Visitor mandate resolution falls apart
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i County Council members on Wednesday proposed a resolution aiming to implement visitor requirements, including proof of a round-trip ticket or proof of employment in order for people to travel to Hawai‘i.
The resolution, which would reduce the number of homeless people in the county, died later Wednesday afternoon, following a closed meeting between the county council and county attorney.
Resolution No. 2023-57, introduced by council members Bill DeCosta and Ross Kagawa, requests that the state enact legislation “prohibiting or discouraging certain undesirable visitor activities,” which include the “influx of potential new non-contributing persons” and “unpermitted vehicle-based camping.”
In order to limit the number of “non-contributing persons,” the resolution seeks to require visitors to have a round-trip ticket, permanent home address, address of stay, or provide proof of employment before flying to the state.
The resolution also aims to prohibit “unpermitted vehicle-based camping,” as visitors would also need to meet the aforementioned requirements in order to obtain camping permits and use other unspecified services.
The measures would address “problematic tourism-related issues,” including nonresidents remaining in Hawaii for extended periods of time by relocating from campsite to campsite.
“Not only does this practice fail to contribute to the local economy and accommodations businesses, it is also to the detriment of tax-paying residents who are often unable to obtain camping permits for the recreational uses for which camping permits are intended,” according to the resolution.
The resolution also takes issue with the “proliferation of livable rental vehicles” used for unpermitted overnight camping, which causes a “variety of problems” and allows visitors to camp without paying site fees.
The resolution ends by asking for county clerks to forward the resolution to Gov. Josh Green, all state legislators, the state Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism, the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, all island chapters of the Hawai‘i Visitors Bureau, as well as airlines with incoming flights to Hawai‘i.
Council members went into executive session during the meeting to meet privately with the county attorney for legal analysis, according to council chair Mel Rapozo.
When discussion of the resolution returned during the public meeting, all council members voted unanimously on “a motion to receive” the resolution, meaning no further action would be taken.
“Based on what we heard from our county attorney, which is confidential, this is the outcome,” Rapozo said.
“The motion to approve was withdrawn meaning that (it) is no longer on the floor and the motion to receive was made, which effectively kills the resolution,” he said.
During public testimony, Kaua‘i resident Bruce Hart said he needed his own executive session to understand the resolution’s legalities.
“I don’t know how you could get away with this,” he said. “I understand the problem. But I don’t think this is the way to solve it.”
Lonnie Sykos, another Kaua‘i resident, was also critical of the resolution during public testimony.
“As a member of the public that got to pay for this farce, I’d like to apologize to whoever it was in the county staff that had to participate in creating this and especially to whoever it was that has the law degree who had to choke their ethics down in order to create this document,” he said.
“This is an egregious middle finger to the majority of the people who live in the United States, not just the citizens,” he said.
He referred to the resolution’s lengthy preamble, which begins by providing data noting increases in the number of homeless people in both the state and county of Kaua‘i.
The resolution states that the 2023 homelessness rate in the state is 43.2 per 10,000 population, which is more than twice the national value of 17.5, according to the state Department of Human Services.
It also notes the County of Kaua‘i has the highest homelessness rate in the state, with 66.1 per 10,000 population, followed by 48.6 for the County of Hawai‘i, 42.8 for Maui and 40.5 for Oahu.
The resolution continues, noting the county saw a 10 percent increase in total homelessness between 2022 and 2023, according to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2023 point-in-time count.
It also states that according to the American Community Survey, an estimated 18.2 percent of the homeless population in Hawai‘i is “foreign-born,” meaning not born in the United States.
“You start off this resolution with this long list of people who you identify, and then turn it into groups who you can target. And this list of people has absolutely nothing to do with the title that says undesirable visitor activities,” Sykos said.
“What does being foreign-born? How is that an undesirable activity in this county?” he added.
Sykos also stated the resolution would violate several constitutional rights if enacted.
“You would completely rewrite and redefine what it means to be in the United States. You have no business declaring anybody as undesirable. None. Arrogance is repugnant,” he said before Rapozo called the meeting back to order.
DeCosta said in response that he had “no bad intent” in introducing the resolution.
“There was an Alaskan governor on national TV, saying that he’s relocating his homeless to different states and Hawai‘i was mentioned,” he said.
In July 2023, Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson stated he was considering flying his homeless people out of state to warmer weather, according to an Aug. 1, 2023 report from Hawaii News Now.
“We just wanted to make sure that we’re just making aware to the different travel industries, the different governors. This is the possibility to have our resources for people that are already here,” DeCosta said.
