Kaua‘i residents met last night with representatives of the Hawai‘i 2050 Sustainability Task Force, joining a statewide conversation about the policies that will best guide the islands’ future. The legislature charged the task force with developing a plan for Hawai‘i’s
Kaua‘i residents met last night with representatives of the Hawai‘i 2050 Sustainability Task Force, joining a statewide conversation about the policies that will best guide the islands’ future.
The legislature charged the task force with developing a plan for Hawai‘i’s sustainable future — a plan that will take account of the impact development has on the environment, the community and the economy.
About 150 people turned out for the meeting at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School, the site of a contentious Superferry meeting last month. Speakers acknowledge that Kaua‘i, like Hawai‘i, faces growing pains.
On Kaua‘i those pains include new resort developments that residents fear will increase traffic, a near-capacity landfill and the ever-present high oil prices.
Costco’s opening today is a strong signal of growth and indicates more of a shift in the local economy.
But state Sen. Russell Kokubun, chairman of the task force, asked participants to look beyond immediate issues.
“I want people to put on their lenses and see far down the road,” said the 2nd District, Big Island senator. “At the legislature every year, we get stuck in a crisis. It prevents us from taking a long-term perspective on what we’re doing.”
The task force exists to establish benchmarks and also a governing body that will oversee the implementation of the plan, Kokubun said.
“Take a look at all the plans you’ve got on the shelf now,” he said.
“It’s important for us to have implementation mechanisms.”
The county is currently developing its own guides to manage growth and infrastructure, including plans for tourism, the economy, waste management and development.
Beth Tokioka, director of Kaua‘i’s Office of Economic Development and a member of the task force, emphasized that the state wouldn’t throw out local plans, but focus on identifying universal strategies and goals.
“It’s not a top down thing,” she said. “It’s bottom up.”
Community involvement will help increase the effectiveness of the new plan, not only because community members help identify issues, but because they will support the plan, said Donald Fujimoto, county engineer and also a member of the task force.
“It’s obvious the (current) state plan is not working,” he said. “There wasn’t enough buy in. If the public get involved, they will support their plan.”
The task force seeks public input while the plan is being developed. Visit hawaii2050.org or email info@hawaii2050.org.
In addition, a draft of the plan will be available for comment next August, with the final plan slated for completion in December 2007.
• Charlotte Woolard, business writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or cwoolard@kauaipubco.com.
