LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Planning Commission unanimously approved Commissioner Wayne Katayama to preside as chair of the volunteer group during 2013 in its first meeting of the year. “You have huge shoes to fill — yours is eight-and-a-half, mine is
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Planning Commission unanimously approved Commissioner Wayne Katayama to preside as chair of the volunteer group during 2013 in its first meeting of the year.
“You have huge shoes to fill — yours is eight-and-a-half, mine is 10-and-a-half,” said former Chair Jan Kimura, joking, as he stood up to vacate his seat Tuesday morning.
Kimura’s departing comments — which caused laughter through the meeting room — were corrected by Katayama as soon as he occupied his new position.
“Just to set the record straight, I’m also a 10-and-a-half,” Katayama said. “But my toes are much smaller.”
Kimura steps down as an outspoken chair, not afraid to express himself or to crack jokes. On the flip side, Katayama comes in as a soft-spoken commissioner, and despite his counter-joke, is usually more reserved.
Both commissioners, however, have in common a bold approach when it comes to questioning developers, lawyers and anyone else who comes before the commission asking for permits.
Katayama joined the commission two years ago, filling the vacancy left by former Commissioner Paula Morikami, who had joined the county Boards and Commissions office.
His appointment to chair the commission came from Kimura. In turn, Katayama appointed Kimura to be the commission’s vice-chair and also the chair of the Subdivision Committee. The commission’s three-member committee was completed with the approvals of Herman Texeira and Hartwell Blake.
Katayama’s term as chair of the commission will last a year. He is the president and general manager of Kaua‘i Coffee Company, and the treasurer of the Kaua‘i Economic Development Board.
As he left his chair seat, Kimura got one more big laugh. Apparently without paying attention, Kimura took the gavel with him as he switched seats with Katayama.
He had to reminded by Deputy County Attorney Ian Jung, who immediately said, “Don’t take the gavel.”
As Kimura sat down on his new seat, he said, joking, “I figured that was rightfully mine.”
