“Mei Qin Chen Convicted for Stealing Nene Gosling in Hilo Environmental Court”

A 58-year-old woman has been found guilty of stealing a nene gosling from Wailoa State Recreation Area in March last year. Mei Qin Chen was sentenced on Tuesday in Hilo Environmental Court by Hilo Circuit Judge Henry Nakamoto. As part of a plea deal with prosecutors, Chen, who required a Mandarin language interpreter, entered a no contest plea to the charge of the prohibited taking of a wild bird. In return for her plea, charges of taking or selling an endangered species and harming wildlife were dropped. Chen has been ordered to pay a $200 fine and a $55 compensation fee.

Chen could have faced a maximum sentence of 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for stealing the nene gosling, but the judge opted for a more lenient punishment. However, the hearing was slow and challenging for Chen, who struggled with the interpreter and had difficulty understanding some of the routine questions posed by Judge Nakamoto. When asked about her education, Chen responded that she had not received any schooling. Despite these challenges, Chen expressed her desire for the case to conclude throughout the hearing.

The case against Chen was based on an incident that occurred on March 23, 2023. Several witnesses reported seeing Chen feeding a nene family near the Wailoa Small Boat Harbor boat ramp. Witnesses stated that Chen used bread to distract the gosling’s parents, then captured the gosling and placed it in a bag. The witnesses provided a description of Chen’s vehicle, including the license plate number, to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and the police. One couple even followed Chen’s vehicle until the police stopped her in Keaau. The DLNR discovered the gosling alive in an onion bag.

The nene, also known as the Hawaiian goose, is the state bird of Hawaii and is classified as an endangered species by both the National Park Service and the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Despite Chen’s previous claims of innocence and lack of understanding, she did not address the court during the sentencing hearing.

Chen’s defense attorney, Deputy Public Defender Megan Fellows, acknowledged the significance of the case within the community but emphasized that Chen was not aware of the consequences of her actions due to her unfamiliarity with the local culture. Fellows expressed Chen’s remorse for the impact her actions have had on the community and conveyed her client’s sincere apology.