Geese
Geese are among the least common livestock on Hawaiʻi Island, kept by only a small number of farms primarily for land management, ornamental, or specialty meat purposes. There are no commercial goose farms on the island; instead, geese are usually integrated into smallholdings as multi-purpose animals.
Overview
Geese are among the least common livestock on Hawaiʻi Island, kept by only a small number of farms primarily for land management, ornamental, or specialty meat purposes. There are no commercial goose farms on the island; instead, geese are usually integrated into smallholdings as multi-purpose animals – serving as weeders in crop fields, guardians for other poultry, or as a source of occasional meat and eggs for home use or local sale. In 2022, Hawaiʻi County recorded just 156 geese in its agricultural inventory, highlighting their rarity. Nonetheless, geese have a unique niche in sustainable farming systems due to their grazing habits and loud, protective nature.
Production and Operations
Geese on Hawaiʻi Island are often raised free-range on pasture. Small organic farms value geese as weed controllers – for example, Chinese weeder geese are deployed in orchards or vegetable plots to nibble away grass and invasive weeds (they famously prefer certain grasses over crops). This practice can reduce the need for mowing or herbicides. A few coffee farmers and taro growers on the Hawaiʻi Island have experimented with geese for these reasons. Flock sizes are typically very small (a handful to a few dozen birds). Geese breeds kept include the Chinese (white or brown) for weeding, Toulouse or Embden for meat, and occasionally African or pilgrim geese for dual-purpose or ornamental value. They are hardy in Hawaiʻi’s climate, though they appreciate access to water for bathing. Farms usually allow geese to roam during the day and pen them at night to protect against predators.
Meat and Eggs
Goose meat is not a regular part of local cuisine, but there is some seasonal interest (for holidays like Christmas, a roast goose is a traditional dish in some cultures). Because supply is so limited, anyone seeking a fresh goose on Hawaiʻi Island likely has to arrange it directly with a farmer. A couple of farmers might raise a batch of goslings to market weight before the holidays specifically to meet these niche requests. Goose eggs are very large and rich; while they are produced much more sparsely than chicken or duck eggs (a goose lays only ~30–50 eggs a year, typically in spring), they occasionally appear at farmers’ markets as a novelty item. Some local bakers enjoy goose eggs for special pastries, and artists sometimes use the thick eggshells for carving or painting crafts, so farmers can even sell blown-out goose eggshells.
Value in Farming Systems
Perhaps the greatest “product” from geese on the Hawaiʻi Island is their ecosystem service on farms. For instance, one Waimea-area farm reported that geese grazing significantly reduced fireweed and other noxious weeds in their pasture, saving labor. Geese are also terrific guardians; their honking alarm system can deter hawks from swooping down on chickens, and they’ll challenge intruders – some poultry keepers keep a gander or two in their chicken flock for this reason. These benefits, while hard to quantify in economic terms, contribute to the resilience and lower chemical input of those farms. On a homestead level, geese provide manure that is high in nitrogen, good for compost piles. Goose feathers can be collected during molt for pillows or down, though on small scales this is more for personal use than commercial production.
Challenges
One challenge with geese in Hawaiʻi is they can become pests themselves if not managed – for example, a gaggle of geese can quickly devour a lettuce patch if they get into the wrong area, or overgraze young grass, turning an area muddy. They also require plentiful water (both for drinking and to play in), which means farms need to have troughs or small ponds and must manage the muddy runoff. Another issue is obtaining stock; goslings often have to be special-ordered from hatcheries on the mainland, which is costly due to air freight and small orders. Breeding geese in Hawaiʻi is possible but they are seasonal layers and have variable fertility in a tropical photoperiod, so not many farmers attempt to maintain breeding pairs year-round.
Status and Outlook
Geese will likely remain a tiny, specialty facet of Hawaiʻi Island’s livestock profile. Their use aligns with regenerative agriculture practices, which could see a mild uptick as more farmers explore integrated pest management. Any growth in goose numbers will probably be incremental and incidental – for example, a few more market growers hearing about a neighbor’s success with weeder geese and deciding to try a few. In terms of market, geese won’t be crowding grocery shelves, but at least the option of a locally raised holiday goose exists for those seeking one, thanks to the dedication of a handful of island farmers.
Sources:
USDA NASS Hawaiʻi County Profile (2022) – Geese inventory
Hawaiʻi Island Pulse – diversified farm article (mentions geese alongside other poultry)
CTAHR Extension Poultry Workshop (2019) – notes on using geese for weed control (anecdotal)
Hawaiʻi Homegrown Food Network – farmer experiences with Chinese weeder geese (2010 blog)