#derek kawakami
Kaua‘i forest bird and seabird recovery and protection programs to move to a joint facility
The cancellation of a decades-long set-aside of land from the state of Hawai‘i to the County of Kaua‘i has paved the way for Kaua‘i’s renowned forest bird and seabird recovery and protection programs to move into a joint facility.
Kaua‘i Poke Fest raises $62,000 for Maui Strong Fund
Step aside foie gras and soufflé. Poke has arrived as haute cuisine. And this surge of poke popularity benefitted the Maui Strong Fund recently during the fourth annual Kaua‘i Poke Fest.
County program on Kauaʻi helps 369 homeowners prevent foreclosure, funds ongoing support services
The County of Kauaʻi announced that its Homeowner Assistance Fund program has closed after successfully assisting 369 Garden Isle homeowners prevent foreclosure since its launch in November 2021.
Kauaʻi Mayor Kawakami shares budget goals in wake of Maui wildfires
In Kauaʻi County’s efforts to reduce fire risk and fuel sources, Mayor Kawakami announced this year’s budget will include $2.7 million in heavy equipment for Kauaʻi road crews to help manage vegetation, and added $1.5 million to cover costs to clear brush and large debris from county properties. The Kaua‘i Fire Department will also acquire two water tenders and a brush fire-fighting apparatus to enhance fire response.
Hawaiʻi’s mayors discuss housing after fires, Bissen calls for ‘voluntary compliance’
Maui Mayor Richard Bissen acknowledged: “Housing was an issue on Maui and in West Maui before Aug. 8, and it became, obviously, a bigger issue after that.” “Our duty as government is to present the other options that people have. Let’s talk of creating a land trust,” said the mayor. That was one of the topics that was also explored at the Native Hawaiian Convention.
Kaua‘i to End Resort Bubble Program Thursday
Kaua‘i Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami issued an amended emergency rule that will end the Resort Bubble program and move the County to Tier 5 on Thursday, July 8. That’s the same day that the state plans to ease travel and gathering guidelines as the vaccination rate nears 60%.
$132,500 in Emergency Grants to Support Landslide Resilience on Kaua‘i
Hawai‘i Community Foundation announced $132,500 in grant funding to support emergency response efforts on the island of Kaua‘i following flash flooding that resulted in a massive landslide cutting off road access to the North Shore last week Thursday.
Kaua‘i to Re-enter Safe Travels Program for Trans-Pacific Travelers Starting April 5
Governor David Ige has approved Kaua‘i Mayor Derek Kawakami’s request to rejoin the state’s Safe Travels pre-travel testing program for Trans-Pacific travel, effective April 5, 2021.
Gov. Ige Approves Kaua‘i “Resort Bubble” Post-Travel Testing Program
The new rule will allow travelers to Kaua‘i, who receive a negative pre-travel test and stay in an approved Enhanced Movement Quarantine (EMQ) “resort bubble” property, to take a post-travel test three days after arrival and be released from quarantine with a negative post-travel test result.
