Increasing the housing supply is essential for quality of life and vibrance of our economy. My vision is to continue the Kawakami Administration’s work in providing the much-needed affordable housing developments that we have underway. This includes

• Continued development of our County housing villages that offer transitional housing, single family homes for ownership, senior apartments, and multi-family apartments, currently in process in Eleele, Waimea, Kilauea, and most recently with a land purchase of 85 developable acres in Puhi..

• Structuring Temporary Safety Zones will help to humanely move unhoused people off the sidewalks and out of the bushes into areas of greater stability and lowered impacts to our public spaces.

• Long-Term Market Rate Rentals Directed at our Working People requires a restructuring of what is now prohibitive taxation on market rate rentals, that creates unaffordable rent for our “gap” working community.

• Implementation of employer-owned workforce living structures with the intention of creating alternatives to the consumption of residential housing for the purpose of accommodation of temporary workers. It is essential that the use of traditional family housing for temporary workers does not replace residential homes.

• Un-permitted vacation rentals will continue to be encouraged back into our residential housing stock. The county agreements with Air B & B, VRBO and Expedia will remain in place to ensure our housing stock is available for residents.

• Supporting our Veterans - creating a prioritized category for veteran housing in our county planned communities will help to address this overlooked population that often needs support.

Upgrading Kauai’s infrastructure is critical to reclaim our stability, which includes roads, water, sewer, and solid waste.

• Support of county water system improvements through increasing multiple pathways in Federal and State funding with a potential for bonds backed by the County, if needed, for matching grant funding to soften planned, future rate and water permit increases. Water is critical for the health and strengthening of our communities..The recent draft Water Systems Investment Plan outlines $1.3 billion worth of needed infrastructure over the next 20 years. Incremental prioritized steps are being defined and presented to the public this spring.

• Explore and Embrace Innovative Technology for reducing our waste stream; both for solid waste and waste water. The structure for this process is underway and will continue under my administration. Recycling and waste reduction will continue to be emphasized and further developed. A partnership with DHHL is under discussion for replacing the Wailua Waste Water Treatment facility with two modular packages that will produce R1 (drinkable) quality outflow with PFAS removal. Consideration is to support agricultural and possibly wetland restoration along with golf course support for the treated water. This would pilot other wastewater strategies. Lining our aged pipes is necessary to eliminate the Inundation and Inflow problems we are experiencing in both Wailua and Waimea wastewater systems.

• Develop and Reclaim Evacuation Routes for Emergency Response with a structure that holds potential for future additional road pathways to alleviate traffic congestion, particularly as we plan increased housing locations..

• Fire prevention and emergency response teams coordinated with our Kauai Emergency Management Agency, first responders will continue to grow in working with community groups.

• Continuous improvement of County operations will be a central goal of my administration. Efficiency and effectiveness in county operations will be supported through bi-monthly department head meetings to drive organized and measurable, coordinated objectives. Public reports will ensure residents and Council can understand and support the County’s improvement objectives with opportunities for input and feedback. I welcome the county employment team’s thoughts and ideas for improvement. Ombudsman will be added to our structure to assist new appointees and leadership positions to rapidly understand their resources and responsibilities within their new role. This position can be of service across our leadership teams.

• Constituent participation in government will be encouraged by welcoming all perspectives to build best policies.

From global to local, the ways of earning a living have shifted substantially where county policies need to adapt to support our people finding a way to build a life filled with purpose and stability.

• Supporting agriculture at all levels is a high priority. Small scale diversified Farms that feed Kaua’i and supply our Farmers Markets. Active care will be in place to stabilize vulnerabilities that are occurring with export value-added crops such aacific Biodiesel, s Koloa Rum, Kaua’i Coffee, produce from Aloun Farms, and livestock Landscape and agricultural support businesses are another important vector.

• The Visitor Industry will continue as a primary economic driver, supporting a wide range of small businesses, adventure businesses, health and wellness and amplifier of our sports industries from surfing to golfing and everything in between.

• Support the continued shift outlined in our Destination Management Action Plan in which our authentic cultural experiences and natural environment are highlighted rather than exploited. This sector continues to be an employer of many people, amplifies our arts, and the highest tax contributor to support our county government.

• Brick-and-Mortar businesses keep Kaua’i strong and resilient. They are an essential part of the functioning of our communities. The County needs to partner to help retain this important presence.

• Our economic development policies need to adapt to changing work patterns.Large shifts are happening with the internet and gig economies. The Amazon distribution center is moving to Kaua’i as a reflection of people’s shopping habits.

• A most resilient economy is a circular economy where production and consumption occurs locally. There is recognized concern that data centers will be placed on Kaua’i, however inquiry demonstrates our infrastructure conditions and land costs would be prohibitive for that possibility.

• Construction‍ utilizing local workers through strengthening ‍active partnership with Kaua’i Community College and unions are of value to inspire and train more trades people as their skills are essential to building and maintaining the physical environment that sustains us. A clear gap in our workforce is in the trades and especially needed for our construction industries.

• Micro businesses are on the rise and providing opportunities to more home-centered people from crafts building on-line businesses, pop-up markets, to those running TikTok shops, Lyft drivers, Instacart, and a whole range of economic opportunities.

Caring for our natural environment is essential for preserving our island culture and way of life. Strengthening our partnership with the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources will create greater continuity.

Environmental Stewardship is essential for:

• Healthy Aquifer and Watersheds

• Reducing the impacts of Floods, Fires, and Natural Disasters, plus supporting our response and recovery efforts

• Control of Invasive Species

• Preservation of Indigenous Plants and Animals

• Healthy Food Production from Mauka to Makai (the mountain to the sea)

• Retaining our Beautiful Vistas, Beaches, Open Spaces, and Natural Beauty of our islands

As Mayor, it is important to serve all of our island people working to honor what unites us and amplify how our different populations can strengthen us all.

• The Hawaiian Culture is the foundation of what makes us Hawai’i and carries the wisdom and knowledge of how to successfully care for the environment and live in isolation.

• Perpetuating the Hawaiian Culture and recognizing the practitioners as essential to a healthy, functioning Kaua’i will be integrated in policy development, board appointments, consideration for fishing and hunting access, new street names, and more. We will continue to nourish canoe clubs, protect and amplify cultural sites, Keiki and Kupuna programs, Hula Halau, customary rights for Lo’i Kalo, ‘Olelo, our Charter Schools and cultural celebrations.

• Partnership with Cultural and Non-Profit Organizations reflecting the range of people groups that have brought their knowledge and heritage to Hawai’i over the past couple centuries will continue in importance.

• Parks, sports, and public spaces improvements will continue to be emphasized. Gratitude to the Kawakami administration for revitalizing our parks, stadiums, golf course, bike paths, play courts and ocean safety locations to ensure healthy environments for active play and socialization.

• Service Groups, Food Providers, Shelters, Faith-Based Organizations, Mental Health, Youth, Sports, Veterans Assistance and Justice Advocacy Organizations are vital partners for a healthy community.

• Recognized inclusion of our newer residents with their gifts of talent, capacity and volunteerism will be welcomed to strengthen the island that they call home. We also embrace the valued support that has come from our part-time families, some for decades, even generations.

We are all better together, undivided, and helping one another.