LIHU‘E — Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr., proud owner of a 6X barong Tagalog (Filipino dress shirt), said that if he gets to the Philippines any time soon, he will visit Paoay, Ilocos Norte Mayor Bonifacio Carpio Clemente Jr. Clemente
LIHU‘E — Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr., proud owner of a 6X barong Tagalog (Filipino dress shirt), said that if he gets to the Philippines any time soon, he will visit Paoay, Ilocos Norte Mayor Bonifacio Carpio Clemente Jr.
Clemente and Jessie Galano, an elected vocal similar to a state representative, spent three days on the island recently, staying with Kaua‘i friends and relatives, and touring the island.
They met with Carvalho last Tuesday morning at the mayor’s office in the Mo‘ikeha Building in between the visitors’ trips to Koke‘e and the North Shore.
Carvalho said he plans on making a trip to the Philippines “on my own,” when he learned Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann would travel to the Philippines in October 2009.
But that would certainly be after next year’s elections at the earliest, as Clemente, Carvalho and Galano are all up for re-election in 2010.
While the Kaua‘i mayor is limited to serving two consecutive, four-year terms, both the Paoay mayor and vocal are entitled to election of up to three consecutive, three-year terms, they said.
The two mayors shared frustrations over their jurisdictions’ needed infrastructure, renewable energy and solid-waste solutions.
In Paoay, a mixture of solar, wind and hydro power are used to offset the need to burn fossil fuel to produce electricity, Clemente said.
Both mayors admitted their jurisdictions are behind the times in terms of solid-waste disposal, and spoke about other shared infrastructure concerns.
In Paoay, the churches, lakes and sand dunes are visitor attractions, with most of the visitors coming from China and Taiwan, with Taipei only a 45-minute flight from Laoag city’s international airport, which is not far from Paoay, they said.
The mayors of both jurisdictions are also proud of their salt-makers. In Paoay, saltwater is boiled to remove the water, leaving only the white, fine salt.
The visitors were able to see the Hanapepe salt pans, where the power of the sun is used to evaporate water in saltwater to produce the red, coarse Kaua‘i salt.
Clemente and Galano were guests of honor at a dinner at the main pavilion of Salt Pond Beach Park near Hanapepe Monday night.
Carvalho presented the visiting dignitaries with gift bags including Kaua‘i Kookies, Kaua‘i Coffee, koa pens and other items.
• Paul C. Curtis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com
