Ewa resident promotes pigeon appreciation

Approaching Cameron Data­na­gan’s unassuming Ewa Beach residence, it’s hard to believe it’s also home to 100 pigeons, a Chinese golden pheasant, 20 show chickens, 100 fish, 20 Jackson’s chameleons, five Chihuahua terriers and a cat.

But then the roosters start to crow, the hens cluck and peck, the pigeons coo and the dogs yap, and it’s not so hard to believe anymore. Cages line the front, side and back of the fenced dirt and grass yard.

"I’m an animal lover," grinned Data­na­gan, a 24-year UPS driver. "I was born in Waia­lua on the North Shore, and we always had animals around the farm."

He especially loves to collect and breed pigeons and chickens. His Fili­pino elders raised chickens as a hobby and for food, said Data­na­gan, holding up the extra fifth toe of a fluffy, white silkie chicken, a marker of the breed.

"Then my dad collected pigeons since he was about 12, so I pretty much grew up with pigeons. Pigeons have taught me all of life’s lessons — about sex, bullying and even about death. They’re one of the most diverse species of birds, they’re worldwide and they’re extremely multifaceted. That’s why I get so passionate about them.

"Even the queen of England collects pigeons!"

As a sixth-grader, Data­na­gan joined the Nunu Flyers pigeon racing club ("nunu" is the Hawaiian word for pigeon). The birds were shipped to the neighbor islands and released to fly back to Oahu.

"It was an exciting social event to bring your bird down to be registered, get banded, then shipped off to a neighbor island via Aloha Cargo," he said, "and then turn in its time-stamped band when it returned to you to see who won. Both young and old fanciers were able to meet up then.

"Nowadays it’s all done electronically, by computer and email, and there’s no social component to the racing. That’s why I’ve become a real advocate of getting our kids out of the house and into nature."

There are more than 300 pigeon breeds, and Data­na­gan raises birds representing 30 of them. Between his pigeons and chickens, he goes through a 50-pound bag of mixed/cross-species grain a week. He feeds and waters them before going to work in the morning and when he comes home in the evening, and his daughter, Camryn, 19, and son, Jayson, 9, check on the animals in the afternoon.

ALTHOUGH Datanagan, 45, doesn’t race or compete anymore except for fun, he has published more than a half-dozen photo-filled books about animals and birds in Hawaii and has posted numerous YouTube videos on breeding pigeons. He is the Hawaii 4-H small-animal coordinator for the West side and is active in the Hawaii All-Breed Pigeon Association, the Hawaii Pigeon Club and the Hawaii Roller Club, whose members are fans of the breed known for rolling while in flight.

He founded the Hawaii Pet Show and Ewa Craft Fair in 2011 with wife Joy, 39, a secretary at Ewa Elementary School, and started the national Asian American Pigeon Club last year.

Since 2009, Datanagan has been the national representative in Hawaii for the National Pigeon Association, and today he is in Ontario, Calif., for the organization’s Grand National Pigeon Show, which runs through Saturday. One of 10 Hawaii residents in attendance, he is providing tours and staffing the information desk along with his family.

Former boxing champion and pigeon fancier Mike Tyson will open the event with a release of white pigeons.

"This is the biggest show of year for the national organization," Data­na­gan said. "Only a very few states and U.S. territories will not be attending, and there’ll be visitors from all over the world — places like England, Denmark, Germany, even Dubai and Bahrain."

(For those who can’t attend, Data­na­gan will be live-streaming portions of the event on his Hawaii Pigeon Club and Facebook websites.)

"I know some of our club members will be receiving the video on their smartphones, and some will be gathering in small groups around laptops at McDonald’s to watch. It’ll be exciting because we’ve got about 50 local entries that’ll be competing," he said.

Datanagan is considering a run for a national association office and would like to see local pigeon clubs make a comeback.

"When I was growing up, there were at least 20 different clubs here. Now there are maybe a third or half as many," he said.

"I want to bring that social aspect back because without our kids, our hobby will die."

Contact Cameron Datanagan by calling 208-2266 or emailing hawaii­pet­show@gmail.com

On the Net:

» www.hawaiipigeonclub.com

» facebook.com/2015NPAGN