LIHU‘E — Bright and early Thursday morning, the Lihu‘e Business Association held its second meeting of the year — “A Meeting of Minds Building Kaua‘i” — and invited the Kapa‘a Business Association, the Koloa Community Association and the West Kaua‘i
LIHU‘E — Bright and early Thursday morning, the Lihu‘e Business Association held its second meeting of the year — “A Meeting of Minds Building Kaua‘i” — and invited the Kapa‘a Business Association, the Koloa Community Association and the West Kaua‘i Business and Professional Association to share with attendees their personal successes, challenges and plans for improving the quality of life on Kaua‘i.
“Our neighboring groups are overlapping on interests, concerns and plans and … all together, we can make a richer island for the people today and those who come after us,” LBA President Pat Griffin said at the meeting’s outset, encouraging others to become a part of their own neighborhood organizations.
Mamo Cummings Graham, a member of the Princeville Business Association and the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce, was the morning’s moderator and said Thursday was not only a meeting of minds, but a meeting of hearts as well.
“One of the reasons we participate in associations is we’re volunteering our hearts,” Cummings Graham said. “Our hearts speak to us and tell us, ‘I can make a difference, I can really help that association.’”
While the panel was comprised of representatives from just a handful of the island’s many associations, a wealth of information was exchanged at Duke’s Canoe Clue in Kalapaki.
“Despite our title, as opposed to being focused strictly on business matters in the last number of years, we’ve focused more on community issues,” said Steve Thatcher, president of the Kapa‘a Business Association and owner of Kaua‘i Marine and Mower.
He said his organization has recently concentrated on projects such as the Japanese Stone Lantern renovation, but would like to start spending more time focusing on Eastside businesses that are currently struggling due to the recession.
While Kapa‘a traffic, a definite community-oriented focus, is certainly an issue that he believes requires attention, he admits that the local businesses are also in need of immediate consideration.
“I think in these economic times, we need to figure out ways we can support businesses more.”
Mark Nellis, business manager of the Historic Waimea Theater and a member of the West Kaua‘i Business and Professional Association, agreed that businesses in Waimea could use some assistance as well and jokingly wished his district had the same traffic problem as Kapa‘a, as more people might be inclined to stop and shop in town.
“As the resorts have slowed down, the discretionary spending of our residents has also diminished, so we’ve got our mom and pop restaurants that aren’t seeing the local trade anymore and we’re all struggling to stay in business,” he said. “We are working on a game plan to revitalize the economic stimulation of our community.”
Current economic conditions have also affected the Koloa Community Association, which had developed a traffic circulation plan for the area but put the idea on hold momentarily in light of the drastic turn on Wall Street.
“About three years ago, we were a community faced with about 13 developments going on at the same time,” said Marty Kuala of KCA, but as the “economy started drying up,” the “beautiful circulation plan,” which was nearing completion, headed for the back burner.
“I am hopeful that in better economic times, we will turn around and be rekindled,” she said. “It can be ignited, but right now developers that had the money just no longer have it.”
Being a self-proclaimed optimist, Kuala said that the economic downturn has given KCA a chance to resettle and rethink some issues in the meantime.
“The key is the power of what people can do together as a community which is clearly shown by your association, and when the time is right, it will be on the table again,” Cummings Graham said.
She also added that residents are always entitled to respond to what’s occurring around them and that situations are always changing.
“Change is inevitable. Where your organization goes certainly depends on where your board leads it,” Thatcher said. “Getting new blood in your organization is mandatory, it’s what keeps your organization vibrant.”
The Lihu‘e Business Association will be holding their next meeting on May 28. Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. is expected to be the keynote speaker, and will address the economic stimulus package for the island as well as other programs that his administration will be establishing.
For more information, contact Griffin at 639-1019 or LBA96766@yahoo.com
• Coco Zickos, business writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or czickos@kauaipubco.com
