Nakamura pulls papers for council run

LIHU‘E — Nadine Nakamura, a Kapa‘a resident and planning consultant with a history of working with government agencies, has pulled papers and intends to run for Kaua‘i County Council this fall.

“The main reason why I’m running is that I like to try to use my skills, my background in planning, facilitation and project management to build a stronger Kaua‘i, one that will balance future growth with preserving our rural character, lifestyle and values,” Nakamura said in a phone interview Friday. “When you boil it down, that’s why I’m doing it.”

County records show she pulled papers on Feb. 25, becoming the fourth potential candidate to do so. Current Councilman Dickie Chang, former Councilman Mel Rapozo and KipuKai Kuali‘i pulled papers on Feb. 1, the first day possible. Only Rapozo has filed completed documents thus far.

In a campaign flyer sent to The Garden Island, Nakamura said she is a planning consultant and owner of NKN Project Planning for the last 17 years, facilitated the 2000 General Plan Update, wrote Kaua‘i Economic Development Plans in 2004 and 2010.

Nakamura has served as a consultant to the county Open Space Commission and National Tropical Botanical Gardens, working with stakeholders to develop a community-based master and management plan to preserve Lawa‘i Kai, she said.

Recently, she has also served as a subconsultant to the University of Hawai‘i Department of Urban Planning as it began work on the Important Agricultural Lands study.

Nakamura earned her Bachelor’s degree in public affairs and urban planning at the University of Southern California, then obtained a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from UH Manoa.

Nakamura has been married to attorney Galen Nakamura for 21 years and now lives in Kapa‘a with two children, ages 13 and 10.

• Michael Levine, assistant news editor, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or mlevine@kauaipubco.co