Next mayor must put island first
Next mayor must put island first
The campaign for mayor of Kauai is in full swing. Campaign signs are proliferating. The most and biggest belong to candidate Derek Kawakami. An article in the July 16 The Garden Island suggests why. With over $200,000 in donations, his campaign war chest is more than four times his nearest competitor.
About one third of the reported donors ($100 or more), and well over half those donations, come from Oahu and the Mainland. Investment firms, resort developer and management firms, consultants, architects and construction companies want Mr. Kawakami for mayor. Also top management of unions, more supportive of developer interests than they are of their rank-and-file members, have stepped up big for Mr. Kawakami.
They’re not getting in line to build critically needed affordable housing. For example, MacNaughton Group, specialists in luxury highrises, donated $4,000. Resort architects Mitsunaga Associates gave $6,000.
From the sugar barons to Sylvester Stallone at Anini to the billionaire Omidyar’s dairy enterprise, the natural wealth of Kauai has been mined for profit from the outside. But there always has to be local kine enablers. Now, there is no more margin of forgiveness. The infrastructure on Kauai is beyond maxed out, and more crucially the delicate ecosystem of this little island cannot absorb any more waste brought on by unchecked development. Rising enterococcus bacteria counts at beaches and shore breaks recorded monthly by Surfrider Foundation tell this grim reality. They are just one measure of special-interest profits trumping the health of the island’s environment and people.
The next mayor needs to get this and not be beholden to any but the island and its people.
Kip Goodwin, Wailua
Simple rule of thumb for the next election… DON’T vote for any candidate who’s name begins with a “K”
Or a “B” or “R”………..
Kip,
I couldn’t agree more, which is why we need to be voting for Joanne. She is the candidate who has devoted years to public service. She knows and understands our island.
Did you know that Mr. Kawakami advocates for the mega dairy on the South Side? Apparently the big business donations are effective. There is no room for that huge environmentally destructive business on Kauai.
Love the Aina
It’s a “mega dairy?” Really? Tell me, are you on your way now to order a mega single scoop ice cream cone?
Where is our MAKE KAUAIANS FIRST candidate? We need a County Manager system…which candidates support that? The County Council needs new ideas that are well researched.
TGI could you take away the ( VOTE Kawakami for MAYOR Learn More) sign/banner that is taking up space right before the end of Kip’s letter Goodwin’s letter. Kinda misplaced . . . mj
Mahalo, Mr Goodwin. At the Mayoral Forum Derek Kawakami admitted that he was hand picked by A&B and served for months on a advisory committee contributing to A&B’s “Second City” plan for Hanapepe and Eleele. Not only did Kawakami not tell his fellow County Councilmembers that he had served on that committee but he also, received $1500 during the month the General Plan was sent to the Mayor for signature. This was only the last in a series of A&B campaign donations. Now he stands to also benefit from the up-zoning plan for Rice Street. The $200,000 was only in the last six months of the campaign. He has received $300,000 since he was able to get campaign contributions for his Mayoral run. Quite the built up war chest. Is this who we want to lead Kaua’i as our next Mayor?
Thank you for this information. People need to know that Kawakami is pro-development, and not for the locals. He just wants to grow the local for his own good, not for the people of the island. He is kind of like Trump that way.
Interesting, developers for Derek, lap dancers for Mel, bigots for Lenny… I guess that leaves JoAnn to lead us into more sustainable future.
Aloha Kakou,
With these neighborhood meetings for the candidates to speak, and not even one meeting in populated Kapa’a, it would sure be beneficial to have these sessions put on the local TV channel so we can hear these next leader(s) speak, AND REPEATED SAME SESSIONS ON TV for all to hear, same like County Council and Planning Commission meetings.
We’d like to hear the moderators ask point blank questions like WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO to remove the traffic problem, affordable housing, etc., on Kauai…not baloney like do you support fixing the problems…but how are are you going fix them. If you do not know how to fix the problem then do not waste your own and our time running for office.
We want to vote for who has the best plan to fix the problems? Not who is for or against something!
There are solutions, let’s hear them.
Mahalo,
Charles
Thank you Kip for this excellent presentation of the many good reasons to not consider Mr. Kawakami for this important job.
