawaiʻi's state bird, is federally protected as a threatened species and remains vulnerable to vehicle strikes and disease, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Conservation groups say that as numbers recover many nēnē are moving into developed areas where they are drawn to lawns, sprinklers, and human food. The community site nēnē.org notes a statewide count of roughly 4,323 birds in 2025 and urges people to report injured birds so managers can respond quickly.
Past disputes over feeding at Queens' Marketplace
Queens' Marketplace has already been a flashpoint for conservation work. In 2023 the state ordered the removal of cat-feeding stations at the center, saying nēnē were eating cat food and being drawn into the parking area, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. That crackdown sparked protests and led to citations for people who fed animals, and officials have repeatedly warned that feeding habituates birds to human spaces and increases the risk of collisions.
Officers responded, no citations yet
In an email to Big Island Now, the Department of Land and Natural Resources said Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers went to the shopping area and spoke with occupants of a vehicle that had been implicated on social media. The agency told the outlet that officers were unable to locate additional witnesses, and as of Wednesday no citations had been issued.
How residents and drivers can help
Officials and conservation groups urge people not to feed wildlife or feral cats, to keep pets restrained, and to drive slowly through parking areas where nēnē congregate, guidance outlined by the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Reporting injured or harassed birds to wildlife managers helps birds get care and can provide evidence for enforcement, conservationists say.
