Makani Kai Air begins flights
PRINCEVILLE — A Piper Chieftain twin propeller, carrying nine passengers, makes its way over rainy Hanalei Bay and down onto the Princeville Airport runway.
County moves closer to selecting auditor
The County of Kauai and the County Council have begun the hiring process for a county auditor, according to one applicant, Mel Rapozo.
Foundation returns to Anahola to help keiki, more
Recently, a verbal notice was given to the Keala Foundation to vacate the beach area in Anahola they have used for the past two months to teach keiki, adults, and seniors CrossFit. The verbal notice was given by the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands on April 17 in an effort to clean up an encampment that has existed on the beach for some time now, according to the foundation’s founder.
‘Mayday Lihue Tower’
Scott Higbee, lieutenant commander with the U.S. Coast Guard, stands before 35 Kapaa High School juniors and seniors who are serving as “victims” of a simulated airline crash Friday morning at Ahukini Landing.
Lihue project a ‘no-brainer’
Change is coming to downtown Lihue — some of which has already started.
Raises get green light
LIHUE — Raises for some county officials and employees were approved Wednesday.
Homeless camp cleared
LIHUE — In what is the start of an islandwide homeless encampment sweep, government agencies began removing unauthorized property and persons on a parcel of state land along Rice Street Wednesday morning.
Enabling future leaders through education
Kalena Numazawa-Pacanas started her speech before her peers and elders, and then the tears cascaded uncontrollably down her cheeks.
Mayor’s request: $229,964,627 for 2020
Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami submitted his budget for fiscal year 2020 (July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020) to the County Council on March 15.
No place to go
Signs hang ominously on trees in the Pua Loke Arboretum, across the street from the Kauai Economic Opportunity homeless shelter.
Costs still rising
According to the County of Kauai, it has received $25 million from the state of Hawaii to help recover from the April 2018 flooding diaster. In addition, the county anticipates receiving reimbursement from the Natural Resource Conservation Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The FEMA funds are reimbursed through the agency’s public assistance program after selected projects have been completed.
Rising above their troubles
If you ask the aunties and uncles living on Anahola Road, they will tell you they didn’t get hit by last April’s flood as bad as people living near the Anahola bridge or the North Shore.
Homeless encampment lies on state DOT land
The Department of Transportation has scheduled an assessment of a homeless encampment on Rice Street for April 17. The encampment itself rests on DOT land, something that has prompted the DOT to take immediate action.
Proposals would reduce building permit fees
Six proposals created by County Councilmembers Luke Evslin and Mason Chock aimed at cutting fees associated with home-building on Kauai and subsidies for additional rental units came before the council Wednesday and were unanimously passed.
All plugged up
The county Department of Parks and Recreation, in an effort to combat runoff into the ocean, has plugged a water pipe at the Anini Beach Park boat ramp. Mariners are no longer able to wash down their vessels.
Let’n Pidgin out da coop
Lee Tonouchi says he was born Pidgin, and on Oahu.
‘Coco Palms is not dead yet’
A rumor circulating on social media and coconut wireless started running rampant around 10 p.m. Wednesday, carrying with it varied reports that Coco Palms developer Tyler Greene had died.
‘Everything is on the table’
On the second reading of resolution 2019-1 — proposing salary increases for employees of the county — the council found itself deadlocked again, with Councilmember Kipukai Kuali‘i excused from the meeting due to the flu. Without Kuali‘i, the six present councilmembers found themselves split 3-3 on the controversial resolution to grant pay raises to several county employees.
Hawaii panel votes to reduce penalties for marijuana
A key Hawaii legislative panel has passed a bill that would reduce penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana.
County housing director resigns, stays in department
County Housing Agency Director Kanani Fu resigned her position with the county effective March 31. Fu has worked for the County of Kauai since January 2012 and has been the housing director since March of 2016.