So let me get this straight. Council member Kawakami voted against letting the people decide about the Charter Amendment AND voted for the addition of the Second City amendment to the General Plan even though there was no public discussion or hearings? And he failed to disclose that he had been an advisor to A&B on the Second City plan? And all of this money is coming from Honolulu? Either it’s wrong or there’s a terrifying pattern. What do you say, Council member Kawakami?
Well, it should read “…put the island first as defined by Kip Goodwin and other commenters here who are all survivors of THE GREAT SMART METER APOCALYPSE most accurately predicted by Goodwin some years ago
Thank you, Mr. Goodwin for an excellent, enlightening letter. And thank you to the commenter “Researched It” for additional information.
I am convinced, absolutely, that I will not vote for Kawakami for mayor – or for anything else. The very best choice for mayor is JoAnn Yukimura, so she will get my vote.
And because I know that many people do not read the newspaper, and even fewer read the comments that appear in the online version, I will tell as many people as I can, from now until the August 11th primary, for whom I will vote and why.
My request to my fellow Kauaians – please spread the word to your friends and family members so that they understand what is really at stake. It’s time to get rid of the “Family Name,” “Corporate Money,” “Developer’s Friend,” “Pro industrial dairy” element in our county government. Mo’ bettah we vote for someone who cares about us and our beautiful Kaua’i.
Ya, let’s vote for Joann so that the island would be owned and populated solely by wealthy mainland retirees; the only ones who will be able to afford to live here. Forget jobs for locals and their families. Remember, anti-ag JoAnn was the one who introduced the “big box” bill (against WalMart groceries) that prevented cheaper foods from giving Costco some real competition. She said she wanted to preserve Mom & Pop stores which have since all either closed or sold out to big corporations like 711’s, times, or like Ishihara Market, the Sullivans of Foodland. Yup, can’t trust a socialist to know what’s happening economically and who turns down the best opportunities for cheaper food on Kauai. She merely hurt the poor who can least afford it. Nice legacy, JoAnn. Let’s see how you can hurt them more.
There’s three groups here. The poor, the wealthy and the government. So, if you think that a socialist government will take from the wealthy and give to the poor in theoretical wealth transference? No chance. Robinhood was a myth. The government will take from the wealthy and pay themselves with higher salaries, more workers so they can work even less (ever tried to get a permit through our county departments or get a copy of something from the circuit courts? Forget about it) and costlier premium healthcare plans and retirement programs…not to forget early retirement. So, the poor will always be screwed by the government because they’re in competition for the money the wealthy have and which only the government can take via taxes…the poor don’t have that ability. Sucks to be poor. But then, they’ll ignorantly always vote for socialism since the lying socialists like Kaniela Ing promise to give them free stuff. Won’t happen….ever. Look at Venezuela and Nicaragua for a couple of prime examples of this. Get educated and quit being stupid.
JoAnn’s campaign is locally funded and run with no corporate funding accepted. As Mayor of Kaua`i she will be there to protect our fragile and ever so stressed environment. She is honest and treats all people with dignity and respect. She will work hard and listen to the people and not just special interest groups. She is the one to Lead Kaua`i for the next four years.
Mr Kawakami and family own all, All, commercial centers on the island. Except Puhi. But, Lihue, Kapp, Kekaha, Kilauea, Kapahi etc are all owned.locals need not apply
It’s not about the money and the endorsements one gets. It’s about the work you have done, the impact you have made as a public servant, and the difference you have made for the betterment of our community. All of this equates to a proven leader and what really draws support from citizens. Mel for Mayor!
Thank you for this article. Actually, I was shocked to see the advertisement for “K for Mayor” on Google Adwords and on YouTube. Actually, his advertisements are all over on the internet now. No wonder how he was funded and what his sponsors want. They believe that they can buy anything. Voters should be conscious. Unless, THIS ISLAND WILL BE SOLD, TOO.
Yukimura has already shown that she was a less-than-effective mayor. As Councilwoman, she was even less effective. If she was unable to provide truly affordable housing during her past tenures, why would anyone think that she could do so if elected mayor again???