DeCosta and Kagawa did not immediately respond to The Garden Island’s request for comment on the resolution.
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Emma Grunwald, reporter, can be reached 808-652-0638 or egrunwald@thegardenisland.com.
Go for it Ross and Billy…..
What a complete waste of time and taxpayer money. This council should be ashamed of their lack of knowledge of the Constitution. All future County politicians should be required to take some basic classes in Law, Economics, Accounting and Ethics before they are allowed to serve.
Give it to the people of kauai to vote on and stop talking about it.
Of course they’re going to kill the resolution. How many of these council members have relatives coming over from the Philippines, no employment, no intention of returning, and no green cards?
What does the Philippines have to do with this bill? Your comment is more than racist, but this is what this country is built on. But, let’s see your supporting data that a majority of homeless are Filipinos.
If you want to pass a law how about one making people who knowingly trespass and then require emergency services be fined to cover cost of rescue?
When you mean trespass, do you mean county councilmen? Because they’re trespassing against the paid workers. Already smarter. Why that job and no pay? The banks too. So the system is wrong placing failures in office.
What kind of TWISTY MINDED government are running KAUAI?
There you have it your elected council members. Kauai’s not to AKAMAI!
Typical of Racist Ross to be behind this bill. Clownshow.
Supporting non-contributing visitors, who will rely and compete with residents for social services is the real racism here. Look in the mirror before you label someone else as racist.
Last time I checked this is still the United States no matter what anyone else says. Before you worry bout visitors you need to worry bout not being a covid terrified place. Get off island sometime and explore the world and realize this bubble has brainwashed you. U worry bout homeless population but don’t much worry bout crooked politicians profiting off da aina eh? Big facts!!!!
What’s the job? Discussing tourism. Not qualified. Because not salary. Any work done is not looked at. My original comment on letters August 23, 2023 still holds. That was u guys. And not government. U guys failed that too.
Crap news…
THIS IS A C.O.S!!!
WE, the people of Hawaii ABSOLUTELY have the right to label undesirables foreigners for what they are UNDESIRED! Is it NOT the right of the people to decide who they want in their community and exclude those who do not contribute???
Id bet my last dollar that skyos person is some white leftist who is NOT a born local…
I know you won’t post my comments because I tell the truth and you’re not interested in that you’re interested in hiding obfuscating theft and murder that’s what you do so have fun deleting me and deleting the children that you murdered and the people that you murdered cuz that you do
The Nazi’s called the Jews “undesirables”. The Nazi’s called the gypsies “non-contributing persons”. Maybe instead of looking for land to build affordable housing, Ross Kagawa and Billie DeCosta can try to persuade the county to acquire some land to build some God damned gas chambers. Who voted for these psychopaths?
It takes a couple of years to migrate to the US from the international via processing. Processing US citizens takes place now. Treat Kauai special….
Credit for trying. The whole country is being overwhelmed by non-contributing persons thanks to good intentioned lefties. I can’t imagine how bad it must be on an island.
Ya’ll all mad? You voted these folks in. Keep voting blue, it’ll all work out. SMH
My husband who was a high school sports star. He graduated high school and went to two years college on Kaia’s. He took up business and electronics degree. He burrowed $750 k to open up shop. Just starting. He’s smarter than these jock politicians. They’re violating him for running for office. Politics. How’s that?
Don’t drop your guard Ross and Billy!!….
So many people are quick to attack Ross and Billy, so quick to throw the Constitution and rights as an American around, just as fast as the ones that opposed face masks and curfew during the pandemic. Just gotta oppose EVERYTHING, no matter what it is. If it’s coming from the Government, these people are going to run their mouths in opposition. Well, why not open your houses to all the mainlanders coming here for the specific purpose of being homeless and using our social services to get by? Let them live with you, since you are so vocally opposed to keeping them from squatting here. Go take a walk on the bike path and look in the bushes along there. You can see PILES of feces and trash everywhere. I’m not saying locals aren’t at all contributing, but a big portion of the homeless camps I seen there were occupied by mainland transplants. But it’s okay with the liberals, right? Let it go, let our island get destroyed, or worse yet, become as bad as San Fransisco, where they have maps indicating where the feces piles are located. Give me a break. Wake up.
How welcoming you are Kaua‘i, Aloha..
Russ and Billy- not to smart…. really …we need better council persons than these guys!!!
You can see alot of haoles trying to get 2 locals out of the council because they actually care about the island and not just big buissiness…keep doing what to do and look after us locals too Ross and billy…Mahalo.