Leo ‘O Kaua’i meetings set to kick-off

Fulfilling a campaign promise to work toward a collaborative approach to governing, the Office of the Mayor announced plans Friday for the kick-off the Leo ‘O Kaua’i, or Voice of Kaua’i, community meetings.

By holding the meetings Mayor Bryan Baptiste says he is encouraging the island’s communities to make their voices heard and get involved in the decision-making process on county-level issues.

The first meeting is set for 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday for the Hanalei and Ha’ena area and the Lihu’e II area, encompassing Nawiliwili, Niumalu, Ulu Kukui, Ulu Ko, Ulu Mahi, Pua Loke and Pua Koa.

Meetings are set to take place Tuesdays and Wednesdays through November in these areas.

At the meetings, representatives from the mayor’s Community Response Team will attend as “district specialists.” The North district spans Wailua Houselots to Hanalei and will be assisted by Gordon Doo. Bev Pang will be at Central district meetings, which includes an area running from Wailua Homesteads to Po’ipu. The West district representative will be Vida Mossman, and cover Kalaheo to Kekaha.

The initial meetings will include an explanation of meeting format, ground rules and processes for the overall program. Timelines and priorities of issues will be discussed before the public is heard from at the meetings. Each speaker gets three minutes to express a concern and offer a solution.

The mayor’s office is asking speakers to encourage the community to come together for solutions and not turn a gathering into a “gripe session.”

Speakers will be asked to sign-in and write up their concerns and proposed solutions on hand-out forms.

Representatives of the Mayor’s office plus county department heads will be at each meeting.

Ideas and concerns brought up by speakers will be sent to the County Council, Kaua’i’s legislators and to the island’s congresspeople.