LIHUE — Nadine Nakamura, managing director for the County of Kauai, formally filed her papers to run for the State House of Representatives, District 14, Monday. “I’m looking forward to running a strong campaign so that I can serve residents
LIHUE — Nadine Nakamura, managing director for the County of Kauai, formally filed her papers to run for the State House of Representatives, District 14, Monday.
“I’m looking forward to running a strong campaign so that I can serve residents of District 14, the County of Kauai, and the State of Hawaii,” Nakamura said. “I have learned how much we, as a county, partner with and rely on state government to maintain our quality of life, preserve our natural beauty and resources, educate our youth, and improve our economy.”
Nakamura said she was prompted by Rep. Derek Kawakami’s announcement last Thursday that he would be running for a seat on the Kauai County Council, leaving the legislative seat vacant.
“It would be an honor to build on the great work of representative Kawakami,” she said. “I’d like to address the critical concerns in our District 14, including addressing traffic congestion, promoting agriculture and locally grown food, and addressing homelessness and overcrowding by providing affordable housing. We must protect our finite natural resources and preserve our cultural sites that make Kauai so special.”
District 14 covers the area between the Coco Palms Resort and Wailua Houselots and extends to Kee Beach. It excludes Wailua Homesteads.
Previous to being appointed to serve as managing director in 2013, Nakamura was elected to the Kauai County Council in 2010. She was re-elected in 2012 and was the top vote getter in that election.
Under her leadership as managing director, Nakamura has worked with teams that created a structurally balanced budget for two consecutive years, promoted the development of a multi-year financial plan, formed a personnel vacancy review committee, facilitated private sector dialogue to improve the building permit process, and instituted a process to examine solid waste alternatives.
Nakamura received her bachelor of science degree in public affairs and urban planning at the University of Southern California and holds a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
For more than 20 years, Nakamura operated a consulting business on Kauai, specializing in land use planning, environmental assessments, strategic planing, and organizational development.
