State lawmakers Bertha Kawakami, Mina Morita and Gary Hooser will address members of the Kapahi Homestead Association at their meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, June 23 at 6 p.m. at the Kapa‘a Neighborhood Center. State Rep. Mina Morita, D-North Shore, state Rep.
State lawmakers Bertha Kawakami, Mina Morita and Gary Hooser will address members of the Kapahi Homestead Association at their meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, June 23 at 6 p.m. at the Kapa‘a Neighborhood Center.
State Rep. Mina Morita, D-North Shore, state Rep. Bertha Kawakami, D-West Kaua‘i-Ni‘ihau, and state Sen. Gary Hooser, D-Kaua‘i-Ni‘ihau, will discuss ways to help formulate positive solutions to a new state law that allows drug-rehabilitation facilities to be placed in residential homes, in local neighborhoods.
The nonprofit association formed originally by members of 12 households to oppose placement of a drug-rehabilitation facility in their neighborhood now has 63 members, and has organized to address issues concerning the Kapahi area of Kapa‘a.
Association members have held several organized meetings, created a nonprofit entity, voted in interim officers, elected a government liaison, and established a Web site: www.kapahi.org.
They have organized to address not only zoning changes, but also land-use revisions, traffic and safety issues, and other concerns that will help create a better community for all, according to the site.
“Our sense is that neighborhood concerns can be better addressed when a unified voice can be heard by decision makers,” said Francesco Garripoli, a member of the association helping with public relations.
The Kapahi Homestead Community Association is made up of concerned citizens who hope they can work with members of other island associations, and help new associations form and work together to create a grassroots movement of neighborhood associations that will speak for people who care about life on Kaua‘i.
