PO‘IPU — Gov. David Ige spoke on a wide range of subjects Wednesday duringhis final Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce Governor’s Luncheon as governor.
“I appreciate the work we have collectively done together,” Ige told the sold-out crowd of more than 200 people who met in the Koloa Grand Ballroom at the Koloa Landing Resort in Po‘ipu.
“I am proud to be the governor because every time a situation rises, it is not about me, but the community that gives and sacrifices and does a lot for the community, for each other.”
During Ige’s seven years as governor, these situations have included landslides, communities being isolated, record rainfall and COVID-19.
Ige prefaced his talk-story format on the issues with a special gubernatorial congratulations and commendation to kumu hula Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin and Halau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leina‘ala for the “outstanding” performance during the recent Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, where the Kalaheo-based halau took top honors in wahine kahiko, wahine ‘auana, wahine overall, and earned the Merrie Monarch Lokalia Montgomery Overall award.
Lauding the Kaua‘i legislative team — state Senate President Ron Kouchi and state Reps. Dee Morikawa, Nadine Nakamura and James Tokioka — as strong advocates for Kaua‘i, Ige said this past legislative session was a good one.
“After two years of budget cuts, program eliminations and even furloughs, the monies that came in was a godsend,” Ige said “This allowed us to think about the programs that were impacted and move ahead.”
More than $1 billion was invested in Native Hawaiian programs and lawsuit settlements, including the Kalima settlement for Native Hawaiians waiting for homes on the state Department of Hawaiian Homes wait list.
“I am glad to go to graduations in-person,” Ige said of public education. “I’m glad to see the graduates with college credits and certificates through Early College program. We have a new superintendent.”
The state Department of Education recently announced that face masks will continue through summer school and, more recently, the University of Hawai‘i is getting back to mandatory face masks indoors.
“No face-masks mandate,” Ige said. “We’re in a new phase in this fight against the COVID-19. There are vaccines available, and there are weekly gains in therapeutics.”
Ige said the latest numbers released show more than 1,000 cases a day, a number that exceeds the peak of last summer where more than 400 people were hospitalized. The current hospitalization rate is 150.
The governor suggested the wearing of face masks in large gatherings of people, and for the unvaccinated to get vaccinated. Vaccinations reduce the severity of the illness.
“Be mindful,” the governor said. “Assess the situation and take (appropriate) action to minimize the spread.”
Housing has been a topic on Ige’s radar from the time he took office seven years ago, and continues to dominate his list of concerns.
Food production has seen Kaua‘i rise to the challenge, with leaders of organized groups meeting and exceeding programs they put forth, effectively doubling output.
“We need to become better consumers,” Ige said. “We have made progress in production, but we need to work with the Department of Education, the hospitals and the jails to buy local. Kaua‘i leads the state in this area, and I want to expand this model to the rest of the state.”
In matters of people upset with the Lihu‘e Airport Master Plan, Ige said the plan is the oldest of the airport master plans, dating back to 1987, more than 30 years ago when it was created.
He said there are deficiencies that need correcting after the state received exemptions for operating with these deficiencies.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
