LIHUE — County Councilmember Derek Kawakami filed to enter the race for Kauai mayor Thursday at the Office of the County Clerk in Lihue.
LIHUE — County Councilmember Derek Kawakami filed to enter the race for Kauai mayor Thursday at the Office of the County Clerk in Lihue.
While filing, Kawakami reflected on the recent historic flooding that affected areas of Kauai.
“After spending many days shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters who have been devastated by the floods, I saw such resilience, such selflessness, so much aloha. This experience has energized me and deepened my commitment to the people of Kauai and Niihau,” he said.
Affordable housing, traffic and economic development are priorities in which Kawakami will focus on should he be elected. Kawakami also supports preserving the environment and culture, creating more jobs, and education, as well as stimulating a diverse economy inclusive of tourism, renewable energy, health and wellness, technology, agriculture and the arts.
Kawakami served in the state Legislature from 2011 to 2016, and on the County Council from 2008 to 2011 and again in his current term beginning in 2016. In addition to his government roles, Kawakami has worked in the private sector at Big Save, Menehune Food Mart, Shell gas stations, Happy Kauaian gift shops and Subway restaurants.
Aloha Derek, mahalo for stepping up to solve so many issues.
Would you be so kind to sit down with a Garden Island reporter and tell us what you plan to do to solve or relieve or lower the problems and increase the solutions you have mentioned you want to tackle.
As well it appears the businesses mentioned may be not only where you worked but which you may be a next generation owner of. All of these businesses have brought jobs to our residents and nutrition to our tables and convenience to our mobile needs and even Happiness when it comes to gifting family and friends.
You and your family have done so much, and you have served us here on Kauai and in the Chambers of Oahu, but can we ask in hope what more do you have “in store” for us?
And what is your standing on Ag Poisons used on Kauai?
We only have so many nuisance critters on Kauai, the crawling kind, why can’t the science guys figure out what in nature, not carcinogenic petroleum chemicals, can keep away the centipedes, cockroaches, ants, flies, mosquitos, and Ag bugs?
We can’t expect to kill them all. When you try that with poison, the survivors only get genetically stronger.
Science and the Big $$$ just needs a new direction instead of pseudo science which leaves disease victims; we need a newer science that serves to protect and improve Health of all the people.
It’s Do able…!
Mahalo Derek,
Charles
This race is filled with bruddas from the political swamp! Vote same people in and see if you get changes! Need TVR laws asap
Mr. Kawakami….. All candidates have priorities it’s more important to learn how are you going to implement these priorities… 1. Affordable housing. What is the plan to create this other than taking my taxes to subsidize it? 2. Traffic… What is your immediate plan to make the traffic congestion less? Big jobCreating a better economic development ? Government should stop wasting time and money on creating jobs. Let the private sector creators take care of it. You have spent many years in the political arena. Why should we vote for you? You have been an active partner of the mounting problems with no creative solutions. Not any of you have shown the creativity to change the way things need to be so that change and solutions can move forward.
Lenny got this. He’s gonna take it others should save their time and money!!!