Kawakami takes to ‘The Hill’

LIHUE — Kauai Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami was in Washington D.C. earlier this month, discussing Kauai’s priorities at the sixth annual Hawaii on the Hill, an event hosted by the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono.

While there, Kawakami also talked with federal agencies and the Congressional delegation about priorities for Kauai.

Some of the subjects of conversation were disaster recovery and resilience, planning for the island’s safety and future, economic development and transportation.

Kawakami met with White House officials to discuss strategies to coordinate successful projects within the county’s two opportunity zones, discuss resiliency, and provide an update on the county’s recovery efforts following the April 2018 flooding.

According to a press release from Kauai County, officials helped with innovative ideas to cultivate successful projects within opportunity zones.

The mayor also met with Under Secretary of the Department of Transportation for Policy Derek Kan and staff to discuss the progress of the Lihue Town Core Revitalization and Mobility Project and review the county’s transportation projects and goals.

The week was an opportunity for Kawakami to represent the county and engage with officials in Washington as well as meet with top agency and congressional staff to promote Kauai’s goals, the release states.

“The mayor looks forward to following up with those he met and hopes to welcome them to the county of Kauai in the near future,” a county spokespeople said in the release.

“Hawaii on the Hill continues to be an important event to promote Hawaii businesses, interests and culture in Washington, DC. I want to thank the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce and Senator Mazie Hirono for organizing such a productive and meaningful event,” Kawakami said.