Gary Hennigh worked the past 22 years in government service in Alaska, and said he loved every minute of it because he felt he was helping to improve the lives of citizens there. Hennigh hopes to do the same for
Gary Hennigh worked the past 22 years in government service in Alaska, and said he loved every minute of it because he felt he was helping to improve the lives of citizens there.
Hennigh hopes to do the same for Kaua‘i County and to help create a brighter future for its citizens through sound urban planning.
Hennigh was hired as the new deputy director of the Kaua‘i County Planning Department nine weeks ago, replacing Sheila Miyake.
“I think the years I have been in the profession, common sense, a commitment to believe in the profession, all are part of the planning that do make a difference in people’s lives,” Hennigh said in an interview with the Garden Island.
As the second-in-command under planning director Ian Costa, Hennigh hopes to work with government, business folks and residents to find solutions to major challenges facing Kaua‘i today, including development and the lack of affordable housing.
Hennigh said he has been in his new job for a short time, and that those two topics come to mind right away.
Hennigh said he wants to find out what residents have to say about development, and study the issue more before he makes any judgments on whether more development is good or bad for Kaua‘i.
The pace of development “concerns me, ‘ he said, adding “I want to make sure that five years from now, ten years from now, the island is really what we want it to be.”
On the issue of lack of affordable housing, Hennigh said “the price of housing and availability of housing have become issues” and that he would like to put forth solutions one day.
“The issues are related to land use, subdivision regulations and things planners are supposed to (provide) to help decision-makers understand, and the laying out of a range of alternatives,” Hennigh said.
On the issues of development and affordable housing, Hennigh said he wants to analyze them longer before he begins to put forth potential solutions.
Hennigh said he has extensive experience in government, but noted that whatever he offers will not be the panacea.
“Just because I show up, that somehow the polar bear from Alaska can show you the promise land,” Hennigh said in a self-effacing manner. “That is not how it works.”
He said he can “help the process, and I can tell you some lessons learned in other places, and some of those will be applicable here, and some won’t.”
Hennigh said he believes good planning, with help from government agencies, business and residents, will pave the way for solutions to planning issues.
He said he believes the county general plan has enabled county officials to be in a better position to deal with planning and land use matters.
He said there are no technical flaws in the document, but parts of plan will probably need updating because of changes in land uses since the plan was adopted a few years ago by the Kaua‘i County Council.
Hennigh said his government experience in Alaska will contrast with what he will be experiencing while working for Kaua‘i County.
The state constitution in Alaska emphasizes local rule, while the state constitution in Hawai‘i stresses a centralized form of government, Hennigh said.
“This situation is not right or wrong. It is just so different than how I would do things in Alaska,” he said.
Yet, Hennigh said he doesn’t foresee any problems making adjustments in his new job.
“I just need to connect the dots to make sure I know over here in Hawai‘i how you go about approaching what agency for what authority and where we fit,” Hennigh said.
Hennigh has 25 years of experience in public and private sector management; capital project planning and development; financial and contract administration; transportation, community and land use planning; economic development and socio-economic impact assessments.
From 1989 to 2003, Hennigh served as city manager for the city of King Cove, Alaska, a community of 1200 residents, of which 75 percent are Native Americans, Aleuts.
He was responsible for overall delivery and management of public services, including port and harbor, police, fire and emergency rescue services.
He also was the supervisor of six department heads, and as planning director, was responsible for approving and monitoring subdivision developments, zoning and land use matters.
He was a chief financial officer as well for that city, which once had the largest wild salmon cannery in the world. That distinction faded as salmon farms became more common in the world, driving down the exclusive market value of the wild salmon found in Alaska, Hennigh said.
Hennigh said he visited Kaua‘i numerous times in the 1980s and 1990s because he enjoyed the island’s aloha spirit, slow lifestyle and natural beauty.
When he became 50 years of age two years ago, Hennigh said he wanted to spend more time on Kaua‘i with his wife, Debbie, and wanted a new career challenge.
He and his wife moved to Kaua‘i in January 2003, but continued working as city manager for King Cove from Kaua‘i until January of this year. He then took his new post nine weeks ago.
Hennigh said he will always miss Alaska, because he spent so many years there. But he says he welcomes new opportunities and a new life on Kaua‘i.
Hennigh said he and wife currently live in Kapa‘a, but plan on moving to Po‘ipu soon because the area has more days of dry and sunny weather.
“I am pretty blessed to have had so many years in Alaska, and if I spend the rest of my life on Kaua‘i, then I am not so sure life can get so much better than having the Hawaiian and Alaskan experience together,” he said.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net
