Hawai'i cockfighters and gamebreeders are upset by a new federal law that makes it a felony to promote, stage or facilitate cockfighting, saying it's unfairly targeting a cultural practice.

"If they make it a felony we're history; we're going to be out of it," said Pat Royos, vice president of the 1,800-member Hawai'i Game Breeders Association. The association is part of the United Game Fowl Breeders Association, a national lobbying group founded in 1975 that includes 31 affiliate organizations in 30 states across the United States.

"I don't think that's fair; each state should make their own laws. I think that's really unfair if (President Bush) did sign it and is saying every state cannot have cockfighting. That's a shocking thing to me."

Royos said the HGBA is working on a mailer to all members informing them of the new federal law and the possible penalties involved.

"I guess I am going to have to move to the Philippines or something because I am not going to stop," said John Cambra, 53, a state employee who grew up around game birds on his family's 30-acre compound in Kahalu'u and currently is the largest game-breeder in the state.

"I think my cultural rights are being discriminated against. What? Are they going to go after hunters for hunting or fishermen for fishing? Is that cruel? We need to take a look at this law."

Current state laws address cockfighting in two ways: by prohibiting animal cruelty and by outlawing the sharp metal gaffs attached to the legs of chickens during a fight. Both laws are misdemeanors.

President Bush signed a bill Thursday that makes a felony out of staging, promoting or facilitating a cockfight. The new law also prohibits buying, selling or transporting animals across state or international borders for the purpose of fighting.

And it prohibits buying, selling or transporting knives, gaffs and other weapons used in cockfighting. Federal and local law officials say they are not sure how the new federal law will be enforced here.

"This new law will be analyzed by the Department of Justice and then they will send us guidance on their interpretation of this law," said Ed Kubo, U.S. attorney for the district of Hawai'i. "After that, I expect to have meetings about the federal scope of this law with both HPD and with representatives from the Hawaiian Humane Society."

Honolulu police said they have not reviewed the law and cannot comment on its enforcement.

"We haven't had a chance to review the amendment but we support any laws that increase protection for animals," said Michelle Yu, Honolulu Police Department public information officer.

Cockfighting was in the news last year after several Honolulu police officers were accused of protecting illegal cockfights.

In April 2006, three officers were indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly tipping off leaders of a North Shore cockfighting ring about police raids. A fourth officer was indicted for allegedly possessing an illegal firearm and a fifth officer was indicted for allegedly hiding evidence of cockfighting.

Cockfighting is a popular pastime in the Islands, and the events, or derbies, draw hundreds, sometimes thousands, to rural locations throughout the state every weekend from September through July when the birds begin to molt.

Cockfighting is a felony in 33 states and is legal only in Louisiana, yet it has become a multimillion-dollar, international industry that counts millions as fans and participants, according to the United Game Breeders Association. Cockfighting takes place in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South and Central America, and in parts of the United States.

A testament to its popularity here is the consistent failure of proposals to ban it.

Just this session, proponents of an animal cruelty bill specifically left cockfighting out of the measure to avoid raising the ire of breeders and others who have stymied similar legislation in the past. The bill, which passed, raised the penalty for animal abuse to a felony.

"I never took a position for or against (cockfighting). I recognize it as a part of the fabric of the culture of the Islands," said Sen. Clayton Hee, D-23rd (Kane'ohe, Kahuku), the Senate Judiciary chairman. "When I lived on Moloka'i, I remember once going to a cockfight and my guess is anybody my age would have either known people who fought chickens or attended a fight. It always has been and always will be a fabric of the culture of the Islands."

Cambra, the Kahalu'u game-breeder, says the new federal law is "disrespecting" his heritage.

He runs Cambra Game Fowl Farm/Onipa'a, and sells fighting roosters to cockfighters in Guam, Latin America, Micronesia, Louisiana, Oklahoma, California and New Mexico. His roosters range from $300 to $1,200.

He made $21,000 selling birds in 2004, and he said the side business has helped him put two sons and a daughter through college.

A 2003 federal law prohibits the interstate transportation of chickens for fighting, so he has buyers sign affidavits saying they won't use the bird for fighting.

Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.