Stories by Bethany Freudenthal

Coco Palms, the day after

The day after a large police force swept through the Coco Palms property to remove occupiers after a lengthy civil trial, all was quiet.

Police remove Coco Palms occupiers

One person was arrested Thursday morning in Wailua, where the famed Coco Palms Resort once stood, as last month’s court-ordered ejectment was enforced. In a joint task force, members of the State Sheriff’s Division, Kauai Police Department, the law enforcement division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Attorney General’s Officeenforced the order.

Term limits proposal draws fire

A resolution that would let citizens vote on ending term limits for members of the County Council drew ire from some community members on Wednesday.

Kuali‘i announces council candidacy

An Anahola man who has previously served on Kauai’s County Council has announced his candidacy for the upcoming race. “My hope is to get back to the job of making our county work better for our people and our island,” said KipuKai Kuali‘i.

Judge denies case dismissal

A motion to dismiss a civil case filed against the County of Kauai and several individuals, based on the failure to state a claim, was denied in Fifth Circuit Court Tuesday.

Group to focus on election

A group concerned with major issues facing Kauai met Thursday night at Ha Coffee Bar. Major concerns, said one of their organizers, Anne Walton, are affordable housing, transportation, traffic, water issues, climate change and the environment.

Lawyer: document designed to harass judge

Coco Palms is scheduled to be in court again next week, this time with a judge’s attorney arguing for a motion to strike a document that was filed by the defendants late last month.

Trespass charges dismissed

Criminal trespass charges against the defendants in a civil trial over land in Wailua, where the Coco Palms Resort stands, have been dismissed.

Over 100 oppose Wainiha bridges project

The final environmental assessment for a project to replace temporary bridges on Kauai’s North Shore has been completed and is available to the public. During a public-comment period for the EA, 123 people signed a petition to stop the project.

Many voices, one heart

The Cuban people, said Liz Hahn of Waimea, are like the people of Kauai. “They’re very loving,” she said. “The aloha spirit abounds.”

‘Who’s responsible?’

Charles Rapozo is feeling better these days. “I feel like I got out of a cage and I feel more at peace,” he said Tuesday at the Historic County Building. “People treat me with respect over here and the workers are kind to me, with ‘goodmornings’ and ‘thank yous,’ and just being polite to me.”

Council approves General Plan

The Kauai County Council recently voted six to one to adopt the County’s General Plan. Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura, who voted against the plan’s adoption, said there are three serious problems with the plan that can’t be ignored.

Talk Story: Steve Yoder

For long-time Kauai resident Steve Yoder, there’s no place else he’d rather live. Yoder was 5 years old when he visited the Hawaiian Islands for the first time with his family in 1959, and he still remembers that trip fondly. His dad sold airplanes to Hawaiian Airlines in 1949, and his parents visited Kauai often.

County supports Spouting Horn vendors

The first reading of an amendment that would change language in a county ordinance that would have ended vendor kiosks at Spouting Horn Park was heard Wednesday at the countycouncil meeting.