The new Kauai County Council held its inaugural meeting at noon yesterday at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall. The tone of that meeting, as well as the inauguration that followed, was one of agreement, collaboration, mutual respect and aloha.
The new Kauai County Council held its inaugural meeting at noon yesterday at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall. The tone of that meeting, as well as the inauguration that followed, was one of agreement, collaboration, mutual respect and aloha.
In the large convention auditorium, a choir sang between speeches during the inauguration ceremony. The words to one of the songs were, “One goal, to serve each other, one heart, one mind, one common ground — we stand all as one.”
Those words summed up the hopes and feelings expressed by many of Kaua‘i’s council members and other local politicians honored throughout the afternoon.
At noon, the formal swearing-in began with the deputy prosecutors and the mayor’s department heads, then moved on to the county prosecutor, council and mayor.
Before the council meeting commenced, the floor was opened to public comment.
Bruce Pleas, Andy Parks and Ken Taylor each made statements, one including the suggestion that the audio records of the meetings not be destroyed (after being turned into typed manuscript) and that people speaking at public meetings be required to disclose their affiliation with any lobbying group.
Furfaro moved that each be considered and the motion was carried.
KipuKai Kualii evoked spontaneous applause when he said that, now that the council members have been voted into their respective seats, they each deserve the community’s full support.
Toward the end of the meeting, Lani Kawahara referenced the new council’s earlier troubles, saying, “Despite the bumpy start, I know we’re all going to do our best for you.”
Then the council voted its unanimous support of Kaipo Asing as council chair, and for Jay Furfaro as vice-chair, followed with a few words from Asing, who expressed his appreciation for the council’s support.
By 12:45 p.m., the meeting was adjourned.
After a brief recess, the inauguration ceremony began in the spacious convention hall, filled with 500 to 600 onlookers, including political dignitaries from neighboring islands.
The formal celebration included singing, prayer, hula, speeches by Asing and newly appointed county prosecutor Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho, and a very well-received speech by Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.
Asing recalled some of his memories as mayor and
expressed his appreciation for being allowed to serve in that capacity over the past several months.
He said that the council will need some time to “come together and learn to work as an entire council.” Quoting the late Martin Luther King Jr., he said that “a genuine leader is not a searcher of consensus, but a molder of consensus,” adding, “You have my commitment that I will be seeking to mold that consensus.”
Carvalho’s speech — which brought many to their feet — described Kaua‘i’s future as a story yet to be told, and described the opening chapters of that story: “We’ll start with energy conservation,” he said, and went on to discuss supporting the visitor industry and local agriculture. Chapter two, he said, will focus on sustainability, the third on planning and adhering to the general plan, and the fourth on family.
“I pledge to find a site for a drug treatment facility so we can treat our kids right here on Kaua‘i,” he said.
Quoting Nobel-Prize winning author Tony Morrison, he said, “If there is a book you want to read but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”
The positive tone of the inauguration spilled into the reception area, where a smiling councilmember Dickie Chang said that he felt genuinely upbeat about the council’s prospects for working together.
“I’m 100 percent certain that great things are going to happen,” he said. “I have a great feeling — without question — that the council is going to get along very well, and we’re going to make good, positive things happen for Kaua‘i.”
JoAnn Yukimura said, “It was a very beautiful ceremony. I thought Mayor Carvalho gave a very good speech. We all need to support our new leaders, mayor, council and prosecuting attorneys,” she said, “because the future holds a lot of challenges and opportunities.”
Councilmember Tim Bynum said that he feels “very optimistic” about things. “I respect every member of the council and I see no reason why we shouldn’t work together well.”
Councilmember Jay Furfaro said that he’s confident that the council will act as an effective group, saying that he expects them to move forward in the spirit of kane‘ole, or “doing things right.”
“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” he said. “and that’s why we’re moving forward as a body.” He added that the new mayor helps to bring a positive energy “into the fold.”
Derek Kawakami voiced his enthusiasm for working with his fellow councilmembers, saying, “We’re all ready to move forward. We’re going to focus our energy on making a positive difference.”
Asing declined to comment.
Between embracing the many people who surrounded him after the official events, the mayor declared the event a “great day.”
“I’m excited,” he said. “Ready to go to work.”
• Luke Shanahan, business writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or lshanahan@kauaipubco.com
