Aloha Kaua`i Ohana,

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Creative approaches are needed to solve Kaua`i's challenges in this extraordinary time of national shifts brought about by the global COVID-19 strategies, storm events on Kaua`i, as well as environmental catastrophes around Hawai`i & the United States. Kaua`i is a jewel of an island, beautiful, abundant & safe; with the draw of the Garden of Eden. Populations are moving & many of our generational families, as well as our workforce risk being pressured out of their homes & off the island. Many new residents are arriving with their unique strengths & capacities hoping to contribute to their new community. We need to build win-win solutions to help assimilate our new residents, without allowing an eclipse of our vibrant history & rich culture. Balance is the keyword in how we carefully craft our approach to the rebound of the visitor presence while diversifying our economy in ways that empower our future & honor our heritage. In 2022, Kaua`i continues in resilience as we face critical & competing challenges between health & economic viability. We honor Ni`ihau's long experience with independence.

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In my first two terms in office I have held the responsibility as Committee Chair for Public Safety & Human Services & as Vice-Chair for Public Works & Veterans' Services in which I have learned much & it continues to influence my goals.

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Ideas & Visions Underway:

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• Housing - exciting opportunities are in front of us to work with the State government that has budgeted $1 billion to address houselessness & affordable housing, with $600 million being allocated to begin addressing commitments to Hawaiian Homelands beneficiaries.

  • Policy development of allowing homeowners to invest in increasing density with a second, even third unit to provide for their families will continue, increasing size of guest houses to 800 sq ft.

  • Tiny home possibilities for dignified housing for our people in crisis, promoting community-first transitional villages

  • Support the expansion of public housing & crafting an appropriate housing policy to encourage more privately funded homes

  • Fostering social enterprise partnerships to assist stability, progress & health for our marginalized populations

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• Remote & Virtual Work - to be developed & encouraged; broadband improvements & support to design more business sectors that operate in this relevant & expanding virtual economy

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• River & Watershed Management - partnering with state & private ownership beginning with our recent FEMA grants to manage streams and river banks

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• Food Production & Agriculture - prioritizing community food production, crafting policies that support the different layers from export agriculture, small diversified farms, neighborhood food production, community agriculture parks, fishing, hunting & ranching:

  • The small retail allowance at farms

  • Removable farmworker housing

  • Facilities to support value-added products

  • Government encouragement for locally-based products to continue beyond the pandemic

  • update Real Property Tax Agricultural Dedication tax exemptions

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• Visitor Industry Renewal - working with our existing properties to emphasize a visitor base that arrives for longer time frames to a "clean, green & safe" island with a willingness to comfortably integrate into a safe environment that applauds its rich cultural heritage with a framework that highlights the resilient legacy of Hawaiian traditions. The visitor industry amplifies the example of locally-based resilience that is reflected in Kauai's reshaping economy!

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Prosperity is the end goal: we need to thrive whereas many of our people work hard to just survive. 

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Continuing to assist Kaua`i is my compelling motivation to run for a third term on the council. My style is to listen to all sides of differing opinions, make on-site visits & help at a grass roots level. With no competing job interest & with my sons who have now grown into independent young men, I have the capacity for the full-time commitment the County Council deserves to ensure the well-being & health of the peoples & the islands of Kaua`i & Ni`ihau. Thank you for your support with one of your seven votes for the Kaua`i County Council. 

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Mahalo,

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Felicia Cowden

My Professional Background

Business | Engineering | Education | Media | Agriculture

Hanalei Surf Company, Intel
Akamai Learning
Kauaʻi Community Radio
Regenerations Botanical Garden

My experiences over the past 38 years working with the government in a range of roles

from an engineer, to a small business owner, educator, community advocate, non-profit board member & media programmer have given me a broad foundation to understand policy as it affects

our people & environment. Twelve years as a public affairs / talk show programmer on KKCR has had me fielding community concerns, coupled with my direct participation in the public process to assist in creating solutions. This role has taught me that we need to work to solve problems without having to make anybody wrong. We each win when we all win...