A proponent of environmentally safe incineration of the island’s solid waste, Lawa’i resident and small businessman John Hoff last week filed papers to run for Kaua’i County Council. Solid waste is the county’s most pressing issue, said Hoff, adding that
A proponent of environmentally safe incineration of the island’s solid waste, Lawa’i resident and small businessman John Hoff last week filed papers to run for Kaua’i County Council.
Solid waste is the county’s most pressing issue, said Hoff, adding that in 1993 the Kekaha Sanitary Landfill opened with an anticipated five-year life expectancy.
Five years after the expected end of Kekaha’s useful life, the county still has not located a suitable site for a new landfill, he said.
He advocates one facility, in a dry location, looking at all the available technology, for the island’s long-term solid-waste-disposal needs. A North Shore facility may be needed as well, he added.
Today’s environmentally friendly trash incinerators generate steam and their own electricity as byproducts, but won’t be able to accommodate all types of trash. Therefore, a new landfill will still be needed, he said.
Hoff, 62, ran twice unsuccessfully for the state House of Representatives seat held by Bertha Kawakami. Redistricted out of that district, he finds himself in the same representative district as state Rep. Ezra Kanoho.
A desire to continue working as a substitute teacher at the public schools, and to expand the Aloha Pax program that sends care packages of Kaua’i-made foods to members of the armed forces around the world, made him opt for a run for a council seat instead of another House run, he said.
He is confident he can be one of the top seven vote-getters in November.
Hoff has had to resign as president of the Kaua’i chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) in order to pursue a council seat, but remains active in installing safety handrails in homes of senior citizens through another program he founded, “A Grip on Life.”
A small business owner on the island for 36 years, Hoff has four grown children and four grandchildren. He sees jobs, family security and traffic as other pressing issues on the island.
